Ability to Swim (Not Morphology or Environment) Explains Interspecific Differences in Crinoid Arm Regrowth

Regrowth of body parts occurs in almost every phylum of the animal kingdom, but variation in this process across environmental, morphological, and behavioral gradients remains poorly understood. We examined regeneration patterns in feather stars – a group known for a wide range of morphologies and behaviors and up to a forty-fold difference in arm regeneration rates – and found that the variation in arm regeneration rates is best explained by swimming ability, not temperature, food supply, morphology (total number of arms and number of regenerating arms), or degree of injury. However, there were significant interactive effects of morphology on rates of regeneration of the main effect (swimming ability). Notably, swimmers grew up to three-fold faster than non-swimmers. The temperate feather star Florometra serratissima regenerated faster under warmer scenarios, but its rates fell within that of the tropical species suggesting temperature can account for intraspecific but not interspecific differences. We urge comparative molecular investigations of crinoid regeneration to identify the mechanisms responsible for the observed interspecific differences, and potentially address gaps in stem cell research.

Evaluating the utility of protected area status and conservation legislation in tropical forest conservation using satellite data: a case study of the great hornbill in Thailand

Preserving wildlife and their environment from anthropogenic activities requires identification and establishment of protected areas, and monitoring of their long-term effects on wildlife and habitat. Tropical forests are one of the most at-risk habitats and many tropical species have become extinct recently due to human activity. It is imperative to monitor habitat in protected areas and without in order to identify strategies and legislative policies that optimize conservation outcomes. To this end, I quantified habitat fragmentation for the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) in Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, pre- and post-establishment, within and outside the protected area, from 1973, 1985, and 1992, to assess the effectiveness of the protected area status, established in 1978, and a national logging ban, established in 1989, in preserving and restoring hornbill habitat. The results demonstrate that the establishment of Om Koi Wildlife Sanctuary did not decrease the rate of hornbill habitat fragmentation relative to areas outside the protected area. While the protected area had less fragmentation to begin with, protection status did not affect the rate of loss. Fragmentation increased significantly both inside and outside the protected area between the first and second time points (p < 0.05), after the protected area was first established. However, the national logging ban policy implemented in 1985 seems to have successfully halted the fragmentation of habitat within the protected area and surrounding unprotected areas, with all areas showing no significant change (p > 0.05). While not significant, the rate of fragmentation outside the protected area was greater. This suggests that the establishment of a protected area alone may not be sufficient to stop or reverse anthropogenic damage to endangered habitat and the species that utilize these environments. The incorporation of multiple strategies for management is likely needed to increase the ability of protected areas to preserve tropical forest species and habitats. The assessment of protected areas via satellite and ground-level data is an essential tool for evaluating the effectiveness of conservation strategies and improving outcomes.

A survey of lifespans in Oribatida excluding Astigmata (Acari)

This contribution provides an update on the duration of life cycles and lifespans of oribatid mites based on a literature review. The total lifespan is the sum of the immature developmental time (egg to adult) and the longevity of the adult. Most investigations were carried out in the laboratory, few were performed in the field, under field conditions and/or compared with field data. Many life cycles were investigated under different environmental influences. The life cycles of 144 oribatid species are listed. Compared with the total number of known oribatid species, this number is very low. Data for the total lifespan are given for 52 species, either from observations in the laboratory or estimated in comparison with field studies, but can only be guesses of the real lifespan. The typical lifespan of an oribatid species in temperate or boreal regions lasts between 1 and 2 years, rarely 3 years. The few investigated tropical species from laboratory experiments show generally faster development and shorter lifespans as species from temperate regions; no field studies have been carried out in the tropics yet. Long lifespan periods of 5 to 8 years are particularly characteristic of species in polar regions and in mountainous temperate regions. Some examples of species with different longevity in distinct climate regions, very long lifespans and change of life parameters under stressful laboratory conditions are presented.

Main environmental variables influencing the abundance of plant species under risk category

Determining climatic and physiographic variables in Mexico's major ecoregions that are limiting to biodiversity and species of high conservation concern is essential for their conservation. Yet, at the national level to date, few studies have been performed with large data sets and cross-confirmation using multiple statistical analyses. Here, we used 25 endemic, rare and endangered species from 3610 sampling points throughout Mexico and 25 environmental attributes, including average precipitation for different seasons of the year, annual dryness index, slope of the terrain; and maximum, minimum and average temperatures to test our hypothesis that these species could be assessed with the same weight among all variables, showing similar indices of importance. Our results using principal component analysis, covariation analysis by permutations, and random forest regression showed that summer precipitation, length of the frost-free period, spring precipitation, winter precipitation and growing season precipitation all strongly influence the abundance of tropical species. In contrast, annual precipitation and the balance at different seasons (summer and growing season) were the most relevant variables on the temperate region species. For dry areas, the minimum temperature of the coldest month and the maximum temperature of the warmest month were the most significant variables. Using these different associations in different climatic regions could support a more precise management and conservation plan for the preservation of plant species diversity in forests under different global warming scenarios.

S. O. Illichevskyi’s introductory studios in the botanical garden of Poltava pedagogical institute

The great ukrainian botanist Serhii Olimpiiovych Illichevskyi (1895–1959?) research activities during his work period in Botanical Garden of Pedagogical Institute of Poltava (1940–1943) had been reconstructed for the first time. Materials on studies of growing heat loving plants on uncovered soil (predominantly tropical species) are given. The most interesting and topical ones are about acclimatization of sweet potato (Ipomoea batataз (L.) Lam.).

Comprehensive Review: Miracle Tree Moringa oleifera Lam

: From ancient times, humans have depended on plants as a source of medicines. The interest in plants is as old as mankind itself. For novel agents to heal various disorders and improve health, the plant kingdom represents a rich store of folk traditional medicines and organic compounds. Various plants with medicinal properties are used as traditional medicines; M. oleifera Lam. (family Moringaceae) is one of them. M. oleifera Lam. drumstick tree is a tropical species known by various regional names as kelor, saguna, sahjan, sajiwan, sajna, Subhanjana, and suragavo. M. oleifera occurs naturally and is also cultivated throughout India. It is a small to medium-sized tree known as an admirable source of nutrition and a natural energy booster. Primary and secondary metabolites such as minerals, protein, vitamins, and various phenolic compounds are present in different parts of the plant. Most parts of this plant (bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, pods, roots, and seeds) show various pharmacological activities such as analgesic, anti-atherogenic, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, anti-fertility, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, anti-pyretic, etc. M. oleifera has the potential to improve nutrition and to reduce malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers as well as boost food security in developing countries.

Description de deux nouvelles espèces de Collaria Provancher de Madagascar (Hemiptera, Miridae, Mirinae, Stenodemini)

Description of two new species of Collaria Provancher from Madagascar (Hemiptera, Miridae, Mirinae, Stenodemini). Collaria elsae n. sp. and C. sabinae n. sp. are described from Madagascar. Habitus and genitalia are illustrated in both sexes for C. sabinae n. sp., and only for the female, only sex known, for C. elsae n. sp. These two species, black in color, are separated from African species with a black habitus, by a set of external characters and by the genitalia. Collaria bourbonica Matocq, 2019, described and known only from Reunion, is reported from Madagascar and Grande Comores. A key to the Afro-tropical species of Collaria is given.