15th August - Few thoughts for future:

‘Putting the right species back in the right place’: expressed in the words of Bruce Pavlik, the Head of Restoration Ecology at the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Gardens in a fundraising clip for the Breathing Planet Campaign, the work of biodiversity repositories seems straightforward. A simple matter of renewing the colonial and capitalistic capture of nature by exhausting its diversity in collecting, and then of reinserting species, suspended in the form of genetic information, into the neat spaces their disappearance or almost-dispappearance has left in their original ecosystems, the redemptive value of biodiversity repositories seems unquestionable. ‘There is no technological reason why any species should go extinct’, the clip goes on.The cryopreservation of genetic material in seed banks and ‘frozen zoos’ is often and justifiably understood as genetic-fetishistic suspension, several times removed from animal lives in actual habitats; I propose however to read them as world-making devices in their own right too, more entangled and entangling than they might present themselves to be. Collecting and saving are two mandates that have effects both on the species whose genetic information is banked and on the natures that are made possible or impossible through the projects delineated by biodiversity repositories; but they have also been implicated in a third such mandate, the assisted adaptation of species to anthropogenic climate change (be it the plan for ‘chaperoned assisted relocation’ proposed by the Missouri Botanical Garden or the ‘cultivation of marginally hardy taxa’ proposed at the Arnold Arboretum). How are biodiversity repositories an active intervention into the shaping of natures both inside and outside, and what are the consequences of what happens within the apparatus of these repositories for wider understandings of landscapes and species under threat? How linked is the suspension of metabolic processes and evolutionary potential and the understanding of Earth as manageable, perhaps even terraformable? What do they contribute to conservation biology’s biopolitical and cultural shaping of individuals, species, ecosystems suspended and remade through the different uses for which biodiversity repositories can be put to work?

‘Putting the right species back in the right place’: expressed in the words of Bruce Pavlik, the Head of Restoration Ecology at the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew Gardens in a fundraising clip for the Breathing Planet Campaign, the work of biodiversity repositories seems straightforward. A simple matter of renewing the colonial and capitalistic capture of nature by exhausting its diversity in collecting, and then of reinserting species, suspended in the form of genetic information, into the neat spaces their disappearance or almost-dispappearance has left in their original ecosystems, the redemptive value of biodiversity repositories seems unquestionable. ‘There is no technological reason why any species should go extinct’, the clip goes on. The cryopreservation of genetic material in seed banks and ‘frozen zoos’ is often and justifiably understood as genetic-fetishistic suspension, several times removed from animal lives in actual habitats; I propose however to read them as world-making devices in their own right too, more entangled and entangling than they might present themselves to be. Collecting and saving are two mandates that have effects both on the species whose genetic information is banked and on the natures that are made possible or impossible through the projects delineated by biodiversity repositories; but they have also been implicated in a third such mandate, the assisted adaptation of species to anthropogenic climate change (be it the plan for ‘chaperoned assisted relocation’ proposed by the Missouri Botanical Garden or the ‘cultivation of marginally hardy taxa’ proposed at the Arnold Arboretum). How are biodiversity repositories an active intervention into the shaping of natures both inside and outside, and what are the consequences of what happens within the apparatus of these repositories for wider understandings of landscapes and species under threat? How linked is the suspension of metabolic processes and evolutionary potential and the understanding of Earth as manageable, perhaps even terraformable? What do they contribute to conservation biology’s biopolitical and cultural shaping of individuals, species, ecosystems suspended and remade through the different uses for which biodiversity repositories can be put to work?

