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Monospecific plantations with non-native trees increased in recent decades in different regions around the world. In particular, in Argentina, this type of production is being encouraged, causing a replacement of the native landscape and potentially affecting different groups of animals. For this reason, we conducted a literature review of what is known, and the gaps in information, on the effects of non-native pine and eucalyptus plantations on terrestrial vertebrates in different ecoregions of Argentina. We found a total of 34 published articles, 48% of which focused specifically on the role of pine and eucalyptus plantations on vertebrates. Birds and medium and large terrestrial mammals were the most studied taxonomic groups, mainly in the Atlantic and Patagonian forests. Regarding the effects, the most reported were a decrease in richness, changes in species composition and reduced use of non-native plantations by different vertebrate groups. The type of plantation management, especially with regard to the conservation and connectivity with the native forest, would be key to reducing the negative impact on vertebrate species. Additionally, we found that there are still information gaps in certain ecoregions and vertebrate groups (e.g., herpetofauna, small mammals). Therefore, we suggest that this type of studies should be encouraged in different regions of the country, in order to make known the effects of this type of anthropic activity, as well as to guarantee the good management and conservation of the surrounding native environments, and the genetic flow of the associated biodiversity populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future climate change is expected to result in tree species shifting their geographic distributions in ways that could reorganize species into assemblages with no contemporary analog. These projected no‐analog forests raise concern as their ecological function could similarly shift, which may challenge established conservation and management efforts. Here, we implement a community‐level modelling approach to identify the key climatic and topographic drivers of forest composition in North America, and then use these models to predict the distribution of "disappearing" and "novel" forest assemblages in future climate. We applied this modelling technique to both the taxonomic and phylogenetic composition of forest trees, to identify where species turnover may be greatest, and whether species are likely to be replaced with close relatives. Our work shows that approximately 11.9% of contemporary North American forests have low predicted similarity to future forests, and 26.2% of future forests could be compositionally novel compared with contemporary forests, but there was substantial geographic variability in the magnitude of these metrics across the continent. High‐elevation regions in the west tend to be nearest to their closest compositional analog, suggesting these regions may be most likely to realize the future predicted composition. This work provides a new approach to understanding how forest composition may shift in future climates in a way that avoids the need for individual species predictions and extends climate‐matching approaches with meaningful biological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea is recognized as one of the most threatened marine environments due to pollution, the unintentional spread of invasive species, and habitat destruction. Understanding the biodiversity patterns within this sea is crucial for effective resource management and conservation planning. During a research cruise aimed at assessing biodiversity near desalination plants in the vicinity of Larnaca, Cyprus, conducted as part of the WATER-MINING project (Horizon 2020), specimens of the tanaidacean genus Apseudopsis were collected. These were classified into two species, identified as new to science, and are described herein as Apseudopsis larnacensis sp. nov and Apseudopsis salinus sp. nov. Apseudopsis larnacensis sp. nov is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a lateral apophysis on pleonite 5, which is longer than those on pleonites 1–4, hyposphenia on pereonites 2–6, and six ventral spines on the propodus of pereopod 1. Apseudopsis salinus sp. nov. is characterized by a rounded posterolateral margin on pereonite 6, hyposphenia on pereonites 1–6, and four ventral spines on the propodus of pereopod 1. An updated key to the Atlantic and Mediterranean Apseudopsis species is provided. This study provides an overview of the distribution, bathymetric, and habitat preference of all known Apseudopsis species. Data extracted from the literature and two popular online databases were analyzed to identify diversity patterns across seas and ecoregions. Our analysis reveals that the Mediterranean is the most diverse region for Apseudopsis, with the Levantine Sea hosting ten species and the South European Atlantic Shelf seven species. Shallow waters and muddy and sandy habitats are conducive for Apseudopsis occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate three arguments for Rights of Antarctica (RoA), understood as recognising the whole continent as a rights-holder with legal standing. For this, we draw inspiration from the Antarctica Declaration, a text developed by an interdisciplinary and international group of scholars and activists. We scrutinise three justifications that could potentially be used in support of RoA. First, we investigate whether arguments for Rights of Nature (RoN) elsewhere can support RoA. RoN has been accepted in several domestic legislations. Unfortunately, we discover important disanalogies between RoA and RoN, defeating the purpose of justifying RoA with reference to RoN. Second, we scrutinise potential arguments that focus on giving rights to specific Antarctic ecoregions or places. However, such arguments would only cover parts of the continent, thus going against the holistic approach of RoA, and they would require using a broader understanding of 'attachments' as grounds for justifying rights for parts of Antarctica. In contrast, we construct an argument for accepting RoA based on four components: (1) Antarctica's intrinsic value, (2) wider forms of human attachments, (3) Antarctica's substantial role as a global systemic resource, and (4) the fact that Antarctica is under recurrent and substantial threats. While none of these are individually sufficient for recognising RoA, they can jointly make RoA appropriate. We conclude that it remains an open question whether international law or, more specifically, the Antarctic Treaty, would be open to such conceptual and normative innovation, adopting a new paradigm in our treatment of the nonhuman natural world. At the same time, we hope to kickstart a discussion of what RoA would require and how it should relate more generally to RoN discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the vulnerability of Madagascar's protected areas (PAs) to climate change, focusing on climate change velocity, and its impact on biodiversity. We analyzed current and near future climate data using principal component analysis (PCA) and climate change velocity metrics to predict shifts in climatic conditions from the present to the near future, while under the mild and extreme emission scenarios (SSP 126, SSP 585). Forward velocities, which are characterized by the minimum distances that must be overcome by species to keep in track with their appropriate comparative climate, are most pronounced in western and southern Madagascar. In contrast, the backward velocity, which uses future climatic conditions in grid cells in comparison to current conditions, is more common in the eastern regions of the island, and hints at the minimum distance that organisms would have to overcome in colonizing a new habitat. Even though the correlations between PA size and climate change velocity are weak, there is a tendency for larger PAs to exhibit more stable climatic conditions. Conservation strategies must prioritize enhancing the resilience of PAs through adaptive management to mitigate climate impacts. Our findings provide crucial insights for policymakers and conservation planners to develop climate-smart strategies that ensure the long-term efficacy of Madagascar's PA network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Site productivity, defined