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We present new drainage records for five freshwater mussels in the Sequatchie River, a tributary of the Tennessee River. We also report the rediscovery of Purple Lilliput, Toxolasma lividum Rafinesque, 1831, Tennessee Pigtoe, Pleuronaia barnesiana (Lea, 1838), and the federally endangered Slabside Pearlymussel, Pleuronaia dolabelloides (Lea, 1840), and we provide information on other mussel species found in our survey. In the Sequatchie River, T. lividum was last seen in 1957 and P. barnesiana and P. dolabelloides were last seen in 1980. The discovery of five new drainage records and rediscovery of three rare species highlights the need for additional mussel surveys in the Sequatchie River and the importance of surveys in conservation efforts.

Loss of biodiversity has been recognized as one of the main threats to the forest ecosystem. This study examined the diversity and conservation status of woody species in the secondary forest of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria using six permanent plots. All woody species were completely enumerated, and identified; their girths at breast height were measured at 1.3 m above buttress. Biodiversity status was assessed using Shannon-Wiener diversity, evenness of distribution, Sorrenson index of similarity and species importance value index. There were 77 tree species distributed into 62 genera and 30 families. The most abundant species were Celtis zenkeri and Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, while the most abundant families were Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fabaceae. The tree species density ranged from 508 – 1132 plants per hectare. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index (1.83 to 3.50), evenness (0.483 – 0.741) and the basal area (6.06 – 25.73 m2 ha-1) were high in the forest. However, Celtis mildbraedii is critically endangered, while Garcina kola, Mallotus oppositifolus and Ricinodendron heudelotii are vulnerable. This study provides baseline diversity data for the conservation of woody species in the forest and concludes that this secondary forest is a potential biodiversity hub if properly managed. It will also play a key role in fashioning out realistic, appropriate, and effective conservation strategies that will enhance the restoration and management of the floristic composition of the secondary forest.

Brachycephalus coloratus was known only from its type locality in the Serra da Baitaca of Paraná, Brazil. Its extent of occurrence was estimated at 0.37 km2, and its conservation status was proposed as Vulnerable. Here, we provide a second record for B. coloratus at Pão de Ló, Paraná, at 1,230 m of altitude. We estimate its current area of occupancy at 1.17 km2 and propose its conservation status as Endangered. The assessment of the Green Status suggests that it is Depleted; the prevention of deforestation and fires could lead to high conservation returns.

Indigenous seeds are grown by the farmers over the years with a strong influence from local natural factors. Such seeds have a higher level of intrapopulation variations and the capacity of buffering the adverse factors. Understanding indigenous seeds along with their diversity are useful to diversify their uses, to assess conservation status, to know the factors making farming areas red zone, and to improve their performance. Selection is the simplest and most common method for the improvement of crop varieties. The variation must be created and maintained to impose selection. Different types of selection can be considered depending on the mode of reproduction of crops. Response to selection and correlated response are estimated to make the selection process more effective. Many different selection approaches can target either developing monomorphic or polymorphic varieties. There are five selection units and can be applied in five crop stages. Farmers’ criteria need to be considered during selection process. Based on the genotypic classes, there are three types of selection namely stabilizing selection, directional selection, and disruptive selection. The most simple and common selection methods are pure lines, mass selection, and class-bulking selection. Orthodox seeds in short, medium, and long-term storage facilities are conserved as a seed bank. Major types are household seed banks, community seed banks, national seeds, natural seed banks, and global seed banks. A seed bank is for assuring the availability of crop diversity for research, study, and production. The common works in seed banks are diversity collection, regeneration, characterization, multiplication, and distribution along with online database management.

The Webb’s hyacinth (Bellevalia webbiana Parl., Asparagaceae) is an Italian narrow endemic species, listed as Endangered (EN A2c) in the IUCN Global Red List of Threatened Species. The range of this bulbous perennial herb is restricted to two disjunct areas of Central Italy, separated by the mountain ridge of Northern Apennine. To evaluate the impact of climate change on this species, we used Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) to predict future potential distribution under different scenarios, through Maximum entropy algorithm. The estimated potential distribution highlights the vulnerability of Webb’s hyacinth to the effects of climate change. The current potential Area Of Occupancy (AOO) (992 2×2 km cells) is forecast to dramatically decrease in the range 2041–2100, under the scenarios SSP3-7.0 (2070 = –249, 2100 = –682) and SSP5-8.5 (2070 = –372, 2100 = –948). In all future scenarios, the predicted potential distribution shifts towards higher elevations, located in the two main areas in which the species currently occurs. This could imply a loss of the current genetic differentiation documented at the population level. To overcome these problems, in addition to assisted colonization, an ex situ conservation programme should be planned.

This project organizes data and analyses that document, aggregate, map, and describe designated recovery units for species listed on the US Endangered Species List.

Animals in human care are affected by stressors that can ultimately reduce fitness. When reproduction is affected, endangered species conservation programs can be severely compromised. Thus, understanding factors related to stress and reproduction, and related hormones, is important to ensure captive breeding success. Red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) are endangered, and populations in the wild are threatened with extinction. A global captive breeding program has been launched to conserve the species with the goal of reintroduction. However, there is little information on how stressors impact physiological aspects of the species. This study measured fecal glucocorticoid (fGCM), progestagen (fPM), and androgen (fAM) metabolite concentrations in 12 female and 8 male red pandas at 3 zoos in India to determine predictors of adrenal and gonadal steroid activity, and the influence of fGCM on reproduction. Based on the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), fGCM concentrations were positively correlated with the number of visitors, number of nests and enclosure areas, and negatively related to frequency of feedings, log density, and social time, while fPM concentrations were negatively associated with enclosure areas. A confounder for enclosure areas and number of nests was the fact that these spaces were relatively barren, with limited hiding spaces, compared to the smaller enclosures. By contrast, no significant relationships were found for fAM, perhaps due to the smaller sample size. A negative relationship between fGCM and fPM was observed, indicating increasing adrenal hormones may decrease reproductive function among female red pandas. Results suggest that zoo management should consider increasing feeding frequency, providing larger enclosures with more enrichment and more nests in larger spaces, and regulating visitor numbers to support good welfare and potentially improve reproductive fitness of red pandas in captivity.

