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A new species of Cetopsorhamdia is described from material collected on rapid inventories and ichthyological expeditions in the Amazon region of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The new species can be differentiated from all other species of Cetopsorhamdia by the colouration pattern on fins, number of vertebrae, number of ribs, level insertion of dorsal fin, number of rays on dorsal and pectoral fin, osteological characters and several other morphometric characters. The new species is distributed along tributaries of the upper Amazon River basin in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.

Since 2000, collaborative and multidisciplinary field inventories have helped quadruple park coverage in Peru’s richest region., Meeting international commitments to protect 17% of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide will require >3 million square kilometers of new protected areas and strategies to create those areas in a way that respects local communities and land use. In 2000–2016, biological and social scientists worked to increase the protected proportion of Peru’s largest department via 14 interdisciplinary inventories covering >9 million hectares of this megadiverse corner of the Amazon basin. In each landscape, the strategy was the same: convene diverse partners, identify biological and sociocultural assets, document residents’ use of natural resources, and tailor the findings to the needs of decision-makers. Nine of the 14 landscapes have since been protected (5.7 million hectares of new protected areas), contributing to a quadrupling of conservation coverage in Loreto (from 6 to 23%). We outline the methods and enabling conditions most crucial for successfully applying similar campaigns elsewhere on Earth.

Modern zoos and aquariums aspire to contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and research. For example, conservation research is a key accreditation criterion of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). However, no studies to date have quantified this contribution. We assessed the research productivity of 228 AZA members using scientific publications indexed in the ISI Web of Science (WoS) database between 1993 and 2013 (inclusive). AZA members published 5175 peer-reviewed manuscripts over this period, with publication output increasing over time. Most publications were in the zoology and veterinary science subject areas, and articles classified as “biodiversity conservation” by WoS averaged 7% of total publications annually. From regression analyses, AZA organizations with larger financial assets generally published more, but research-affiliated mission statements were also associated with increased publication output. A strong publication record indicates expertise and expands scientific knowledge, enhancing organizational credibility. Institutions aspiring for higher research productivity likely require a dedicated research focus and adequate institutional support through research funding and staffing. We recommend future work build on our results by exploring links between zoo and aquarium research productivity and conservation outcomes or uptake.

The Orinoco Andes and northwestern Guiana Shield (Essequibo, Orinoco, Branco, and upper Negro) were found to contain 11 species of Ancistrus, six of which are new. We additionally examine A. brevifilis from the Río Tuy of Venezuela and A. trinitatis from the island of Trinidad. The species in the region can be broken up into dorsoventrally flattened species (A. leoni new species, A. lithurgicus, and A. macropthalmus), white to yellow-dotted species (A. kellerae new species, A. nudiceps, and A. patronus new species), wide-jawed species (A. amaris new species and A. yutajae new species), and white-spotted species (A. brevifilis, A. leucostictus, A. trinitatis, A. saudades new species, and A. triradiatus). Distributions of Ancistrus support the Proto-Berbice hypothesis as A. saudades is found in the upper reaches of the Ventuari, Caura, and Caroni rivers, which were thought to have once flowed into the Proto-Berbice. In addition, although A. nudiceps does not appear to have split once the Takutu River was captured by the Branco, the progenitor of A. leucostictus and A. saudades did speciate with the populations on either side of the Rupununi Portal differing by 7% sequence divergence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene. Besides the descriptions of the new species, we redescribe the others occurring in the area, and adjacent watersheds. We provide a key for their identification, and a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on DNA sequences of the few species for which tissue samples are available.