as the production amount of the stand at a specific age, has a significant impact on the growth of the stand and site index is used as an indicator of site productivity. The objective of this study is to develop ecoregion-based dynamic site index models for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in the Kastamonu and Sinop regions of Türkiye. The mixed-effects modeling approach allowing for the inclusion of ecoregions in the models was used to develop dynamic site index models, and the models derived from seven base models were tested. The best model was selected based on statistical criteria. As a result of statistical analyses and graphical examinations, the King-Prodan model was found to yield the best predictive results in terms of growth patterns. The site index model based on the King-Prodan method produced a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.977. The statistical criteria for this model are as follows: Akaike information criterion (AIC) of 4931.052, Bayesian information criterion (BIC) of 4968.933, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.218, and mean error (ME) of − 0.036. The F-test was used to test whether there was a statistically significant difference in dominant heights between ecoregions. The results demonstrated that the dominant heights exhibited statistically significant differences among the ecoregions. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to utilize ecoregion-based dynamic site index models in order to achieve reliable and accurate predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about how ecological networks vary across global scales is currently limited given the complexity of acquiring repeated spatial data for species interactions. Yet, recent developments in metawebs highlight efficient ways to first document possible interactions within regional species pools. Downscaling metawebs towards local network predictions is a promising approach to using the current data to investigate the variation of networks across space. However, issues remain in how to represent the spatial variability and uncertainty of species interactions, especially for large-scale food webs. Here, we present a probabilistic framework to downscale a metaweb based on the Canadian mammal metaweb and species occurrences from global databases. We investigated how our approach can be used to represent the variability of networks and communities between ecoregions in Canada. Species richness and interactions followed a similar latitudinal gradient across ecoregions but simultaneously identified contrasting diversity hotspots. Network motifs revealed additional areas of variation in network structure compared with species richness and number of links. Our method offers the potential to bring global predictions down to a more actionable local scale, and increases the diversity of ecological networks that can be projected in space. This article is part of the theme issue 'Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs and their morphological characteristics are expected to alter the continuity of matter, energy, and nutrient transfer, which can modify resource availability, food supply, and fish trophic structure. We studied 29 reservoirs in Southern Brazil to verify the main factors related to the structure of their fish trophic guilds. We tested the hypothesis that environmental and morphological variables influence the organization of fish trophic guilds more than spatial variables (i.e., hydrological distance between the reservoirs). Additionally, we tested which variables linked to environmental, morphological, and spatial characteristics are most associated with the predominance of herbivores, omnivores, detritivores, insectivores, invertivores, and piscivores fishes. To assess the influence of these predictors, we used variance partitioning with distance-based redundancy analysis. Contrary to our assumptions, the structure of fish trophic guilds revealed that the spatial features were the most important predictors. Still, associations between and with the other predictors also revealed significant explanations. Trophic guilds that showed spatial segregation were herbivores and omnivores which can be associated with the evolutionary processes from the locality of each reservoir in distinct ecoregions. Overall, environmental and morphological characteristics like concentration of total nitrogen, age, size, and water retention time are associated with a greater or lesser abundance of herbivores, detritivores, omnivores, and piscivores. Our findings have important implications for the management of reservoirs by helping to guide policies and actions involving fishing stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabian Peninsula, with its rugged mountains, wadis, alluvial plains, sand dune deserts, and diverse coastlines, spans over 3 million km2. The Peninsula is situated at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and is a meeting point for diverse biogeographic realms, including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. This convergence of biogeographic zones has resulted in a remarkably diverse flora and fauna, which is adapted to the harsh and varied climates found throughout the Peninsula. Each of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are biologically diverse and unique in their own right, but Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are the most diverse in terms of their landforms and biological diversity. The mountainous regions support a cooler and more moderate climate compared to the surrounding lowlands, thus forming unique ecosystems that function as refugia for plant and animal species, and have a high endemism of plant species. The desert ecosystems support a variety of lifeforms that are specially adapted to an extreme arid climate. Due to its long history of human habitation and subsistence agriculture, particularly in the mountainous areas, the Arabian Peninsula possesses unique crop varieties adapted to extreme arid climates, making them important genetic resources for the future in the face of climate change. The Arabian Peninsula, though rich and diverse in its biological diversity, has been greatly affected by human activities, especially in the last 50 years, including urbanization, habitat destruction, overgrazing, and climate change, which pose significant threats to the biodiversity of the region. This review presents the biogeography and background of conservation efforts made in the countries in the Arabian Peninsula and gives the progress made in botanical research and conservation practices throughout the Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea is recognized as one of the most threatened marine environments due to pollution, the unintentional spread of invasive species, and habitat destruction. Understanding the biodiversity patterns within this sea is crucial for effective resource management and conservation planning. During a research cruise aimed at assessing biodiversity near desalination plants in the vicinity of Larnaca, Cyprus, conducted as part of the WATER-MINING project (Horizon 2020), specimens of the tanaidacean genus Apseudopsis were collected. These were classified into two species, identified as new to science, and are described herein as Apseudopsis larnacensis sp. nov and Apseudopsis salinus sp. nov. Apseudopsis larnacensis sp. nov is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a lateral apophysis on pleonite 5, which is longer than those on pleonites 1–4, hyposphenia on pereonites 2–6, and six ventral spines on the propodus of pereopod 1. Apseudopsis salinus sp. nov. is characterized by a rounded posterolateral margin on pereonite 6, hyposphenia on pereonites 1–6, and four ventral spines on the propodus of pereopod 1. An updated key to the Atlantic and Mediterranean Apseudopsis species is provided. This study provides an overview of the distribution, bathymetric, and habitat preference of all known Apseudopsis species. Data extracted from the literature and two popular online databases were analyzed to identify diversity patterns across seas and ecoregions. Our analysis reveals that the Mediterranean is the most diverse region for Apseudopsis, with the Levantine Sea hosting ten species and the South European Atlantic Shelf seven species. Shallow waters and muddy and sandy habitats are conducive for Apseudopsis occurrence.