The auditory biology of Monachinae seals is poorly understood. Limited audiometric data and certain anatomical features suggest that these seals may have reduced sensitivity to airborne sounds compared to related species. Here, we describe the in-air hearing abilities of a Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) trained to participate in a psychophysical paradigm. We report absolute (unmasked) thresholds for narrowband signals measured in quiet conditions across the range of hearing and masked thresholds measured in the presence of octave-band noise at two frequencies. The behavioral audiogram indicates a functional hearing range from 0.1 to 33 kHz and poor sensitivity, with detection thresholds above 40 dB re 20 µPa. Critical ratio measurements are elevated compared to those of other seals. The apparently reduced terrestrial hearing ability of this individual—considered with available auditory data for a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris)—suggests that hearing in Monachinae seals differs from that of the highly sensitive Phocinae seals. Exploration of phylogenetic relationships and anatomical traits support this claim. This work advances understanding of the evolution of hearing in amphibious marine mammals and provides updated information that can be used for management and conservation of endangered Hawaiian monk seals. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00359-021-01498-y.

The Shelta Cave Crayfish (Orconectes sheltae) is a small, cave-obligate member of the genus Orconectes (family Cambaridae) endemic to a single cave system—Shelta Cave—in northwest Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama, USA. Although never abundant, this stygobiont was regularly observed in the 1960s and early 1970s before the population and aquatic community in general at Shelta Cave collapsed likely in response to groundwater contamination and the loss of energetic inputs from a Grey Bat (Myotis grisescens) maternity colony that abandoned the cave after installation of a poorly designed cave gate. We conducted 20 visual surveys of aquatic habitats at Shelta Cave between October 2018 and July 2021. Although the aquatic community has not recovered, we did confirm the continued existence of O. sheltae, which had not been observed in 31 years, with observations of an adult female on 31 May 2019 and an adult male on 28 August 2020. We conducted the first phylogenetic analyses of O. sheltae and discovered that the species is most closely related to other geographically proximate stygobiotic crayfishes in the genus Cambarus in northern Alabama than members of the genus Orconectes. We advocate for recognition of this species as Cambarus sheltae to more accurately reflect evolutionary relationships of this single-cave endemic and offer recommendations for its management, conservation, and future research, as this species remains at high risk of extinction.

Argyranthemum thalassophilum, Asparagus nesiotes subsp. nesiotes and Euphorbia anachoreta are three threatened taxa that are endemic to the Selvagens Islands, a very isolated archipelago of small islands in the Atlantic Ocean. As a part of a conservation project for the three taxa, we conducted fieldwork that included detailed censuses and identification of threatening factors, which ultimately allowed the assessment of their IUCN Red List status. The three species should be categorized as Endangered under the criterion D, as for all the cases there are fewer than 250 mature individuals (79, 119, and 58 for Argyranthemum thalassophilum, Asparagus nesiotes subsp. nesiotes and Euphorbia anachoreta, respectively). In spite of the fact that A. thalassophilum does not show the lowest census size, this taxon should be regarded as the most threatened because it is the only one showing no regeneration (i.e. a total lack of seedings and/or juveniles)., RV and JL-P are in the “Plant Biodiversity and Biosystematics” group of Generalitat de Catalunya (Ajuts a Grups de Recerca Consolidats 2014-SGR514-GREB and 2017-SGR1116)

We report from three localities four new records of the threatened Brazilian Atlantic Forest endemic Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818). These are the first records of this porcupine species from the state of Minas Gerais, and these new data extend the distribution of this species by approximately 220 km to the southwest. As C. subspinosus was observed in areas of transitional vegetation, this species may be found in a much broader spectrum of habitat types than previously thought. We recommend further surveys focusing on documenting this species.

A new species ofAcanthosaurafrom Yunnan, China, is described based on morphological and genetic data. The new species can be separated from all other species of the genus by having a different shape of the black eye patch, a different coloration of the postorbital and occipital spines and nuchal crest, and a different color of the gular pouch. Genetically, uncorrected sequence divergences of COI between the new species and investigated congeners ranged from 16.12% to 24.11%. The conservation status of the new species is also discussed.

Madagascar does not have native wild felid species; however, distinct populations of free-ranging “forest cats” of unknown species are known throughout the island, including at Ankarafantsika National Park, Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve, Makira Natural Park and the Masoala peninsula. Malagasy “forest cats” are commonly considered invasive lemur predators and competitors with endemic carnivores as well as a nuisance exotic species that kill poultry. These cats may be descendants of African wildcats, European wildcats and/or domestic cats; however, no research on their genetic origin has been published. To determine their taxonomic status, genetic data from short tandem repeat markers was assessed for three wild-caught “forest cats” from the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve (BMSR) and 27 “forest cats” from Ankarafantsika National Park. Bayesian analyses comparing the Malagasy “forest cats” to approximately 1900 domestic and wildcat sub-species suggest the Malagasy cats are descendents of domestic cats from the Arabian Sea region, including the islands of Lamu and Pate, Dubai, Kuwait and Oman. Additional genetic influences may descend from India and Pakistan. Combined with cultural and historical information, these data suggest that these felid populations are likely descendents from cats that immigrated to the island on trade ships, particularly along early Arab trade routes.