A new species of Panaqolus is described from material from the Takutu River and the mainstem rio Branco. The new species is diagnosed from congeners by its color pattern consisting of dark and light bars on the body, bands on the fins, and with dots and vermiculations absent (vs. no bars in P. albomaculatus , P. nix , P. nocturnus , and P. koko , vs. fins unbanded in P. albomaculatus , P. dentex , P. koko , and P. nix , and vs. dots and vermiculations present in P. albivermis and P. maccus ). The new species is diagnosed from barred species of Panaqolus by its specific bar number and orientation and color pattern on its head, with bars oriented in a anteroventral-posterodorsal direction (vs. anterodorsal-posteroventral bars in P. gnomus ), having consistently 5 bars (n = 4) on the trunk that do not increase with size (vs. number increasing with size in P. purusiensis and vs. 6-12 in P. changae ), and the color pattern on the head of straight lines extending from posterior to the eye to the snout margin, splitting in the middle portion of the line in larger specimens (vs. small, dense reticulate lines in P. changae ). Biogeographically, we infer that the new species ancestrally originated in the Amazon river, dispersing to the Takutu River after the Amazon captured part of the Proto-Berbice. RESUMO Uma espécie nova de Panaqolus é descrita do rio Branco e seu afluente, rio Tacutu. A nova espécie é diagnosticada de suas congêneres pelo padrão de colorido composto por barras escuras e claras alternadas no corpo e nadadeiras, não formando máculas ou vermiculações nas nadadeiras (vs. sem barras no corpo em P. albomaculatus , P. nix , P. nocturnus , e P. koko , e vs. sem barras nas nadadeiras em P. albomaculatus , P. dentex , P. koko , e P. nix , e vs. máculas e vermiculações presentes em P. albivermis e P. maccus ). A nova espécie é diagnosticada das espécies de Panaqolus com barras pelo número e orientação das barras e pelo padrão de colorido cefálico, com as barras orientadas posterodorsalmente (vs. posteroventralmente em P. gnomus ), pela presença de cinco barras (n = 4) no tronco que não aumentam com o tamanho (vs. número aumentando com o tamanho em P. purusiensis e vs. 6-12 barras em P. changae ), e o padrão de colorido cefálico composto por linhas retas da margem posterior do olho à margem do focinho, dividida medianamente em indivíduos maiores (vs. linhas pequenas e vermiculadas em P. changae ). Nos inferimos que a nova espécie originou-se ancestralmente no rio Amazonas, dispersando para o rio Tacutu após o Amazonas capturar parte do Proto-Berbice.

Hemiancistrus cerrado is described from the tributaries of rio Araguaia, rio Tocantins basin. Hemiancistrus cerrado has external similarities with H. megalopteryx and H. punctulatus from coastal streams of southern Brazil, and can be distinguished by having a larger internarial width, 15.9-21.1% of head length (vs. 11.2-14.0% in H. megalopteryx and 11.2-13.9% in H. punctulatus) and, with little overlap, by the larger adipose-fin spine length, 9.4-13.6% of standard length (vs. 7.1-8.7% in H. megalopteryx and 7.4-10.0% in H. punctulatus). Hemiancistrus cerrado further differs from H. megalopteryx by having the pectoral-fin spine reaching maximally to the middle of the pelvic-fin spine when adpressed in adult males (vs. reaching tip). Hemiancistrus cerrado differs from other members of Hemiancistrus by color and numerous morphometric and meristic data. Hemiancistrus cerrado é descrito de tributários da margem esquerda do rio Araguaia, bacia do rio Tocantins. Hemiancistrus cerrado possui similaridades externas com H. megalopteryx e H. punctulatus de drenagens costeiras do sul do Brasil, e pode ser separado das duas espécies pela maior distância entre as narinas, 15.9-21.1% do comprimento da cabeça (vs. 11.2-14.0% em H. megalopteryx e 11.2-13.9% em H. punctulatus), e, com alguma sobreposição, pela maior nadadeira adiposa, 9.4-13.6% do comprimento padrão (vs. 7.1-8.7% em H. megalopteryx e 7.4-10.0% em H. punctulatus); de H. megalopteryx ainda difere por espinho da nadadeira peitoral de machos adultos se estendendo até o meio do espinho da nadadeira pélvica quando adpressa (vs. se estendendo até a ponta do espinho). Hemiancistrus cerrado difere de outros congêneres pela coloração e diversos dados merísticos e morfométricos.