Even with immediate implementation of global policies to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen over the next decades. One potential response is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), where sulfur dioxide is released into the stratosphere to block incoming solar radiation. SAI does not reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but it can slow warming and act as a stopgap measure to give the world more time to pursue effective carbon reduction strategies. While SAI is controversial, it remains a technically feasible proposition. It ought to be thoroughly modeled both to characterize global risks better and to further the scientific community’s understanding of stratospheric aerosol dynamics. SAI relies on sulfate aerosols which have a lifetime of several years in the stratosphere but will eventually be deposited back onto Earth’s surface. While sulfate is an important nutrient for many ecosystems, high concentrations can cause acidification, eutrophication, and biodiversity loss. We use model outputs from the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) to track the impacts of sulfur deposition from SAI to various ecoregions through comparison with historical climate and future Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios. Our results demonstrate that dry sulfur deposition will continue to decline worldwide, regardless of scenario, from a high of 41 Tg S/yr in 1981 to under 20 Tg S/yr by 2100. Wet sulfur deposition, however, is much more uncertain and further work needs to be done in this area to harmonize model estimates. Under SAI, many ecoregions will experience notably different sulfur deposition regimes by the end of the century compared to historical trends. In some places, this will not be substantially different than the impacts of climate change under SSP2–4.5 or SSP5–8.5. However, in some ecoregions the model projections disagree dramatically on the magnitude of future trends in both emissions and deposition, with, for example, UKESM1–0-LL projecting that SO42- deposition in deciduous needleleaf forests under G6 Sulfur will reach 394 % of SSP2–4.5 deposition by the 2080 s while CESM2-WACCM projects that SO42- deposition will remain at 170 % of SSP2–4.5 deposition during that same time period. Our work emphasizes the lack of agreement between models and the importance of improving our understanding of SAI impacts for future climate decision-making.

Areas of endemism are the basic units for the analysis of historical biogeography, in addition to representing areas of conservation importance. An area of endemism is understood to be the congruence of the distribution areas of two or more species, which are considered primary biogeographic homologies resulting from a presumed common biogeographic history of the taxa that are shared by these areas. The objective of this work was to establish biogeographic patterns in Paraguay through the analysis and identification of areas of endemism. The analyses are based on a matrix composed of 8,117 records of 300 species, including 100 species of Plantae, 50 species of Insecta, 50 species of Amphibia, 50 species of Reptilia, and 50 species of Aves. The analyses performed included an endemicity analysis with cells of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 degrees of latitude and longitude. Using the endemicity analysis method, 129 areas of endemism were identified, which were summarized in 13 consensus areas, 2 in the Chaco and 11 in the Eastern Region. By comparing the areas of endemism found, we can identify and propose three hot spot priority areas for conservation based on the endemic richness of the biota.

Several studies have demonstrated global climate change, which has happened worldwide; it significantly impacts terrestrial ecosystems. Studying vegetation phenology can provide insight into the impact of climate changes on ecosystems. Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert is located between the Tibetan Plateau and the Gobi Desert and has an arid continental climate. This area consists of highlands, and the sensitivity of natural vegetation to temperature and climate change is very high. This study aims to identify climate trends in forest cover indices using weather (meteorological) data from 1982 to 2019 across the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert. Based on this, 13 variables that affect climate change were selected, and the possible effect of climate factors on vegetation indices was predicted using MATLAB. The results showed that over the past 38 years, three forest cover indices, LAI, FAPAR, and NDVI, decreased by about 6-10, 6-7, and 19-20 percent correspondingly, and it can be assumed that this decline is due to climate change. In general, it can be said that climate changeshave adverse effects in hot and dry regions and highlands. With the current climate change trends, such as increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall, reducing the dynamics of vegetation indices in these areas can be seen dramatically.