The black‐tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos) is a recently discovered, endangered, carnivorous marsupial mammal endemic to the Tweed Shield Volcano caldera, straddling the border between Queensland and New South Wales in eastern Australia. The species' preference for cool, high‐altitude habitats makes it particularly vulnerable to a shifting climate as these habitats recede. Aside from basic breeding and dietary patterns, the species' ecology is largely unknown. Understanding fine‐scale habitat attributes preferred by this endangered mammal is critical to employ successful conservation management. Here, we assess vegetation attributes of known habitats over three sites at Springbrook and Border Ranges National Parks, including detailed structure data and broad floristic assessment. Floristic compositional assessment of the high‐altitude cloud rainforest indicated broad similarities. However, only 22% of plant species were shared between all sites indicating a high level of local endemism. This suggests a diverse assemblage of vegetation across A. arktos habitats. Habitat characteristics were related to capture records of A. arktos to determine potential fine‐scale structural habitat requirements. Percentage of rock cover and leaf litter were the strongest predictors of A. arktos captures across survey sites, suggesting a need for foraging substrate and cover. Habitat characteristics described here will inform predictive species distribution models of this federally endangered species and are applicable to other mammal conservation programs., The black‐tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos) is a recently discovered, endangered carnivorous marsupial mammal endemic to the border between Queensland and New South Wales in eastern Australia. The species' preference for cool, high‐altitude habitats makes it particularly vulnerable to a shifting climate. Here, we assess vegetation attributes of known habitats over three sites at Springbrook and Border Ranges National Parks, including detailed structure data and broad floristic assessment.

Horaga onyx (Moore 1857) commonly known as Common Onyx or Blue Onyx is one of the rarest Lycaenid butterfly species found in Sri Lanka. Only a handful of sight records are there of this butterfly and much of the biology of this butterfly in Sri Lanka has not been studied. Here we report the first record of this species ovipositing in Sri Lanka and first record of its host plant, Macaranga indica.

Argyreia lawii C.B. Clarke, an endemic to Western Ghats of India is reported here as an after century collection. Detailed description and photo plates are given for easy identification and IUCN status of the species has been accessed.

Elaeagnus mollis Diels (Elaeagnaceae) is a species of shrubs and/or dwarf trees that produces highly nutritious nuts with abundant oil and pharmaceutical properties. It is endemic to China but endangered. Therefore, to facilitate the protection of its genetic resources and the development of its commercially attractive traits we generated a high-quality genome of E. mollis. The contig version of the genome (630.96 Mb long) was assembled into 14 chromosomes using Hi-C data, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 18.40 and 38.86 Mb, respectively. Further analyses identified 397.49 Mb (63.0%) of repetitive sequences and 27,130 protein-coding genes, of which 26,725 (98.5%) were functionally annotated. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog assessment indicated that 98.0% of highly conserved plant genes are completely present in the genome. This is the first reference genome for any species of Elaeagnaceae and should greatly facilitate future efforts to conserve, utilize, and elucidate the evolution of this endangered endemic species.

More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered. Monarch Butterflies population has plummeted 99.9% since the 1980s. This poses a tremendous risk to our ecosystem. This talk will reflect on how Patricia's love for bees has led her on a path that transformed how she approaches design as activism while harnessing the creative process. She believes that landscape architects have an important role and the potential to make a big impact for insect survival. Patricia was born and raised in Mexico, she is the founding principal of BASE. A recognized leader in sustainable design and community involvement, Patricia creates landscapes that immerse people of all backgrounds and abilities in learning, exploration and play. Patricia’s community involvement and advocacy expand the boundaries of traditional landscape architecture. She founded an NGO that creates healthy habitats for pollinators. She has lectured at many universities and has won two national faculty ASLA awards. She received her MLA from UC Berkeley in 2007., https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/laep_speakerseries/1005/thumbnail.jpg

Bulbophyllum abangjoei is a new one-flowered orchid species described from Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Katibas and Anap-Muput, Tatau, Sarawak. The taxonomic treatment is accompanied by taxonomic notes, information on the species’ affinities at infrageneric level, geographical distribution, habitat ecology, and implications for their conservation. It is morphologically almost similar to Bulbophyllum deviantiae, B. membranifolium, and B. sanguineolentum, but clearly differs in the long, narrowly oblong to linear leaf blade, subsessile petiole ca. 5 mm long, long narrowly cylindrical pseudobulbs with some mature pseudobulbs reaching ¾ length of the leaf blade, non-resupinate flowers, shortly upcurved and not emarginate labellum apex, and elliptic-oblong stelids at lower margins near the apex of the column. For these morphological differences, B. abangjoei is here described as distinct and new species to science. The new species is so far only known from three localities in protected areas in Sarawak, and hereby is assessed as ‘Endangered’ [EN B2 (a)(b) D1] under IUCN Red List criteria B and D.

The Indus River dolphin (IRD;Platanista gangetica minor) is an endangered and blind freshwater cetacean, endemic to the Indus River system of Pakistan and India. This review article provides detailed information about the major challenges IRDs are facing, and their possible consequences on the population dynamics of the IRD. Furthermore, we have suggested future conservation strategies for the IRD based on the lesson learned from the conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP;Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), a Critically Endangered freshwater cetacean. The major challenges for IRDs are habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, and several types of industrial and agricultural pollutants. Worsening climatic changes, illegal fishing, and overfishing are additional threats. The construction of several barrages has fragmented the population into several short segments, some of which are too small for the IRDs to survive. In some segments, the population status of the IRD is unknown. In the remaining populations, genetic inbreeding, water shortage, canal entrapment, and altered ecological environment are potent negative factors for the survival of the IRD. Conservation strategies including fishing bans, translocation, and future research (tagging, periodic health assessments, necropsy and virtopsy, understanding the reproductive biology, and genomics) are possible recommendations. Very serious conservation efforts are needed to save the IRD from decline keeping in view the water shortage, pollution, lack of health assessment studies, and habitat degradation and fragmentation.