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) holds great promise for conservation applications like the monitoring of invasive or imperiled species, yet this emerging technique requires ongoing testing in order to determine the contexts over which it is effective. For example, little research to date has evaluated how seasonality of organism behavior or activity may influence detection probability of eDNA. We applied eDNA to survey for two highly imperiled species endemic to the upper Black Warrior River basin in Alabama, US: the Black Warrior Waterdog (Necturus alabamensis) and the Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus). Importantly, these species have contrasting patterns of seasonal activity, with N. alabamensis more active in the cool season (October-April) and S. depressus more active in the warm season (May-September). We surveyed sites historically occupied by these species across cool and warm seasons over two years with replicated eDNA water samples, which were analyzed in the laboratory using species-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays. We then used occupancy estimation with detection probability modeling to evaluate both the effects of landscape attributes on organism presence and season of sampling on detection probability of eDNA. Importantly, we found that season strongly affected eDNA detection probability for both species, with N. alabamensis having higher eDNA detection probabilities during the cool season and S. depressus have higher eDNA detection probabilities during the warm season. These results illustrate the influence of organismal behavior or activity on eDNA detection in the environment and identify an important role for basic natural history in designing eDNA monitoring programs.

[[Hypostomus cochliodon group]] Phylogeny The phylogenetic analysis of the Hypostomus cochliodon group (Armbruster, 2003) was based on few characters, two of which were incorrectly labeled (Character 6 should have referred to the deflection of the preoperculo-hyomandibular crest and not the presence of a notch between the hyomandibula and metapterygoid; and Character 9 should have had State 0 as absent and State 1 as present; text is corrected below). These errors did not alter the phylogeny presented in Armbruster (2003), and the remainder of the text is correct on the distribution of these characters. Character 11 is added below for the presence or absence of a notch between the hyomandibula and metapterygoid. Armbruster (2003) stated that a notch was not present in H. hemicochliodon; and he suggested that it was a synapomorphy for wood specializing members of the H. cochliodon group. However, no specimens of H. sculpodon were available at that time for skeletal analysis. A specimen of H. sculpodon is now available for skeletal analysis (AUM 39476), and it does lack the notch between the metapterygoid and hyomandibula as in the wood-specializing species. Hypostomus sculpodon lacks the spoon-shaped teeth of wood-specializing species, suggesting that the notch was lost prior to the evolution of this group. Species recently described by Hollanda Carvalho and Weber (2004) were not available for analysis. Because of the problems with the character list of Armbruster (2003) and the addition of Character 11, the character list is updated below, and a new character state matrix is provided(Table 2). Character 1: Teeth -0: elongate; 1: intermediate throughout life; 2: spoon-shaped at least in adults. Character 2: Maxilla -0: straight to moderately curved; 1: greatly curved, almost forming right angle. Character 3: Odontodes on opercle -0: 11+; 1: 0-10. Character 4: Longitudinal ridge formed from bone and slightly enlarged odontodes on pterotic-supracleithrum -0: present; 1: absent. Character 5: Nuptial body odontodes -0: absent; 1: present. Character 6: Preoperculo-hyomandibular ridge deflected posterior to the main body of the hyomandibula -0: absent; 1: present. Character 7: Buccal papilla -0: present; 1: absent or extremely small. Character 8: Dentary angle -0: averaging greater than 90��; 1: averaging less than 80��. Character 9: Sharp keel odontodes -0: absent; 1: present. Character 10: Body shape deep and narrow with the head taller than wide -0: absent; 1: present. Character 11: Notch between the hyomandibula and metapterygoid -0: present; 1: absent. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in 12 trees of 14 steps, CI = 0.857 (Fig. 3). The additions of Hypostomus macushi and the skeletal characteristics of H. sculpodon collapsed nearly all of the clades reported in Armbruster (2003). The result is that the current evidence only supports the H. cochliodon group as monophyletic, the wood specializing species as monophyletic, and a sister group relationship of H. ericius and H. oculeus. Skeletal morphology is fairly conserved among the species of the H. cochliodon group, and additional types of characters (such as gene sequences) will be necessary to elucidate the relationships of the species., Published as part of Jonathan W. Armbruster & Lesley S. de Souza, 2005, Hypostomus macushi, a new species of the Hypostomus cochliodon group (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Guyana., pp. 1-12 in Zootaxa 920 on pages 8-10

Hypostomus macushi New Species (Fig. 1) Holotype: UG/CSBD 11047, Guyana, Rupununi (Region 9), 130.9 mm SL, Ireng River, 6.9 km WSW Karasabai, Takutu River - Negro River drainage, 04.01957°, -059.60170°, 1 November 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, D.C. Werneke, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, D. Arjoon, and L. Atkinson. Paratypes: All collections Guyana, Rupununi (Region 9), Takutu River - Negro River drainage: ANSP 180211, 2 specimens, 37.2-99.2, AUM 35553, 3, 36.2-114.9, MCP 35157, 1, 67.3, and UG/CSBD 11048, 1, 86.9, same data as holotype; ANSP 180212, 2, 58.2-77.3, AUM 35540, 3, 50.5-94.5, MCP 35157, 1, 80.1, and UG/CSBD 11049, 2, 42.7-71.3, Yuora River, tributary of the Ireng River, 6.7 km NE Karasabai, 04.05399°, - 059.45450°, 31 October 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, D. Arjoon, and L. Atkinson; ANSP 180213, 1, 38.9 and AUM 38884, 1, 34.4, Takutu River, 3.77 km SSW Lethem. 03.35500°, -059.83077°, 1 November 2003, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, M. Hardman, D. Arjoon, N.K. Lujan, and L.S. de Souza; and AUM 35544, 1, 34.4, Sauriwau River, 31.2 km NW village of Sand Creek, 03.11432°, - 059.77544°, 4 November 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, D.C. Werneke, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, and D. Arjoon; AUM 35548, 1, 34.8. Nontypes: All collections, Guyana, Essequibo River drainage: AUM 35510, 1, 141.5, Rupununi (Region 9), Simoni River, tributary of Rupununi River, 4 sites from 6.6 km SE to 3.2 km W Karanambo, 03.71917°, -059.26121°, 29 October 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, and R. Francis; AUM 35534, 1, 30.6, Rupununi (Region 9), Rupununi River, 4.6 km NW Massara, 03.92603°, -059.28037°, 26 October 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, D.C. Werneke, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, D. Arjoon, S.M. James, and S. Mario; AUM 35531, 3, 30.0-40.5, Rupununi (Region 9), Rupununi River at Karanambo, 03.75004°, -059.30835°, 29-30 October 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, D.C. Werneke, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, and D. Arjoon; and AUM 35548, 1, 34.8, Upper Demerara - Berbice (Region 10), Essequibo River at Kurukupari, east bank, 04.66149°, -058.67519°, 24 October 2002, J.W. Armbruster, M.H. Sabaj, D.C. Werneke, C.L. Allison, M.R. Thomas, C.J. Chin, D. Arjoon, and S.M. James. Diagnosis: Hypostomus macushi can be separated from all other Hypostomus except the species of the H. cochliodon group based on the presence of large, spoon-shaped teeth (vs. viliform teeth and loss of the buccal papilla; and from all members of the H. cochliodon group except H. cochliodon, H. ericae, H. ericius and H. paucipunctatus by the presence of very widely spaced black spots on a light background. Hypostomus macushi can be separated from H. cochliodon by lacking a longitudinal ridge on the pterotic-supracleithrum and a lack of longitudinal dark stripes; from H. ericius by lacking keels formed from sharp odontodes on the lateral plates; from H. ericae and H. paucipunctatus