Since the Industrial Revolution, the global population has grown from 1.6 billion to 6.1 billion, with 80 percent of the growth occurring between 1950 and 2000. The United Nations has projected that the world’s population will surpass 9 billion people by 2050.1 One significant side effect of this growth has been the destruction of the world’s forests—the repository of biodiversity, medicines, livelihoods, water, and carbon. In the past 300 years, forest cover has decreased by nearly 40 percent, with approximately three-quarters disappearing within the past two centuries.2 KeywordsForest ManagementForest Stewardship CouncilForest CertificationCanadian Standard AssociationRainforest AllianceThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Protected areas (PAs) hold pivotal importance as repositories of biodiversity, especially for some flagship species of high conservation priority. The growing threat of biological invasions in PAs defies the general perception that these areas are rather immune to invasions. Given the paucity of information on the status of biological invasions in the Himalayan PAs, here we developed a well-annotated inventory of alien flora in Dachigam National Park (DNP) through intensive field surveys for the period of 2 years (2019–2021) and recorded 56 alien species with majority (50 species) as neophytes and 6 archaeophyte species belonging to 48 genera and 26 families. Of these alien plant species, 43% species are naturalized, 29% invasive, 20% cultivated, 4% casual aliens and 5% either cultivated or casual. Amongst different natural habitat types investigated in DNP, the grasslands and riparian habitats were found to be most prone to invasive species. These invasions are attributed to myriad of anthropogenic pressure and growing human-footprint in and outside the DNP. The checklist of alien plant species containing useful information on invasion status, growth form, nativity, mode and purpose of introduction is an important tool with the managers of the PA for keen monitoring and effective management of invasive species in the DNP. In view of UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration (2021–30), the PA managers can use this checklist to plan their strategies well for restoration of invaded habitats and preventing further invasions in tune with the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas. So we recommend preparing such checklists for other PAs as well in view of importance this baseline information to deal with invasion-driven changes.

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is known as the repository of biodiversity. It supports 8,000 species of angiosperms. The orchidaceae is among the dominant family of angiospecies and highly evolved family among the monocotyledon. The species of this family are facing tremendous pressure due to habitat degradation, overexploitation and changing environmental conditions. Therefore, while exploring the floristic diversity of Parvati Valley, attempts have also been made to explore the orchid diversity and analyze for diversity, distribution patterns, nativity, endemism, threat categories and indigenous uses. Total 19 species of the orchids representing 13 genera were recorded between 1100-3600 m amsl. Of these, 13 species were natives, 6 species near endemic and 5 species non-natives. These species represented in grassland, shady moist, forests, alpine meadows, moist rocks and bouldary habitats. These species were used for curing various diseases/ailments by the inhabitants of the valley. Due to habitat degradation the populations of these species are decreasing fast. The over exploitation, habitat degradation and changing environmental conditions of these species has led rapid population depletion. Therefore, appropriate strategy has been suggested for the conservation and management of these orchids.

Marine sponges are an important source of chemical variety and a repository of biodiversity. In this study, the microbial communities found in the marine sponge Spongia officinalis that was taken from the Kanyakumari coast in India were explored. We identified, characterized, and evaluated the bioactive potential of the sponge-associated bacteria. A total of 12 bacterial isolates were obtained, primarily consisting of gram-positive rods and some gram-negative rods and cocci. These bacterial isolates showed a variety of bioactive substances when their secondary metabolites were extracted, including phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and steroids. These chemical compounds are well-known for their numerous biological activity and health benefits. The antioxidant and anticancer effects of these metabolites were also investigated. Isolate 6 showed significant antioxidant activity, suggesting it may be able to treat cancer. With an IC50 value of 55.32 g/ml, this isolate also displayed impressive anticancer activity against HeLa cells. The screened isolate was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens strain ATCC 13525 using 16S rRNA sequencing. This discovery emphasizes the importance of bacteria associated with marine sponges as a source of bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. The conclusion of this research highlights the diverse microbial communities found in marine sponges and their potential for use in biotechnology and medication development. Pseudomonas fluorescens was found to be a prolific generator of bioactive byproducts, including strong antioxidants and anticancer agents, which emphasizes the significance of additional marine resource exploitation for pharmacologically relevant chemicals.

Urban environments generally have reduced biodiversity, nevertheless they may contribute to biodiversity conservation. The presence of epiphytes on urban trees indicates viability of urban areas as repositories of biodiversity; however the influence of biophysical and local habitat variables on the occurrence and diversity of epiphytes on urban trees has not been studied. Epiphytes were surveyed on 1170 roadside Albizia saman trees along 39 roads in the tropical city-state of Singapore. Eighty-seven percent of trees were host to at least one epiphyte species. A total of 51 epiphyte species were encountered, 33 of which were native and represented one-third of Singapore’s 113 extant native epiphyte species. Generalized linear mixed models revealed that at the tree level, DBH, fork structure (branch multiplicity), and distance of the host tree from nearest forest patch were associated with epiphyte richness, whereas at the road level, surrounding habitat type, fork structure, and average tree height were associated with epiphyte diversity (Simpson’s reciprocal index [1/λ]). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the presence of a species was often influenced by a single factor rather than multiple factors, e.g. distance to forest, host tree trunk diameter or height, or host tree branching complexity. This study suggests that an understanding of native epiphytes’ dispersal syndrome, the preservation of forest remnants, and protection of trees—especially large and tall trees exhibiting complex architecture—are crucial for epiphyte conservation in highly urbanized environments.