Parnassius bremeri (P. bremeri), a member of the genus Snow Apollo in the swallowtail family (Papilionidae), is a high alpine butterfly that lives in Russia, Korea, and China. It is an endangered wildlife (Class I) in South Korea and is a globally endangered species. The lack of transcriptomic and genomic resources of P. bremeri significantly hinders the study of its population genetics and conservation. The detailed information of the developmental stage-specific gene expression patterns of P. bremeri is of great demand for its conservation. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the metamorphic development of P. bremeri is still unknown. In the present study, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the metamorphic developmental stages were compared using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. We identified a total of 72,161 DEGs from eight comparisons. GO enrichment analysis showed that a range of DEGs were responsible for cuticle development and the melanin biosynthetic pathway during larval development. Pathway analysis suggested that the signaling pathways, such as the Wnt signaling pathway, hedgehog signaling pathway and Notch signaling pathway, are regulated during the developmental stages of P. bremeri. Furthermore, sensory receptors were also activated, especially during the larval to adult transition stage. Collectively, the results of this study provide a preliminary foundation and understanding of the molecular mechanism in their transcriptomes for further research on the metamorphic development of P. bremeri.

Giraffe populations have declined in abundance by almost 40% over the last three decades, and the geographic ranges of the species (previously believed to be one, now defined as four species) have been significantly reduced or altered. With substantial changes in land uses, loss of habitat, declining abundance, translocations, and data gaps, the existing geographic range maps for giraffe need to be updated. We performed a review of existing giraffe range data, including aerial and ground observations of giraffe, existing geographic range maps, and available literature. The information we collected was discussed with and validated by subject‐matter experts. Our updates may serve to correct inaccuracies or omissions in the baseline map, or may reflect actual changes in the distribution of giraffe. Relative to the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Assessment range map, the updated geographic range maps show a 5.6% decline in the range area of all giraffe taxa combined. The ranges of Giraffa camelopardalis (northern giraffe) and Giraffa tippelskirchi (Masai giraffe) decreased in area by 37% (122432 km2) and 4.7% (20816 km2) respectively, whereas 14% (41696 km2) of the range of Giraffa reticulata (reticulated giraffe) had not been included in the original geographic range map and has now been added. The range of Giraffa giraffa (southern giraffe) showed little overall change; it increased by 0.1% (419 km2). Ranges were larger than previously reported in six of the 21 range countries (Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe), had declined in seven (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Niger, Uganda, and Zambia) and remained unchanged in seven (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Africa). In Kenya, the ranges of both Giraffa tippelskirchi and Giraffa camelopardalis decreased, but the range of Giraffa reticulata was larger than previously believed. Our updated range maps increase existing knowledge, and are important for conservation planning for giraffe. However, since rapid infrastructure development throughout much of Africa is a driver of giraffe population declines, there is an urgent need for a continent‐wide, consistent and systematic giraffe survey to produce more accurate range maps, in order to inform conservation and policy planning.

PerrottetiawichmaniorumLorence & W. L. Wagner,sp. nov. is described as endemic to Kaua‘i. It differs from its Hawaiian congenerP.sandwicensisby its larger, thicker, more densely hirtellous-villosulous rugose leaves with a smaller length:width ratio [1.5–1.7:1], larger inflorescences with usually four degrees of branching with moderately to densely hirtellous axes, and flowers with glabrous petals. This new species falls into the Endangered (EN) category when evaluated using the IUCN Red List criteria for endangerment based on its small area of occupancy, a decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and number of mature individuals.

The northeast Brazilian state of Alagoas harbors a rather diverse, and one of the world’s most threatened, avifauna. However, the knowledge about its avifauna is currently scattered on several publications and the state’s birds have never been comprehensively assembled into a checklist. To fill this shortfall, we present here the first critical review of all available bird records for the state of Alagoas. We present a list of 520 bird species recorded in the state, of which 503 are supported by documentary evidence. We also comment on the distribution, migratory movements, taxonomy and conservation of the region’s avifauna and correct previous misidentified or invalid records for the state.

The Black-bellied Tern is an endangered species and its population is declining severely due to the loss and degradation of its foraging and breeding habitats because of increasing anthropogenic activities. We report the breeding of Black-bellied Tern from different localities along the Mahanadi River in Odisha, eastern India. We recommend the protection and conservation of its breeding sites along with regular community outreach activities for the long-term conservation of this globally threatened species.

The genus Silene L. is one of the largest genera in Caryophyllaceae, and is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and South America. The endemic species Silene leucophylla and the near-endemic S. schimperiana are native to the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. They have reduced population size and are endangered on national and international scales. These two species have typically been disregarded in most studies of the genus Silene. This research integrates the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), species micromorphology, and the phylogenetic analysis of four DNA markers: ITS, matK, rbcL and psb-A/trn-H. Trichomes were observed on the stem of Silene leucophylla, while the S. schimperiana has a glabrous stem. Irregular epicuticle platelets with sinuate margin were found in S. schimperiana. Oblong, bone-shaped, and irregularly arranged epidermal cells were present on the leaf of S. leucophylla, while Silene schimperiana leaf has “tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and polygonal” epidermal cells. Silene leucophylla and S. schimperiana have amphistomatic stomata. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of each marker individually or in combination represented the first phylogenetic study to reveal the generic and sectional classification of S. leucophylla and S. schimperiana. Two Silene complexes are proposed based on morphological and phylogenetic data. The Leucophylla complex was allied to section Siphonomorpha and the Schimperiana complex was related to section Sclerocalycinae. However, these two complexes need further investigation and more exhaustive sampling to infer their complex phylogenetic relationships.