Aim: Ecoregions and the distance decay in community similarity are fundamental concepts in biogeography and conservation biology that are well supported across plants and animals, but not fungi. Here we test the relevance of these concepts for ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in temperate and boreal regions. Location: Europe. Time Period: 2008–2015. Major Taxa Studied: Ectomycorrhizal fungi. Methods: We used a large dataset of ~24,000 ectomycorrhizas, assigned to 1350 operational taxonomic units, collected from 129 forest plots via a standardized protocol. We investigated the relevance of ecoregion delimitations for ECM fungi through complementary methodological approaches based on distance decay models, multivariate analyses and indicator species analyses. We then evaluated the effects of host tree and climate on the observed biogeographical distributions. Results: Ecoregions predict large‐scale ECM fungal biodiversity patterns. This is partly explained by climate differences between ecoregions but independent from host tree distribution. Basidiomycetes in the orders Russulales and Atheliales and producing epigeous fruiting bodies, with potentially short‐distance dispersal, show the best agreement with ecoregion boundaries. Host tree distribution and fungal abundance (as opposed to presence/absence only) are important to uncover biogeographical patterns in mycorrhizas. Main Conclusions: Ecoregions are useful units to investigate eco‐evolutionary processes in mycorrhizal fungal communities and for conservation decision‐making that includes fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have demonstrated global climate change, which has happened worldwide; it significantly impacts terrestrial ecosystems. Studying vegetation phenology can provide insight into the impact of climate changes on ecosystems. Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert is located between the Tibetan Plateau and the Gobi Desert and has an arid continental climate. This area consists of highlands, and the sensitivity of natural vegetation to temperature and climate change is very high. This study aims to identify climate trends in forest cover indices using weather (meteorological) data from 1982 to 2019 across the Alashan Plateau Semi-Desert. Based on this, 13 variables that affect climate change were selected, and the possible effect of climate factors on vegetation indices was predicted using MATLAB. The results showed that over the past 38 years, three forest cover indices, LAI, FAPAR, and NDVI, decreased by about 6-10, 6-7, and 19-20 percent correspondingly, and it can be assumed that this decline is due to climate change. In general, it can be said that climate changeshave adverse effects in hot and dry regions and highlands. With the current climate change trends, such as increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall, reducing the dynamics of vegetation indices in these areas can be seen dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the foundation dates of cities, we developed a spatial model of European colonization timing for the Americas, a major social-ecological event in its environmental history. Colonization occurred gradually during the past 500 years, but with two main “waves”, an early one prior to 1600, and a late one during the nineteenth century, following countries´ independence. Early-colonized areas include the Caribbean, Mexico-Mesoamerica, the Tropical Andes and adjacent Pacific coasts, and the Brazilian Atlantic coast. Recently colonized areas include the inner Amazonian region, Patagonia and high latitude North America. By combining the spatial model with a map of ecoregions and current human population, we identified areas with different combinations of colonization history and present-day human impact. Our approach provides a new perspective on the social-ecological history of the Americas, and we briefly discuss the consequences of this for ecology of the Anthropocene, and for conservation policies in the new world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many infectious disease forecasting models in the United States (US) are built with data partitioned into geopolitical regions centered on human activity as opposed to regions defined by natural ecosystems; although useful for data collection and intervention, this has the potential to mask biological relationships between the environment and disease. We explored this concept by analyzing the correlations between climate and West Nile virus (WNV) case data aggregated to geopolitical and ecological regions. We compared correlations between minimum, maximum, and mean annual temperature; precipitation; and annual WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) case data from 2005 to 2019 when partitioned into (a) climate regions defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and (b) Level I ecoregions defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We found that correlations between climate and WNND in NOAA climate regions and EPA ecoregions were often contradictory in both direction and magnitude, with EPA ecoregions more often supporting previously established biological hypotheses and environmental dynamics underlying vector‐borne disease transmission. Using ecological regions to examine the relationships between climate and disease cases can enhance the predictive power of forecasts at various scales, motivating a conceptual shift in large‐scale analyses from geopolitical frameworks to more ecologically meaningful regions. Plain Language Summary: In the United States (US), geopolitical subdivisions like states and counties are the governing regions that collect public health data and implement health interventions like risk messaging, mask mandates, or spraying chemicals for mosquito control. These subdivisions were mostly decided by politics and other human activity, not similarities in ecosystems and climate. This can make it difficult to understand how climate affects illnesses like mosquito‐borne disease since mosquitoes will live within specific ecosystems and aren't confined to geopolitical boundaries as health data are. We explored this idea by analyzing the relationships between temperature, precipitation, and the mosquito‐borne pathogen called West Nile virus (WNV) from 2005 to 2019. We grouped our data using two different regional boundaries: (a) climate regions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), primarily based on state boundaries, and (b) ecoregions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on similar ecosystems. We found that these groupings resulted in some contradictory results. The results using EPA ecoregions more often agreed with biological hypotheses, so it may be a better approach to dividing the US for similar studies. We encourage other scientists to consider this conceptual shift from analyzing data by geopolitical boundaries to more ecologically meaningful regions. Key Points: While health data is collected within geopolitical boundaries, environmental disease dynamics are influenced by ecosystem characteristicsFor West Nile virus, correlations between cases and climate were different depending on geopolitical or ecosystem regional groupings of dataWe propose a conceptual shift from analyzing climate and health data at geopolitical boundaries to more ecologically meaningful regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organisms can respond to environmental gradients from local to landscape features. Aquatic insects are particularly affected by watershed peculiarities due to their dependence on microhabitat conditions. However, these relationships are poorly understood in lotic ecosystems of subtropical grasslands, limiting water resources management and bioassessment proposals. Here, we investigated how local stream environment and variations in landscape types affect the assemblage structure of a bioindicator insect group, face to the spatial proximity of the sampled locations. We sampled immatures of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera in streams along the Brazilian Pampa biome, recording environmental descriptors in different grassland ecosystem types. The structure of aquatic insect assemblages differed across grassland types, with specific dominant genera associated with each landscape. Spatially-structured water physicochemical descriptors explained a significant amount of variation in assemblage data. Our findings suggest that grassland ecosystem type delimitations capture ecological attributes, influencing watershed features important to EPT assemblage structuration. Moreover, we highlight the importance of niche-based process structuring EPT assemblages along grassland ecosystem types of Pampa biome. In addition, we encourage using aquatic insects in bioassessment of lotic waters to assess local and landscape environmental impacts. We strongly recommend considering the grassland ecosystem schedule for water resources management and bioassessment proposals.

Adequate representation of biodiversity in protected area networks is a prerequisite for successful conservation. Aichi Target 11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity called for 17 % of land area and 10 % of marine area to be conserved in ecologically representative protected areas by 2020.We assess progress in protecting terrestrial and marine ecoregions for the decade 2011–2020, when the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 was in effect. Using spatial analyses and the mean target achievement metric, which indicates the degree to which a given representation target has been achieved, we analyze protected area coverage in nine countries from all continents, with a total of 173 terrestrial and 64 marine ecoregions.Results show that there is little evidence that the countries studied have strategically protected underrepresented ecoregions in the 2011–2020 decade. Although 170.000 km² of terrestrial and 3 million km² of marine reserves have been designated during this period in the nine countries investigated, about half of their terrestrial and marine ecoregions remain poorly protected in 2020.Our findings reinforce that targeted action is needed to adequately protect ecoregions in order for the new Kunming-Montreal target 3 to be more successful than Aichi target 11. The methodology presented allows for ongoing evaluation, identification of gaps, and monitoring of countries’ progress towards global and national targets for ecological representation and is applicable to any biodiversity surrogate beyond ecoregions and any country or region of interest.