by lacking a buccal papilla; from H. ericae by having spots in the distal dorsal and caudal fins not combining(vs. spots combining to form wavy lines); and from H. paucipunctatus by having medium to large spots (vs. very small spots). Hypostomus macushi can additionally be separated from H. cochliodon, H. ericius, H. oculeus, H. pyrineusi, and H. sculpodon by having seven to eight adipose-caudal plates (vs. nine to 16); and from H. hemicochliodon, H. hondae, H. pagei, H. plecostomoides, H. sculpodon, H. simios and H. soniae by generally having no odontodes on the opercle (zero to 10), vs. having a patch of greater than 10 odontodes on the opercle. Description: Morphometric data given in Table 1. Fairly small for Hypostomus cochliodon group, largest 141.5 mm SL. Body shape deep at origin of the dorsal fin then narrowing posteriorly causing body to appear humped. Body depth increases from snout to tip of supraoccipital at steep angle, angle of body depth increase decreases from tip of supraoccipital to dorsal-fin spinelet. Rounded ridge present from anterodorsal corner of orbit to posterior margin of nares; ridge widest and tallest posteriorly. Longitudinal ridge formed of raised bone and slightly larger odontodes absent on pterotic-supracleithrum beginning at postdorsal corner of orbit. Nuptial body odontodes present. Cheek plates generally support several stout odontodes slightly larger than surrounding odontodes. Rounded ridge present from posterodorsal corner of eye to end of pterotic-supracleithrum. Space between orbits concave such that dorsal rim of orbit raised above medial surface of head. Nares separated by flap of skin held erect in life. Dorsal, supramedian, median, and inframedian plate rows complete from head to caudal fin, ventral plate row begins at insertion of pelvic fin and continues to caudal fin. Lateral plates with very short median keels formed from ridge of bone and enlarged odontodes; keel odontodes not sharp; keels of first three plates of supramedian plate row angled dorsally, confluent with keel of dorsal plate row; keels on first three plates of dorsal row forming angle from tip of supraoccipital to posterolateral corner of nuchal plate, not confluent with keel on dorsal plate row beginning on fourth plate. Base of caudal fin covered in elongate, roughly triangular plates. Entire ventral surface of head and body (including space above pectoral- and pelvic-fin rays) of most adults covered in small platelets, platelets often extending onto base of pectoral- and pelvic-fin rays ventrally; some adults with broad, naked areas around insertions of pelvic-fin spines. Zero to few small platelets present in skin between dorsal fin and lateral plates of adults. Platelets on abdomen and near fins increase in number with standard length. Head covered in small plates. Frontal, nasal, sphenotic, infraorbitals, pterotic-supracleithrum, suprapreopercle, and supraoccipital supporting odontodes. Opercle typically without odontodes, but one to 10 may be present in some individuals. Some odontodes present on posterior margin of preopercle. Platelets that cover anteroventral corner of opercle slightly separated from opercle allowing plates to be marginally everted (angle of eversion less than 30°). Dorsal fin moderately long, usually just barely reaching preadipose plate when depressed, consisting of small, V-shaped spinelet, fairly strong spine, and seven rays. Caudal fin forked, lower lobe longer than upper. Pectoral-fin spine strong, reaches posterior to pelvic-fin rays when depressed ventral to pelvic fin; cleithrum with exposed process dorsal to pectoral-fin rays that tapers posteriorly to point; pectoral fin inserted on same plane as pelvic fin such that spine, when depressed parallel with body, lies on top of and in contact with pelvic fin. Pelvic-fin spine thin, flexible, reaches origin of anal fin when depressed. Anal fin with relatively strong, unbranched first ray that supports odontodes. Adipose fin consisting of single median, unpaired preadipose plate and a stout, strong, pointed spine; adipose-fin membrane not reaching procurrent caudal-fin spines. Dorsal fin II7; pectoral fin I6; pelvic fin I5, anal fin I4, caudal fin I14I. Jaws strongly angled, dentaries