Background The Himalaya hotspot, habitat to numerous indigenous species, harbours an endemic and endangered, cucurbit climber Herpetospermum darjeelingense (C.B.Clarke) H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner [Edgaria darjeelingensis C.B.Clarke]. Seeds of this plant have traditionally been used for ethno-veterinary treatment. The present probe aims to provide an insight into the antioxidant-related biochemical attributes of this phytochemically unexplored plant. Results DPPH scavenging activity of solvent extracts showed more potential towards the polar end with its maximum activity in methanolic extract (84.64%). Acetone extract showed more ferric reducing power than the ethanol fractions. Maximum flavonoid quantification was recorded in ethanol extract. GC–MS of methanolic extract detected 39 compounds of which 22 have preventive and curing properties for several ailments. Thirteen compounds were reported with antioxidant activity and cover an area of 63.92% among the total detected compounds by GC–MS. 1,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid; Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester; ß sitosterol and Phytol are present in significant quantity and are the prime candidates conferring antioxidant potential. Chromatographically fractionalized methanol extract with non-polar to polar solvents and their subsequent DPPH scavenging analysis exhibited a major peak in ethanol fraction due to the presence of Phytol in considerable high quantity and some other compounds. Further sub-fractionation of ethanolic fraction provides a supportive evidence of ethanol solubility of the compounds. Biosynthetic lineage reveals fatty acid synthesis, intermediates of Shikimate pathway and terpenoid metabologenesis schemes lead to the several antioxidant molecules detected in our extract. Conclusion Metabolomics of antioxidants will provide a better understanding in its intracellular free radical quenching activity and isolation of these bioactive compounds can boost pharmaceutical industry.

Anurans (frogs and toads) are among the most globally threatened taxonomic groups. Successful conservation of anurans will rely on improved data on the status and changes in local populations, particularly for rare and threatened species. Automated sensors, such as acoustic recorders, have the potential to provide such data by massively increasing the spatial and temporal scale of population sampling efforts. Analyzing such data sets will require robust and efficient tools that can automatically identify the presence of a species in audio recordings. Like bats and birds, many anuran species produce distinct vocalizations that can be captured by autonomous acoustic recorders and represent excellent candidates for automated recognition. However, in contrast to birds and bats, effective automated acoustic recognition tools for anurans are not yet widely available. An effective automated call‐recognition method for anurans must be robust to the challenges of real‐world field data and should not require extensive labeled data sets. We devised a vocalization identification tool that classifies anuran vocalizations in audio recordings based on their periodic structure: the repeat interval‐based bioacoustic identification tool (RIBBIT). We applied RIBBIT to field recordings to study the boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata) of temperate North American grasslands and the critically endangered variable harlequin frog (Atelopus varius) of tropical Central American rainforests. The tool accurately identified boreal chorus frogs, even when they vocalized in heavily overlapping choruses and identified variable harlequin frog vocalizations at a field site where it had been very rarely encountered in visual surveys. Using a few simple parameters, RIBBIT can detect any vocalization with a periodic structure, including those of many anurans, insects, birds, and mammals. We provide open‐source implementations of RIBBIT in Python and R to support its use for other taxa and communities., Article impact statement: The repeat interval‐based bioacoustic identification tool automatically identifies frog calls in field recordings.

Marine bird populations have been declining globally with the factors driving this decline not fully understood. Viral diseases, including those caused by poxviruses, are a concern for endangered seabird species. In this study we have characterised a novel avipoxvirus, tentatively designated albatrosspox virus (ALPV), isolated from a skin lesion of an endangered New Zealand northern royal albatross (Diomedea sanfordi). The ALPV genome was 351.9 kbp in length and contained 336 predicted genes, seven of which were determined to be unique. The highest number of genes (313) in the ALPV genome were homologs of those in shearwaterpox virus 2 (SWPV2), while a further 10 were homologs to canarypox virus (CNPV) and an additional six to shearwaterpox virus 1 (SWPV1). Phylogenetic analyses positioned the ALPV genome within a distinct subclade comprising recently isolated avipoxvirus genome sequences from shearwater, penguin and passerine bird species. This is the first reported genome sequence of ALPV from a northern royal albatross and will help to track the evolution of avipoxvirus infections in this endangered species.

Under § 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act),'federal agencies must ensure that actions they authorize, fund, or carry out are" not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered species or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of habitat of such species." 2 For species with low and declining populations, applying this standard is legally and scientifically difficult. 3 The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) faced this problem in its recent biological opinion (BiOp) analyzing impacts to threatened Delta smelt from water project operations in the California Delta. FWS concluded the" species' recent abundance trends strongly suggest it is in the midst of demographic collapse," and most recent surveys to locate smelt have failed to find them.'Nevertheless, FWS approved agency actions that will likely increase extinction risk for Delta smelt.

The Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is one of five extant rhinoceros species and among the rarest large mammals on Earth. Once widespread across Southeast Asia, it is now on the verge of extinction, with only one wild population remaining (estimated at ~60 individuals) on the island of Java, Indonesia. To assess the past genetic diversity of the female lineage of R. sondaicus, we generated mitochondrial genome data from eight museum specimens dating back to the 19th century, before the range of the Javan rhinoceros was dramatically reduced, for comparison against mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of current R. sondaicus and other rhinoceros species. We succeeded in reconstructing five full and three partial ancient mitogenomes from the eight samples. We used BEAST to assess the phylogenetic relationship of the five extant rhinoceros species and the historical samples. The results show that the oldest and most diverse mtDNA lineages of R. sondaicus are found in historical samples, indicating a significant reduction of mtDNA diversity in modern Javan rhinos. We anticipate that the newly sequenced data will represent a useful resource for improving our understanding of evolutionary history of this species, should future studies be able to increase the available dataset. We hope this information may help in conservation efforts for this species.

