Endangered Taxa Research Articles

Exploring Taxonomic and Genetic Relationships in the Pinus mugo Complex Using Genome Skimming Data.

Genome skimming is a novel approach that enables obtaining large-scale genomic information based on high-copy DNA fractions from shallow whole-genome sequencing. The simplicity of this method, low analysis costs, and large amounts of generated data have made it widely used in plant research, including species identification, especially in the case of protected or endangered taxa. This task is particularly difficult in the case of closely related taxa. The Pinus mugo complex includes several dozen closely related taxa occurring in the most important mountain ranges in Europe. The taxonomic rank, origin, or distribution of many of these taxa have been debated for years. In this study, we used genome skimming and multilocus DNA barcoding approaches to obtain different sequence data sets and also to determine their genetic diversity and suitability for distinguishing closely related taxa in the Pinus mugo complex. We generated seven different data sets, which were then analyzed using three discrimination methods, i.e., tree based, distance based, and assembling species by automatic partitioning. Genetic diversity among populations and taxa was also investigated using haplotype network analysis and principal coordinate analysis. The proposed data set based on divergence hotspots is even twenty-times more variable than the other analyzed sets and improves the phylogenetic resolution of the Pinus mugo complex. In light of the obtained results, Pinus × rhaetica does not belong to the Pinus mugo complex and should not be identified with either Pinus uliginosa or Pinus rotundata. It seems to represent a fixed hybrid or introgressant between Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo. In turn, Pinus mugo and Pinus uncinata apparently played an important role in the origins of Pinus uliginosa and Pinus rotundata.

Fishing in the gene-pool: implementing trawl-associated eDNA metaprobe for large scale monitoring of fish assemblages

Marine biodiversity monitoring in the Mediterranean’s increasingly threatened ecosystems is crucial for effective ecosystem conservation and management. Here, we leveraged the Mediterranean International Trawl Survey program (MEDITS) to implement eDNA sampling through the recently tested ‘metaprobe’ procedure and characterize fish assemblages in three separate areas off the Italian coasts: Northern Adriatic Sea (NoAS), Ligurian and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (LNTS), and Sardinian Sea (SaS). By combining the information from two homologous mitochondrial 12S metabarcodes––i.e., Elas02 and Tele02 targeting elasmobranchs and teleosts, respectively––we identified 108 species, over 60% of which overlapped with those caught by the trawl net. We produced an accurate reconstruction of fish community composition of the examined sites, reflecting differences in species assemblages linked with both geographic area and depth range. Metaprobe eDNA data consistently returned a biodiversity ‘bonus’ mostly consisting of pelagic taxa not captured through bottom trawl surveys, including rare and endangered taxa (e.g., elasmobranchs). Overall, the spatial characterisation of the assemblages across the surveyed areas was better delineated and more robust using eDNA metabarcoding than trawl data. Our results support the operationalisation of the metaprobe as a simple, inexpensive, versatile sampling tool, in association with pre-existing ship surveys, to overcome many of the limitations of marine data collection and strengthen marine management.

Diversity and characteristics of the melliferous flora of Moroccan Macaronesia (Territory of Sidi Ifni)

The melliferous flora of Central Western Morocco, precisely in the territory of the Ait Baâmrane of Sidi Ifni Province was studied between 2016 and 2018 using surveys among beekeepers and by observing the behavior of bees towards flowers. The plants foraged by bees were collected, identified and listed. A total of 117 honey species were recorded, representing 41.64% of the 281 species of the total flora of the study area, belonging to 98 genera and 40 families. The Asteraceae family is the most represented with 17.95%, followed by Labiatae and Leguminosae with 6.84% each. The area is characterized by a high rate of endemism, estimated at 26.5% of the 117 melliferous species. However, there are species classified as rare and endangered taxa, estimated at 10 species. According to their biological types, Therophytes represent 36.75% of the foraged species, followed by Chamephytes (17.95%). Regarding the flowering period, it lasts throughout the year. Spring however is the most represented period with 42.45% of the plants, followed by summer with 28.98%, then winter and autumn, with 15.10% and 13.47% respectively. Melliferous plants with yellow flowers are the most attracted by bees (28.21%), followed by white flowers (24.79%). These listed plants are either foraged for their nectar and pollen (74.36%), only pollen (15.38%), or only nectar (8.55%). In addition, they have other uses, such as edible, medicinal, and others. It appears from this study that the conservation of the melliferous flora is very imperative in order to improve and promote the continuity of the beekeeping sector in the region.