Deepor Beel is a prominent floodplain wetland and a Ramsar site of northeastern (NE) India (Ramsar site no. 1207) covering a 40.14 km2 area and connected to River Brahmaputra. It provides numerous economic (e.g., livelihood and nutritional security) and ecological benefits (e.g. moderation of floods, groundwater recharge, repository of biodiversity) to the locality and its people. Deepor Beel was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1989 and the area covered by the perennial water spread (10.1 km2) was subsequently designated as a Bird Sanctuary by the Government of Assam in 2009. The present paper provides an overview of the rich floral and faunal diversity of the wetland, including aquatic macrophytes (58 species), diatoms (65), zooplankton (171), bryozoans (5), molluscs (15), aquatic insects (55), prawns (3), crabs (2), finfish (68), amphibians (11), reptiles (33), birds (234) and mammals (24), in addition to the beel's limno-chemistry as well its conservation threats and suggested strategies. The wetland supports 18 globally threatened vertebrate species. Eleven bird species occurring in the wetland (Aythya baeri, A. nyroca, Leptoptilos dubius, L. javanicus, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus, Gyps bengalensis, G. tenuirostris, Haliaeetus leucogaster, Pelecanus philippensis, Sarcogyps calvus, Threskiornis melanocephalus) have been included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Finfishes reported from the wetland declined from 67 species in 1999 to 64 between 2016 and 2018, which is a matter of concern. According to available information on limno-chemistry, the waters of the wetland have remained within the favorable range of water quality for fish production. Major threats faced by the wetland (e.g. pollution, encroachment, natural processes, etc.) and possible conservation strategies (e.g. control of aquatic pollution, prevention/ control of siltation, enacting and enforcing appropriate legislation, and other strategies) are outlined.

Centennial olive trees, integral components of traditional Mediterranean agroecosystems, hold immense value as repositories of biodiversity and cultural heritage due to their physiological attributes and life history, making them crucial for the conservation of High Nature Value ancient olive orchards. However, they are increasingly confronted with physiological challenges exacerbated by various biotic and abiotic stressors jeopardizing their health and productivity, underscoring the urgency for ongoing monitoring and conservation measures to secure their long-term existence. To monitor these challenges, in recent years, the adoption of non-invasive techniques like infrared thermography (IRT) has become prevalent. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively assess the health state of traditional centennial olive trees, with a particular focus on their productivity. To achieve this, we monitored 44 centennial olive trees from a traditional olive grove on the island of Naxos, Greece, a representative location for Mediterranean olive groves, during the period from 2017 to 2020. We established connections between a set of trunk and canopy thermal and humidity indices, phenotypic traits, and the two most prevalent stressors affecting olive trees not only within the context of the island but also more broadly in similar Mediterranean environments worldwide: the olive leaf spot disease (OLS) and crop water stress, assessed through the crop water stress index (CWSI). To evaluate their interrelationships, we initially assessed intraspecific thermal and humidity pattern variations, and we developed linear and logistic regression models to gain insights into the factors influencing olive tree productivity, water stress, and the OLS presence. Results indicated that combining thermal and humidity indices can substantially explain olive tree productivity, water stress, and OLS, providing a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring the health and overall state of centennial olive trees, while offering a comprehensive approach to understanding the complex interactions shaping traditional olive grove dynamics. By identifying key indicators such as tree thermal patterns and water stress levels, olive growers and conservationists can make informed decisions to enhance the vitality and longevity of these culturally and ecologically significant trees.

Biodiversity plays a significant role in maintaining the life support system of the people and provide them with livelihood opportunities. Forests are the repository of biodiversity. Often such biodiversity resources face the threats of degradation and extinction due to over exploitation and lack of monitoring mechanism. People living in the forest fringe areas can play important role in conservation of biodiversity provided they are properly oriented, their capacity is built and they are empowered to check the drivers of degradation. The present paper focuses on how the floral biodiversity resources of Dugli Jabarra and Sankra Chandanbehera PPAs under Dhamtari Forest Division in Chattisgarh are conserved through active participation of the Joint Forest Management Committee members. Forest fringe dwellers are organized in the form of Joint Forest Management Committees to protect and conserve the biodiversity, sensitized to adopt non destructive harvesting practices of biodiversity, their capacity is built for resource survey to measure the status of biodiversity at a regular interval and take corrective action to reverse the process of degradation. Such empowerment of people has brought positive changes in the status of biodiversity and the substantial increase in the income of the people through biodiversity based livelihood.