Caladenia fulva G.W. Carr (Tawny Spider-orchid) is a terrestrial Australian endangered orchid confined to contiguous reserves in open woodland in Victoria, Australia. Natural recruitment is poor and no confirmed pollinator has been observed in the last 30 years. Polymorphic variation in flower color complicates plans for artificial pollination, seed collection and ex situ propagation for augmentation or re-introduction. DNA sequencing showed that there was no distinction among color variants in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the chloroplast trnT-trnF and matK regions. Also, authentic specimens of both C. fulva and Caladenia reticulata from the reserves clustered along with these variants, suggesting free interbreeding. Artificial cross-pollination in situ and assessment of seed viability further suggested that no fertility barriers existed among color variants. Natural fruit set was 15% of the population and was proportional to numbers of the different flower colors but varied with orchid patch within the population. Color modeling on spectral data suggested that a hymenopteran pollinator could discriminate visually among color variants. The similarity in fruiting success, however, suggests that flower color polymorphism may avoid pollinator habituation to specific non-rewarding flower colors. The retention of large brightly colored flowers suggests that C. fulva has maintained attractiveness to foraging insects rather than evolving to match a scarce unreliable hymenopteran sexual pollinator. These results suggest that C. fulva should be recognized as encompassing plants with these multiple flower colors, and artificial pollination should use all variants to conserve the biodiversity of the extant population.

Most of educational projects are related with challenges of environmental issues and rarely taking under consideration that animals are part of life of land. Animals have a strong effect in our lives, as keep the life cycle balances. That is why in our project we decided to concern ourselves with Animal Rights, all around the world and in Greece. The main problems we are dealing with are: The living conditions of productive animals, the rights of stray animals, the abuse of animals, the torture of equine animals and animals which produce fur, the conduct of experimental medical tests on animals and the protection of endangered animals. In our project we have set some goals as well as the means of meeting them. When it comes to finding a solution to the problems mentioned above, after noticing what our classmates knew about them, we came to the realization that what is needed most of all is better information about these problems that can be found in an easy, fun and interactive platform. As a team, we made various games and activities with which people can learn about animals and the difficult situations they are dealing with.

A new species of Acanthosaura from Yunnan, China, is described based on morphological and genetic data. The new species can be separated from all other species of the genus by having a different shape of the black eye patch, a different coloration of the postorbital and occipital spines and nuchal crest, and a different color of the gular pouch. Genetically, uncorrected sequence divergences of COI between the new species and investigated congeners ranged from 16.12% to 24.11%. The conservation status of the new species is also discussed.

Our current moment, marked by mass extinction and apocalyptic imagination, demands poetic response. Adrienne Rich writes: “In a time of frontal assaults both on language and on human solidarity, poetry can remind us of all we are in danger of losing—disturb us, embolden us out of resignation.” What does it mean to witness the last of a kind? How should we approach daily life while, elsewhere, destruction is constant and imminent? These concerns with ephemerality and simultaneity meet in "Endlings," which juxtaposes spectral voices and environmental elegies. The project is situated between the ethereal and the real; it sets oneiric journeys alongside attempts to construct a secular interpretation of the notion of “afterlife” through phenomenology, dreams, and memory.

Este artículo contiene 9 páginas, 2 figuras, 2 tablas., Biodiversity conservation requires efficient methods to be integrated into environmental management planning. The Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) approach has been recently developed for identifying sites of greatest conservation importance. They are regarded as priorities for management intervention and for identifying investment priorities. While the KBA approach has been extensively used to identify locations of high biodiversity significance in the terrestrial realm, this methodology is scarcely known by stakeholders in marine jurisdictions. Identification of a network of KBA sites should be regarded as a high priority in diverse and isolated areas, such as oceanic islands. In the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic Ocean), a number of KBA sites are here identified across the archipelago using irreplaceability and vulnerability criteria to safeguard populations of threatened marine species. If global standards associated with the IUCN Red List are considered, only nesting beaches and regular feeding grounds of sea turtles (Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas) qualify as KBAs. However, this approach overlooks most of the biodiversity hotspots in the Canary archipelago that include representative ecosystems of volcanic islands (e.g. marine caves) or habitats with high conservation importance in terms of productivity, regional rarity and diversity (e.g. seagrass meadows and maërl seabeds), as well as presence of locally threatened species., To the Environmental Agency of the Canarian Government for the conservation efforts conducted throughout the last decades to preserve biodiversity hotspots in the Canary Islands. To the Ministry of Environment (MAGRAMA) to coordinate the current network of SACs in the Canary archipelago. To Prof. G. Edgar (IMAS, Australia) for providing insights and interchange of ideas on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Hippocampus patagonicus is classified as endangered in the vulnerable category by Brazilian law (MMA, 2014), and by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) criteria. Thirteen boats from the commercial fishing fleet of southern Brazil were monitored for 17 months to supplement data for the evaluation of this species. Three seahorse collection points were established, where the fish are landed: port of Imbé/Tramandaí and port of Passo de Torres (northern coast (NC) of Rio Grande do Sul) and the port of Rio Grande (southern coast (SC) of Rio Grande do Sul). The presence of H. patagonicus was recurrent, and the collected animals were between 22 and 130 mm in height. The species was captured from 11 to 57 m deep as bycatch of significant transboundary marine resources (Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentine). In bycatch of gillnet fishing (NC), estimated capture was 0.68 ± 0.97 seahorses/month/vessel, annually, an average of 89.76 seahorses would be removed from the sea by the 11 vessels involved. In trawling (SC), it was 49.66 ± 64.86 seahorses/month/double-rig trawl. It is estimated that 8,342 seahorses are removed annually as bycatch, only in this mode of fishing. The information obtained reinforces the need to apply ecosystem management to fisheries for the recovery of stocks that are over-exploited and accompanying fauna as well, especially small species with poorly known life histories such as H. patagonicus.

By sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, flaB, p66, and glpQ, we identified Borrelia miyamotoi in 1 of 4 Père David deer (n = 43) seropositive for Borrelia spp. and 1.2% (3/244) of Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from Dafeng Elk National Natural Reserve, China. Future studies should assess Borrelia pathogenesis in deer.