The distribution of bees can be estimated, in part, by enviromental variables associated with geography. Using bee occurrence records, we quantified the estimated species richness of the EPA level 3 defined ecoregions using coverage-based rarefaction. Our study reveals that bee species richness is highest in ecoregions with warm dry summers. Furthermore, increased species richness was found to be correlated with maximum mean temperature.Presented at the iDigBio 6th Annual Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference on 05/24/2022 and the University of California Santa Barbara EEMB Undergraduate Research Symposium on 04/23/2022

Abstract Background Thelaziosis is a neglected vector-borne disease caused by parasitic nematode worms of the genus Thelazia which affects various hosts. Limited attention has been given to ungulate-associated Thelazia species. Current diagnosis of thelaziosis and the identification/differentiation of species heavily relies on morphological features. Therefore, we conducted an epidemiological study in Romanian cattle, with the aim to obtain morphological and molecular data that can be used for species identification. Methods The eyes of 705 slaughtered cattle were sampled and subjected to morphological identification, morphometric analysis, and molecular characterization. PCR amplification and sequence analysis were performed based on the cytochromec oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene. Statistical tests assessed the correlations between infection parameters and ecological or biogeographical factors. A novel PCR method was developed based on the consensus sequence from each species. Specific forward primers were designed for each of the three species, and a reverse primer (COIintR) was used for all reactions. A consensus thermal profile was established by gradient PCR amplification of each species separately. Results Of the sampled cattle, 19.3% were infected with Thelazia spp. Prevalence varied significantly with ecogeographical factors. A total of 585 Thelazia nematodes were recovered, with T. rhodesi being the most abundant, followed by T. skrjabini and T. gulosa. Morphometric and molecular analyses supported the morphological identification, yielding unique sequences for each species. From the 59 T. rhodesi specimens sequenced, 29 unique sequences were obtained, with a 99.1–99.85% nucleotide identity to the only other COI sequence present in GenBank®. All nine T. gulosa isolates were unique (99.37–100% nucleotide identity to other sequences), while T. skrjabini specimens displayed 98.47–100% nucleotide identity to the sole available sequence. Conclusions Bovine thelaziosis is prevalent in Romania, raising concerns for animal welfare and potential economic impacts. Infected cattle grazing alongside vulnerable wild ruminants, such as the European bison, may affect conservation efforts. Our newly developed multiplex PCR shows promise as a valuable surveillance tool, enabling the detection of occult infections in apparently healthy animals through lachrymal secretion testing. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Many infectious disease forecasting models in the United States (US) are built with data partitioned into geopolitical regions centered on human activity as opposed to regions defined by natural ecosystems; although useful for data collection and intervention, this has the potential to mask biological relationships between the environment and disease. We explored this concept by analyzing the correlations between climate and West Nile virus (WNV) case data aggregated to geopolitical and ecological regions. We compared correlations between minimum, maximum, and mean annual temperature; precipitation; and annual WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND) case data from 2005 to 2019 when partitioned into (a) climate regions defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and (b) Level I ecoregions defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We found that correlations between climate and WNND in NOAA climate regions and EPA ecoregions were often contradictory in both direction and magnitude, with EPA ecoregions more often supporting previously established biological hypotheses and environmental dynamics underlying vector‐borne disease transmission. Using ecological regions to examine the relationships between climate and disease cases can enhance the predictive power of forecasts at various scales, motivating a conceptual shift in large‐scale analyses from geopolitical frameworks to more ecologically meaningful regions.

Abstract: Aim The freshwater environment is indeed diverse and complex, and it faces numerous challenges due to human activities. One approach to evaluating these human interventions is through the use of bioindicators, with fish being one of the key groups studied in the aquatic environment. However, the existent studies report that only a limited number of Brazilian ichthyofauna species have been investigated as potential bioindicators. Methods The data present here were organized through a bibliographic review that adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach, focusing on articles published between the years 2000 and 2022, utilizing terms such as “bioindicators,” “Brazilian fish,” and “aquatic ecosystem” in both Portuguese and English languages. Results Despite Brazil having the most diverse ichthyofauna on the planet, the research has focused on only 45 species thus far. Among these, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) emerged as the most frequently studied species. The analysis of gill and liver tissues was found to be the most common method employed in these studies, while other tissues received relatively little attention. Moreover, the distribution of studies on bioindicator species was uneven, with the Upper Paraná ecoregion having the highest number of species investigated. This suggests that research efforts in this field have not been uniformly distributed across Brazil. Conclusions The patchy nature of studies on bioindicators of the Brazilian ichthyofauna highlights the need for greater incentives and support for research in this area. With Brazil's exceptional ichthyofauna diversity, there is ample potential to identify and utilize additional species as environmental indicators. By expanding the scope of studies and addressing the geographical imbalance, a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts of human activities on freshwater ecosystems in Brazil can be achieved. This knowledge is vital for effective conservation and management efforts to protect and sustain the country's valuable aquatic resources.