forming angle of less than 80°. Teeth few (six to nine in dentary, mode eight, and five to eight in premaxilla, mode six), spoon-shaped. Lateral line plates 26-29; dorsal plates seven to eight; interdorsal plates six to seven; adipose-caudal plates seven to eight. Color light gray to tan when alive, becoming tan when preserved. Body covered with small- to medium-sized spots widely separated from one another, head spots just slightly smaller than body spots. Spots on all fins except anal fin generally larger than spots on body, centered on rays and spines; anal fin with one to two bands or mottled. Caudal fin generally with clear area at base and spots almost fading into a dark wash distally. Abdomen slightly lighter than sides, with fewer spots (spots absent on abdomen in juveniles. Spots relatively larger in juveniles. Juveniles with bands in the dorsal and paired fins, and caudal with a distal clear band that does not extend completely into the lower lobe, preceded by a dark band that extends to the tip of the lower lobe, preceded by a clear area. Juveniles with a dark bar at end of caudal peduncle. Range: Currently known from the middle and lower Rupununi River, the Essequibo River at Kurukupari, and the Takutu and Ireng Rivers (Negro River drainage) along the Guyana-Brazil border (Fig. 2). Ecology: Found among submerged, dead wood in modest to swift flow. The Macushi people collected the holotype and several of the paratypes collected with it by spearing them in fairly deep (2m) water in the Ireng River. Etymology: Named for the Macushi people of the northern Rupununi who provided us with a lot of help and hospitality on our journeys to Southern Guyana, and who collected most of the best specimens in the type series. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Hypostomus macushi is described as a new species of the H. cochliodon group based on the presence of a light background with widely separated black spots. The only members of the H. cochliodon group with similar coloration are H. cochliodon, H.ericae, H. ericius and H. paucipunctatus. Hypostomus macushi can be separated from H. cochliodon by lacking a longitudinal ridge on the pterotic-supracleithrum and a lack of longitudinal dark stripes; from H. ericius by lacking keels formed from sharp odontodes on the lateral plates; from H. ericae and H. paucipunctatus by lacking a buccal papilla; from H. ericae by having spots in the distal dorsal and caudal fins not combining (vs. spots combining to form wavy lines); and from H. paucipunctatus by having medium to large spots (vs. very small spots). Hypostomus macushi is found in tributaries of the Essequibo and Negro Rivers of Guyana. The range of H. taphorni is additionally expanded to cover much of the Essequibo River basin in Guyana and a single locality in the Takutu River drainage. Addition of H. macushi and H. sculpodon to the phylogeny of the Hypostomus cochliodon group collapsed most of the clades found in a previous analysis. Only the H. cochliodon group, the wood-specializing species, and H. ericius + H. oculeus are supported as clades. Hypostomus macushi e descrito como uma nova especie do grupo H. cochliodon baseado no padrao de coloracao do corpo claro com pontos esparcos. Os unicos membros deste grupo com pigmentacao similar sao H. cochliodon, H.ericae, H. ericius e H. paucipunctatus. H. macushi difere de H. cochliodon pela ausencia da crista do pterotico-supracleitro e pela ausencia de listras largas; e difere de H. ericius pela presenca de quilhas pouco desenvolvidas com odontoides arredondados; de H. ericae e H. paucipunctatus pela ausencia de papila bucal; de H. ericae por apresentar maculas na porcao distal dorsal e nadadeira caudal organizados aleatoriamente (vs. maculas arranjadas formando linhas onduladas); e de H. paucipunctatus por porssuir maculas de tamanho medio a grande (vs. maculas diminutas). H. macushi e encontrado nos tributarios dos Rios Essequibo e Negro, na Guiana. A distribuicao de H. taphorni e expandida para a maior parte da bacia do Rio Essequibo e em uma localidade na drenagem do Rio Takutu. A adicao de H. macushi e H. sculpodon na filogenia do grupo H. cochliodon colapsou a maioria dos clados encontrados em um estudo anterior.