International audience; Microsatellite diversity of a critically endangered sturgeon, Acipenser sturio L. 1758, assessed from museum and archaeological tissue remains

Timneh Parrots Psittacus timneh are endemic to the moist forests of West Africa. Concerns over rapid declines in populations due to overharvesting for the pet trade and forest loss prompted the species’ categorisation as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Despite these threats, few data exist on their biology in the wild, impeding the development of effective conservation initiatives to protect populations. One of the few recorded breeding sites for this species occurs in the Bijagós Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau, where chicks have been historically harvested from nests and forest clearance for agriculture is common. We investigated the breeding ecology of Timneh Parrots in the Bijagós Archipelago focusing on two islands that harbour the densest populations. Specifically, we describe nest-site characteristics, breeding phenology and reproductive productivity. Timneh Parrots were found to use secondary nest cavities in 17 species of trees, predominantly nesting in trees between 20 m and 50 m in height. Nest cavities were generally aggregated, with a density of up to 14 nests ha−1 in some areas, although nests also occurred in isolated large trees. The distribution of nests likely reflected a heterogeneous distribution of large trees containing suitable nest cavities, emphasising the importance of protecting mature trees. Nesting efforts were initiated between early January until late March, suggesting that nest surveillance efforts to deter poaching can be efficiently focused at a small number of key sites during February to May each year, when fledgling chicks are most likely to be present. These data further suggest that the population may be limited by the availability of suitable nest cavities and that the installation of artificial nest cavities could help increase the breeding population. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Ficus beipeiensis S.S.Chang is an evergreen plant of Ficus from the family Moraceae. This is an endangered species endemic to China. In terms of economic value, F. beipeiensis are used as a native plant resource of urban landscaping in Chongqing, China. Here, we sequenced, assembled and annotated the chloroplast (cp) genome of F. beipeiensis, and aim to provide genetic resources for this endangered species. The length of cp genome was 160,595 bp, with a large single-copy region (LSC) of 88,683 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 20,160 bp separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,876 bp. It encodes 110 unique genes, including 76 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. Besides, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Moraceae based on the whole cp genome sequences data set. Phylogenetic analysis shows that all analyzed Ficus species are clustered and form a monophyletic group. Antiaris is a sister group to Ficus. In our maximum likelihood (ML) tree, F. beipeiensis is closely related to F. racemose.

Simple Summary Why might a species both be seriously threatened and pose an overpopulation problem in introduced locations? The aim of this review was to understand the keys to the adaptive success of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in order to establish its strengths and weaknesses for the management of this keystone species in Mediterranean ecosystems. This work highlights the need to create specific conservation programs for this species. Abstract The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plays an important ecological role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, rabbit populations have drastically reduced, so the species is now considered endangered. However, in some places, this animal is considered a pest. This is the conservation paradox of the 21st century: the wild rabbit is both an invasive alien and an endangered native species. The authors of this review aimed to understand the keys to the adaptive success of European rabbits, addressing all aspects of their biology in order to provide the keys to the ecological management of this species. Aspects including nutrition, genetics, immunity interactions with the environment, behaviour, and conflict with human activities were reviewed. Ultimately, rabbits are resilient and adaptable. The main adaptations that explain the rabbit’s adaptive success are its nutrition (wide adaptation to food and good nutritional use of caecotrophy), immune system (powerful and developed), and other aspects related to genetics and behaviour. Rabbits’ relationship with humans has led them to colonise other places where they have become pests. Despite these adaptations, populations in native places have been drastically reduced in recent years. Since it serves as a bastion of the Mediterranean ecosystem, a specific conservation program for this species must be carried out. Therefore, a study of the rabbit’s response to diseases and nutrition (especially protein), as well as the interaction between them, is of special interest.

The Iberian Peninsula harbours 24 taxa of native large branchiopods (LBs). Most of them inhabit Mediterranean temporary ponds, which are priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive. In this work, Iberian LBs were evaluated using IUCN Red List criteria based on geographic range (extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations, habitat fragmentation and expected decline). Our results show that 46% of the Iberian LBs are threatened: four taxa should be considered as Critically Endangered (Linderiella baetica, Triops emeritensis, Cyzicus tetracerus and Leptestheria mayeti), three taxa fall under the category Endangered (Artemia salina, Tanymastigites lusitanica and Triops vicentinus) and four species (Artemia sp. parthenogenetic strains, Branchinecta orientalis, Lepidurus apus and Triops gadensis) are Vulnerable. Two species (Phallocryptus spinosus, and Maghrebestheria maroccana) are considered Near Threatened. Our results highlight the worrying risk of extinction of Iberian LBs at the regional level, mainly related to the disappearance and degradation of their habitats and the relatively low degree of habitat protection. For Iberian endemic species, this evaluation is also valid at the global level and gives strong support for their inclusion in the IUCN Red List.

Tomopeas ravus, el murciélago de orejas romas, se conoce solo de 13 localidades confirmadas en Perú y actualmente se encuentra listada como En Peligro (B2 ab (iii)) por la UICN. La distribución, extensión de ocurrencia y el área de vida de esta especie no han sido esclarecidos completamente. Presentamos el primer modelo predictivo basado en los registros conocidos y el primer acercamiento geográfico para la especie. Basados en los 13 registros confirmados se construyó un modelo de hábitat de máxima entropía determinando previamente las variables ambientales de mayor importancia para el modelo. Se estimó un índice predictivo aceptable (0.970) para el modelo final. Se determinó las zonas de mayor probabilidad de ocurrencia para esta especie y se estimó el área de distribución mediante el método del polígono mínimo convexo (PMC). El área prioritaria más importante identificada para la conservación de esta especie se sitúa al norte de Perú, entre los Departamentos de Tumbes y Piura. Se recomienda utilizar el presente modelo como herramienta útil para futuras evaluaciones de la conservación de esta especie., Tomopeas ravus, known as blunt - eared bat, is known only from thirteen confirmed localities in Peru and is currently listed as Endangered (B2 ab (iii)) by the IUCN. The distribution, occurrence extension and home range of this species is not have been completely clarified. We presents the first predictive model based on the known records and the first geographic approach to this species. On the basis of thirteen confirmed records we built a habitat model of maximum entropy determining previously the most important environmental variables for the model. An acceptable predictive index (0.970) was obtained for the final model. We determined the areas of major probability of occurrence for this species and felt the geographic distribution through the method of the polygon mínimum convex (PMC). The priority area identified for the conservation of this species is located in the northern of Peru, between the Departments of Tumbes and Piura. We recommended to use the present model as a useful tool for future evaluations of conservation of this species.