Biodiversity in all its dimensions is being threatened by climate change and the impact of human activities. Genetic diversity is a key dimension of biodiversity underlying adaptation to global changes. Here we assess the impact of climate change on plant genetic diversity in a region located in the southernmost portion of Argentina and Chile range. We compiled available published research on population genetics of 22 plant species from forests, monte and steppe ecoregions and modelled the impact of future climates on their suitability distributions. Based on our results, 7 out of 22 species are predicted to lose more than 50% of their current suitable areas being the average loss across all species 40% (SSP 126) and 45% (SSP370). Several hotspots where species richness and genetic diversity overlap are located in areas that are predicted to become unsuitable, particularly in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Along the Arid Diagonal, some steppe and monte species are predicted to lose areas. Stable areas, on the other hand, were identified, to the west and south of the Andes, thus offering opportunities to preserve the genetic variants that might be critical for adaptation. Although higher temperatures will be threatening in the future, some of the areas we identify might act as promising natural refuges for southern South America flora, as long as appropriate conservation and management policies of the genetic resources are being implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Findings reveal that the majority of studied areas are classified as bare lands, while the lowest amount is covered by lichens and mosses. Grassland and cropland occupy major areas of the region, with highest normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) value saw in 2020, showing dense vegetation in the western, northwestern and northern regions. Afforestation efforts shown positive results, with a 4% increase in forested area between 2000 and 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lomandra is the largest genus in Asparagaceae subfamily Lomandroideae and possesses economic, ecological, and ethnobotanical significance in Australia. Lomandra comprises four sections, L. section Capitatae , L. section Macrostachya , L. section Typhopsis and L. section Lomandra, the latter comprising series Lomandra and series Sparsiflorae , all recognized based solely on morphology. In this study, phylogenetic relationships were estimated for 79 Lomandroideae individuals, including 45 Lomandra species and subspecies (c. 63% of species and subspecies diversity). We generated genome-scale plastome sequence data and used maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference criteria for phylogenetic estimation. Lomandra was non-monophyletic, with Xerolirion divaricata nested within it. Two major clades were recovered: Capitatae–Macrostachya (CM) and Lomandra–Typhopsis (LT). The CM clade included a monophyletic Lomandra section Capitatae with a base chromosome number x  = 7, and L. section Macrostachya (x  = 8); the LT clade included L. sections Typhopsis and Lomandra , both x  = 8. Section Lomandra series Lomandra and series Sparsiflorae were both recovered as non-monophyletic. Morphological characters were assessed to identify combinations of characters that characterize clades. A base chromosome number of x  = 8 was plesiomorphic for Lomandra. The largest number of Lomandra species occupy the Mediterranean ecoregion and occupancy of sclerophyll vegetation was reconstructed as ancestral for the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Herein, we present an updated list of the species of amphibians and reptiles that inhabit Nayarit, Mexico. In the years since the publication of a previous list in 2016, threats to amphibians and reptiles in Nayarit have continued unabated and efforts to more fully catalogue the richness of Nayarit's herpetofauna have continued. Nayarit harbours 162 native species of amphibians and reptiles, representing 35 families and 85 genera. These include 37 species of amphibians (35 anurans and two salamanders) and 125 species of reptiles (one crocodile, 44 lizards, 69 snakes and 11 turtles). Of the amphibian and reptile species in Nayarit, 102 are endemic to Mexico and two endemic to Nayarit. The ecoregion with the highest richness of amphibians and reptiles in Nayarit is the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt followed closely by the Sierra Madre Occidental and then the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Pacific Lowlands and the Nayarit Islands. Just 5.8% of the species of amphibians and reptiles in Nayarit is IUCN-listed as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered, 11.1% are placed in a protected category by SEMARNAT and nearly a third are categorised as high risk by the Environmental Vulnerability Score. The herpetofauna of Nayarit overlaps the most with Jalisco (88.9%). One of the main conclusions of our updated list of the amphibian and reptile species of Nayarit is that our understanding of the full complement of species is not complete, especially the reptiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arabian Peninsula, with its rugged mountains, wadis, alluvial plains, sand dune deserts, and diverse coastlines, spans over 3 million km2. The Peninsula is situated at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and is a meeting point for diverse biogeographic realms, including the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. This convergence of biogeographic zones has resulted in a remarkably diverse flora and fauna, which is adapted to the harsh and varied climates found throughout the Peninsula. Each of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula are biologically diverse and unique in their own right, but Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are the most diverse in terms of their landforms and biological diversity. The mountainous regions support a cooler and more moderate climate compared to the surrounding lowlands, thus forming unique ecosystems that function as refugia for plant and animal species, and have a high endemism of plant species. The desert ecosystems support a variety of lifeforms that are specially adapted to an extreme arid climate. Due to its long history of human habitation and subsistence agriculture, particularly in the mountainous areas, the Arabian Peninsula possesses unique crop varieties adapted to extreme arid climates, making them important genetic resources for the future in the face of climate change. The Arabian Peninsula, though rich and diverse in its biological diversity, has been greatly affected by human activities, especially in the last 50 years, including urbanization, habitat destruction, overgrazing, and climate change, which pose significant threats to the biodiversity of the region. This review presents the biogeography and background of conservation efforts made in the countries in the Arabian Peninsula and gives the progress made in botanical research and conservation practices throughout the Peninsula.

Larvae of Urania moths feed exclusively on Omphalea plants, which are widely distributed in the Neotropics. However, the distributions of the two Urania species in this region are disjunct. This distributional pattern could derive from the presence of the Andes, but it could also be related to differences in ecological niches, the presence of negative interactions, or the absence of conditions that can only be observed at a habitat level. We tested whether differences in the ecological niches of continental Urania moths play a role in their disjunct distribution. Using species records and climatic variables, we characterized the ecological niches of Urania moths and their host plants and analyzed the overlap of the moths' niches. Using ecoregions as a proxy of habitat-level environmental conditions, we explored the role of host plant availability on the moth distributions. Suitable conditions for the species were widespread, with a lack of suitability mostly restricted to the Andean highlands. The two moth distributions were closely related to that of their host plants. There was medium-high overlap of niche models when available conditions were considered; however, niche overlap was not found to be statistically significant. Our results corroborate the barrier effect of the Andes on the dispersal of these moths, but they also show that niche differences contribute to the disjunct distributions of U. fulgens and U. leilus. Furthermore, other non-climatic factors appear to play a crucial role in the disjunction of the species ranges in areas where overlapping suitable conditions are continuous. Our findings support speciation in Urania moths as allopatric and indicate that their disjunct distributions can be attributed to multiple factors. Other studies exploring the causes of similar distributional patterns should consider that a single factor may not be enough to explain such patterns.