Among government agencies, practitioners and researchers there is growing interest in the potential of natural environments for human health and well-being. In parallel, conserving biodiversity is seen as critical in this effort. Likewise, spiritual well-being is increasingly considered as an important dimension of human health. This chapter examines the inter-relationship between biodiversity and spiritual well-being. We first consider what spiritual well-being is. Then, based on a review of literature, we discuss four themes that illustrate biodiversity and spiritual well-being relationships, including: (i) influence of spiritual traditions on biodiversity; (ii) sacred places as repositories of biodiversity; (iii) the spiritual domain within ecosystems services; and (iv) the effects of biodiversity on spiritual well-being. We bring these strands together in a conceptual model and discussion of measurement issues that can inform future research.

Where will the children play? A personal perspective on sandy beaches

Ctenomys dorsalis is known only from its type specimen, a female preserved as skin without skull (except for the upper incisors) from an imprecise locality in the “Northern Chaco of Paraguay”. Here, we report additional individuals of this species housed, since the 1940s, at the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago, USA). Based on these specimens, which fully match the original description of this rodent, we provide novel information regarding its phylogenetic position, external and cranial morphology, and distribution. The analysis of mtDNA sequences supports the distinctiveness of this taxon and suggests its placement within the boliviensis group of Ctenomys. Our study highlights once more the importance of museum collections as repositories of biodiversity.

<p>Himalayan mountain region lying in the northern part of Indian sub-continent is among those zones which bears the most ecologically sensitive environments and is also a repository of biodiversity, fresh water storage and ecosystem services. Over the last three decades, land transformation related to exploitative land uses is among the main drivers of changing snow cover, vegetation cover and productivity in western Himalayas region. In a region where field-based research is challenging due to heterogenous relief and high altitude, quantifying the changes in temperature pattern using Remote Sensing Techniques can provide essential information regarding variating trends in different elements relating to temperature. This paper studies the trend analysis of changing temperature patterns using SWAT data (1979–2014) over Uttarakhand Himalayas and its association with altitudinal gradient. This paper investigates the trends in maximum (T<sub>max</sub>), minimum (T<sub>min</sub>) & mean (T<sub>mean</sub>) temperatures in the annual, seasonal and monthly time-scales for 55 stations in the 5 regions of Uttarakhand’s Western Himalayan region which are categorized on the basis of elevation, from year 1979-2014. Statistical approaches are used to examine the effect of change in pattern of temperature upon the phenology of vegetation in the region under study, fresh water ecosystems, agricultural productivity, decreasing snow line & increasing tree line, change in duration of the seasons etc.</p>

Biological collections around the world are the repository of biodiversity on Earth; they also hold a large quantity of unsorted, unidentified, or misidentified material and can house behavioral information on species that are difficult to access or no longer available to science. Among the unsorted, alcohol-preserved material stored in the Formicidae Collection of the ‘El Colegio de la Frontera Sur’ Research Center (Chetumal, Mexico), we found nine colonies of the ponerine ant Neoponera villosa, that had been collected in bromeliads at Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico) in 1999. Ants and their brood were revised for the presence of any sign of parasitism. Cocoons were dissected and their content examined under a stereomicroscope. Six N. villosa prepupae had been attacked by the ectoparasitoid syrphid fly Hypselosyrphus trigonus Hull (Syrphidae: Microdontinae), to date the only known dipteran species of the Microdontinae with a parasitoid lifestyle. In addition, six male pupae from three colonies contained gregarious endoparasitoid wasps. These were specialized in parasitizing this specific host caste as no gyne or worker pupae displayed signs of having been attacked. Only immature stages (larvae and pupae) of the wasp could be obtained. Due to the long storage period, DNA amplification failed; however, based on biological and morphological data, pupae were placed in the Encyrtidae family. This is the first record of an encyrtid wasp parasitizing N. villosa, and the second example of an encyrtid as a primary parasitoid of ants. Furthermore, it is also the first record of co-occurrence of a dipteran ectoparasitoid and a hymenopteran endoparasitoid living in sympatry within the same population of host ants. Our findings highlight the importance of biological collections as reservoirs of hidden biodiversity, not only at the taxonomic level, but also at the behavioral level, revealing complex living networks. They also highlight the need for funding in order to carry out biodiversity inventories and manage existing collections.