Leatherback turtles ( Dermochelys coriacea ) have declined dramatically in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EP) in recent decades. Traditionally, population assessments have relied on the numbers of turtles on the beaches with the highest abundance of turtles (index beaches) and often disregarded the importance of nesting beaches with smaller, but still regular, numbers of nesting turtles (secondary beaches). We characterize leatherback nesting on secondary beaches throughout Pacific Costa Rica. Nesting distribution was significantly reduced since the 1990s and it currently appears to be constricted to the Santa Elena and Nicoya peninsulas. Over the past five years, nesting abundance on secondary beaches was low, ranging between 0.4 ± 0.5 and 5.3 ± 1.5 females and 3.8 ± 5.2 and 22.8 ± 10.8 nests per beach and per year. There was some exchange of turtles between beaches. The exchange rate (percentage of females that nested at least once on a different beach) ranged between 7% and 28%. While Caletas still registers multiple clutches that are laid by 1-2 females in some years, it may no longer qualify as a secondary beach due to the infrequent nature of nesting events registered recently and the total absence of nests in some of those years. Although nesting abundance is relatively low at secondary beaches, they host at least ~25% of total leatherback nesting abundance in Costa Rica. As the EP leatherback turtle declines, not only do the numbers of nesting turtles decrease but local extirpations are occurring on, previously categorized, secondary beaches. The critically low number of turtles at present may prevent recolonization of sites where they have been extirpated.

While greater research on threatened species alone cannot ensure their protection, understanding taxonomic bias may be helpful to address knowledge gaps in order to identify research directions and inform policy. Using data for over 10 000 animal species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, we investigated taxonomic and geographic biodiversity conservation research trends worldwide. We found extreme bias in conservation research effort on threatened vertebrates compared with lesser-studied invertebrates in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats at a global scale. Based on an analysis of common threats affecting vertebrates and invertebrates, we suggest a path forward for narrowing the research gap between threatened vertebrates and invertebrates.

The barber goby Elacatinus figaro is considered endangered due to overexploitation by the ornamental industry. Farming marine ornamental fishes, especially the threatened ones, can be one of the measures to minimize the pressure on the natural stocks. Among the priority issues for their production is the determination of the most appropriate feeding management. The feeding protocol commonly used in the larviculture of barber goby, when the start of Artemia sp. offer occurred at the 18th DAH (days after hatching) (treatment T18), was modified, by anticipating brine shrimp supply in 6 days (treatment T12). Alkaline proteases activity, growth and metamorphosis of larvae were evaluated in both protocols. Juveniles at T12 showed higher weight (0.04 ± 0.001 g) and lower activity of total alkaline proteases (1.3 ± 0.2 mU mg-1 protein) compared to T18 (0.02 ± 0.001 g; 2.8 ± 0.4 mU mg-1 protein, respectively). With anticipation of brine shrimp, the commencing and end of larval transformation was observed earlier (at 24 and 34 DAH, respectively) in comparison to those with the supply of Artemia sp. at 18 DAH (27 and 41 DAH, respectively). Thus, the Artemia sp. anticipation was beneficial during the larviculture of the barber goby, considering that larvae reached metamorphosis earlier.

Objective: To conduct on sustainable fingerling production technique of endangered Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) (L. calbasu) based on different protein levels in ponds. Methods: The experiment was carried out under rearing pond in fish hatchery complex with three treatments group each having three replicates under department of fisheries, University of Rajshahi. L. calbasu were stocked at 41990/ha in T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The initial length of L. calbasu in three treatments were (4.60 ± 0.10) cm and initial weights were (3.48 ± 0.01) g. Fishes were fed with 28%, 30%, 32% protein supplement for T1, T2, T3, respectively. The fishes were initially fed at 10% of body weight on 1st and 2nd fortnight. Then it was decreased at 8% of body weight on 3rd and 4th fortnight. Finally in 5th fortnight they were fed 5% of body weight. The physico-chemical characteristics of pond water were measured fortnightly. Results: The mean final weight gain was found highest in T3 (40.87 ± 0.01) g which was significant compared to T1 and T2. SGR (% bwd–1) was found 2.83 ± 0.02 (T1), 3.04 ± 0.01 (T2) and 3.39 ± 0.01 (T3). The highest survival rate of L. calbasu was found in T3 (90.00 ± 1.00) and the lowest was found in T1 (87.00 ± 1.00). The best FCR (1.54 ± 0.01) was observed in T 3 fed with 32% protein supplement. The highest production was observed in T3 (1672.20 ± 16.96 kg/ha/75 days) and lowest was observed in T1 (1055.50 ± 29.04 kg/ha/75 days). The highest net benefit was calculated in T3 (260663.00 ± 4326.88 tk.) and lowest was found in T1 (112831.00 ± 7383.66 tk.). The CBR was found 0.60 ± 0.04, 0.80 ± 0.02 and 1.16 ± 0.02 in T1, T2 and T3, respectively. There were significant differences in CBR values among the three treatments. Conclutions: In this study, growth parameters i.e., weight gain, SGR (% bwd–1), length gain, total yield were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in T3 treatment fed with 32% protein supplemented diets.

Rheum likiangense Samuelsson (Polygonaceae) is an endangered alpine rhubarb in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence (plastome) of Rh. likiangense. The assembled plastome is 162,291 bp in length with 31,741 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions and 128 annotated genes, including 34 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 86 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the full plastome sequences suggest the close relationship of Rh. likiangense with Rh. acuminatum and Rh. nobile. The plastome reported here is highly useful for designing plastome SSR markers to conduct a further conservation genetic study of this endangered rhubarb.