Expert range maps (ExpRMs) are frequently used to inform species distributions, but often incomplete or missing for many species, particularly among plants and invertebrates. Many species without ExpRMs also have too few occurrence records for reliable application of species distribution models (SDMs). Here we evaluate the performance of commonly used range surrogates and recommend tools that can help fill this significant knowledge gap across a wide range of understudied taxa. Specifically, we explore an alternative range surrogate (ecoregional range maps; EcoRMs), assess its performance versus traditional approaches for 624 North American butterfly species, and outline its use alone and as part of SDMs. As an alternative range estimate, we use terrestrial ecoregions that represent a regionalization of biogeographical zones and we suggest geographical filters and simplifications that improve their performance. We show that consistently across different spatial scales and both in comparison with ExpRMs and SDMs, EcoRMs have an exceptionally high sensitivity and generally a high mean performance. Particularly for species with fewer than 100 occurrence records, EcoRMs outperform other range surrogates. The congruence of species richness patterns was also similar for all approaches. The use of EcoRMs as substitute for data‐poor species without ExpRMs will strongly boost taxonomic coverage of range maps. Additionally, integrating EcoRMs as domains/masks/offsets into SDMs promises significant improvements to model accuracy. For butterflies alone, EcoRMs would thereby provide new range information for 17% and improve basic range information for 43% of all approximately nineteen thousand species. Other technical advantages of generating EcoRMs may also help to overcome issues of the availability, updateability, reproducibility, and circularity of ExpRMs, SDMs and minimum convex hulls (MCVs). In summary, ecoregion‐based range maps offer a versatile tool for ecology and conservation of terrestrial taxa and the application of the EcoRM approach may prove similarly useful for freshwater and marine ecoregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A second version of the Ecosystems Map of Italy is presented that updates the one realized for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) process. The map represents a renewed reference for the implementation of biodiversity-related policies in the country, including the Red List of Ecosystems, Ecosystem Accounting under the UN System of integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts, EU Nature Restoration Law, and, more in general, for the support of planning initiatives aimed at climate change adaptation and recovery of degraded ecosystems in keeping with restoration ecology principles. The mapping approach recalled the earlier rationale, i.e. that current and potential vegetation are valuable proxies for outlining ecosystems, but basic information on land cover and characterization of types have been updated. Additionally, a detailed description of the mapping procedure is provided that may facilitate replication in time, validation processes and comparison with different maps. The crosswalk between the Italian ecosystem typology and other classification systems, already available for Corine Land Cover and EUNIS habitats, was therefore revised and complemented with respect to the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology. Finally, future perspectives for a regular updating of the map and further improvement of its geometric and thematic detail are sketched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most eukaryotic animals described in the world are insects. However, studies of morphometric measurements, isolation, and habitat differences are still very few for insects, especially desert insects. This study aimed to compare measurements of morphological traits of dissimilar Pimelia carinata populations as darkling beetle models in the Egyptian desert. A morphometric variations variable comparison was taken by a micrometer microscope for samples of 6 ecoregions from Egypt including; the Western Coastal Desert, El-Faiyum depression, oases of the Western Desert, Eastern Desert, Delta, and south Sinai. Morphological measurements depend upon twenty-one traits that were studied, using cluster analysis and principal component analysis to distinguish the different traits of populations. The first and second of the discriminant scores (Score 1 and Score 2) were registered at 77.64% and 24.61% of the complete variation in different samples. Multiple discriminant analyses detected clear morphometric variations between the populations of Western Desert, and Western Coastal Desert in the first cluster. while the second cluster comprises of Eastern Desert, El-Faiyum, and Nile Delta. The population of Sinai is present in a separate cluster. The traits showing maximum variability across beetle populations were those associated with morphological estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thelaziosis is a neglected vector-borne disease caused by parasitic nematode worms of the genus Thelazia which affects various hosts. Limited attention has been given to ungulate-associated Thelazia species. Current diagnosis of thelaziosis and the identification/differentiation of species heavily relies on morphological features. Therefore, we conducted an epidemiological study in Romanian cattle, with the aim to obtain morphological and molecular data that can be used for species identification. Methods: The eyes of 705 slaughtered cattle were sampled and subjected to morphological identification, morphometric analysis, and molecular characterization. PCR amplification and sequence analysis were performed based on the cytochromec oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene. Statistical tests assessed the correlations between infection parameters and ecological or biogeographical factors. A novel PCR method was developed based on the consensus sequence from each species. Specific forward primers were designed for each of the three species, and a reverse primer (COIintR) was used for all reactions. A consensus thermal profile was established by gradient PCR amplification of each species separately. Results: Of the sampled cattle, 19.3% were infected with Thelazia spp. Prevalence varied significantly with ecogeographical factors. A total of 585 Thelazia nematodes were recovered, with T. rhodesi being the most abundant, followed by T. skrjabini and T. gulosa. Morphometric and molecular analyses supported the morphological identification, yielding unique sequences for each species. From the 59 T. rhodesi specimens sequenced, 29 unique sequences were obtained, with a 99.1–99.85% nucleotide identity to the only other COI sequence present in GenBank®. All nine T. gulosa isolates were unique (99.37–100% nucleotide identity to other sequences), while T. skrjabini specimens displayed 98.47–100% nucleotide identity to the sole available sequence. Conclusions: Bovine thelaziosis is prevalent in Romania, raising concerns for animal welfare and potential economic impacts. Infected cattle grazing alongside vulnerable wild ruminants, such as the European bison, may affect conservation efforts. Our newly developed multiplex PCR shows promise as a valuable surveillance tool, enabling the detection of occult infections in apparently healthy animals through lachrymal secretion testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current ecological crisis stemming from the loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, highlights the urgency of documenting diversity and distribution. Bees are a classical example of an ecologically and economically important group, due to their high diversity and varied ecosystem services, especially pollination. Here, two common biodiversity indices, namely species richness and phylogenetic diversity, are evaluated geographically to determine the best approach for selecting areas of conservation priority. The model organisms used in this study are the North American species belonging to the bee genus Diadasia (Apidae). Based on the results obtained by analyzing distributional records and a molecular phylogeny, we can see that species richness and phylogenetic diversity are closely linked, although phylogenetic diversity provides a more detailed assessment of the spatial distribution of diversity. Therefore, while either one of these commonly used indices are valid as far as selecting areas of conservation priority, we recommend, if possible, to include genetic information in biodiversity and conservation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping target crops earlier than the harvest period is an essential task for improving agricultural productivity and decision-making. This paper presents a new method for early crop mapping for the entire conterminous USA (CONUS) land area using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data with a dynamic ecoregion clustering approach. Ecoregions, geographically distinct areas with unique ecological patterns and processes, provide a valuable framework for large-scale crop mapping. We conducted our dynamic ecoregion clustering by analyzing soil, climate, elevation, and slope data. This analysis facilitated the division of the cropland area within the CONUS into distinct ecoregions. Unlike static ecoregion clustering, which generates a single ecoregion map that remains unchanged over time, our dynamic ecoregion approach produces a unique ecoregion map for each year. This dynamic approach enables us to consider the year-to-year climate variations that significantly impact crop growth, enhancing the accuracy of our crop mapping process. Subsequently, a Random Forest classifier was employed to train individual models for each ecoregion. These models were trained using the time-series MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) 250-m NDVI and EVI data retrieved from Google Earth Engine, covering the crop growth periods spanning from 2013 to 2017, and evaluated from 2018 to 2022. Ground truth data were sourced from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cropland Data Layer (CDL) products. The evaluation results showed that the dynamic clustering method achieved higher accuracy than the static clustering method in early crop mapping in the entire CONUS. This study's findings can be helpful for improving crop management and decision-making for agricultural activities by providing early and accurate crop mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical and current climate impacts reshape the evolutionary trajectory and ecological dynamics of entire vegetative communities, which can drive insect species distribution. Understanding the spatial distribution of insects can enhance forest management effectiveness. The effects of historical and current climates in the spatial distribution of herbivorous tree insects in China were explored. A species distribution model simulated insect spatial distribution based on 596 species and the distribution probability and richness of these species were assessed in forest ecoregions. The explanatory power of the historical climate was stronger than that of the current climate, particularly historical annual precipitation and annual mean temperatures, for the distribution of herbivorous insects. Under both historical and current climatic conditions, herbivorous tree insects were and are mainly distributed in the North China Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain, namely in the Huang He Plain mixed forests, Changjiang Plain evergreen forests, and Sichuan Basin evergreen broadleaf forests. The Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and northeast China are regions with large impact differences between historical and current climates. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into herbivorous insect responses to sustained climate change and may contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus, the fourth largest canid, is categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The objectives of this study were to update information on the occurrence of this species in Argentina, compare the current distribution to that previously described for 1988–2008, and indicate the areas in which the species is exposed to particular hazards. We created a database that included 1,051 new records of C. brachyurus for 2009-2021, in addition to records for 1988–2008 that had not been reported previously. We calculated the area of occupancy of the species in Argentina to be 500,000 km2. Most of the new records of C. brachyurus are in the Chaco Seco, Espinal and Pampas ecoregions. Our findings indicate a current area of occupancy 61% higher than that calculated from records for 1988–2008. However the location and frequency of reported threats and the intense environmental transformation that characterizes the areas for which we obtained new records suggest counterintuitive implications for the conservation of the species because of increased human–wildlife interactions. Our study reveals the need for systematic research to improve the understanding of the ecological processes that affect the maned wolf in Argentina, and will aid in the development of conservation strategies for the species.

Colombia is a biodiverse country with 1,486 protected areas covering almost 50 million hectares, yet little is known about the biodiversity they harbor, particularly in terms of harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). This study provides a comprehensive updated summary of the armored harvestmen (Laniatores) species found in Colombia with a list of 173 nominal species, focusing on the Laniatores fauna found in protected areas and its diversity is detailed and analyzed. Maps with all records associated with ecoregions and protected areas in Colombia are presented. Additionally, three new Laniatores species are described here: Phalangodus andresi sp. nov. from the department of Cundinamarca, and Ventrifurca phallaina sp. nov. and Ampycella fortunata sp. nov. from the department of Valle del Cauca; and a new family assignment is proposed for Paraphalangodus Roewer, 1915, placing it in the family Nomoclastidae. Information available on Laniatores in the National System of Protected Areas is still scarce and promoting strategies to facilitate the regulatory procedures for collecting specimens in these areas and increasing investment in basic science projects, are suggested to improve the understanding and study of the Laniatores fauna and other invertebrates in Colombia. Finally, a chronicle and timeline set of figures of species of Laniatores from Colombia, described by various authors during three periods, is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread mercury (Hg) contamination of freshwater systems, due primarily to deposition of atmospheric inorganic Hg (IHg), poses a potential threat to recreational fisheries. In aquatic ecosystems, IHg is converted by bacteria to methylmercury (MeHg), a potent toxin that bioaccumulates in consumers and biomagnifies through the food web, reaching elevated concentrations in fish. Methylmercury has concentration‐dependent sublethal effects on fish, including reductions in reproductive output. In the present study, we conducted the first analysis of the potential health risks of MeHg contamination to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a popular game fish, in the southeastern United States. To assess the potential health risk posed by MeHg to largemouth bass, we compared MeHg concentrations in three sizes of adult largemouth bass to benchmarks associated with the onset of adverse health effects in fish. We also determined how the risk posed by MeHg to largemouth bass varied spatially throughout the southeastern United States. Our study suggests that in the southeastern United States MeHg poses a potential risk to largemouth bass health and that MeHg contamination may be detrimental to the fisheries of this economically important species of game fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1755–1762. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]