Safeguarding the last stronghold: Ecology and conservation of Asiatic Cheetah's prey species in Turan Biosphere Reserve (Iran)

Identifying suitable habitats for wild felids is essential for effective area-based conservation efforts. However, modeling habitat suitability for extremely rare and endangered taxa such as the Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is challenging due to limited data availability. To address this, our study focused on analysing the distribution factors of the Asiatic Cheetah's main prey species, including the Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus), Urial (Ovis vignei), Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), Jebeer Gazelle (Gazella bennettii), and Cape Hare (Lepus capensis) in the Turan Biosphere Reserve (TBR), a critical Cheetah habitat in Iran. To determine habitat suitability for these prey species, we conducted a systematic field survey along 30 transects measuring 16 km each by collecting data in each 1 km interval, resulting in 1172 direct observations of their presence. These observations were then correlated with 44 variables grouped into four categories: bioclimatic, topography, vegetation, and distance to anthropogenic and natural features. Suitability maps were generated using a hierarchical modeling approach. Among the observed prey species, Urial had the highest frequency of sightings (675 visual observations over eight seasons), followed by Goitered Gazelle (564 observations), Cape Hare (278 observations), Jebeer Gazelle (232 observations), and Wild Goat (208 observations). The most influential predictors affecting prey species distribution were mean summer temperature (with optimal ranges at lower temperatures), terrain relief roughness (with optimal ranges at intermediate roughness), distance to wells (with optimal ranges at shorter distances), and distance to corrals (with variable optimal ranges across species). Our findings indicate that the western and eastern mountainous areas, along with their hilly surroundings, as well as the northwest and western plains of TBR, constitute the most suitable habitats for these five prey species. These models and suitability maps provide crucial evidence for implementing conservation measures in the vulnerable habitats of the Asiatic Cheetah and its primary prey species. Environmental conditions can be enhanced through the management of water sources, roads, corrals, and livestock grazing. In addition, the fragmentation of suitable areas within TBR highlights the importance of preserving corridors between these fragmented habitats. We recommend re-evaluating and expanding the boundaries of Turan National Park, Turan Wildlife Refuge, and Turan Biosphere Reserve to ensure the long-term conservation of this threatened felid species and its associated ecosystems.

Insights for the Captive Management of South China Tigers Based on a Large-Scale Genetic Survey.

There is an urgent need to find a way to improve the genetic diversity of captive South China tiger (SCT, Panthera tigris amoyensis), the most critically endangered taxon of living tigers, facing inbreeding depression. The genomes showed that 13 hybrid SCTs from Meihuashan were divided into two groups; one group included three individuals who had a closer relationship with pureblood SCTs than another group. The three individuals shared more that 40% of their genome with pureblood SCTs and might be potential individuals for genetic rescuing in SCTs. A large-scale genetic survey based on 319 pureblood SCTs showed that the mean microsatellite inbreeding coefficient of pureblood SCTs decreased significantly from 0.1789 to 0.0600 (p = 0.000009) and the ratio of heterozygous loci increased significantly from 38.5% to 43.2% (p = 0.02) after one individual of the Chongqing line joined the Suzhou line and began to breed in the mid-1980s, which is a reason why the current SCTs keep a moderate level of microsatellite heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity. However, it is important to establish a back-up population based on the three individuals through introducing one pureblood SCT into the back-up population every year. The back-up population should be an important reserve in case the pureblood SCTs are in danger in the future.

An extensive database on the traits and occurrences of amphibian species in Turkey

Amphibians are the most endangered taxa among vertebrates, and they face many threats during their complex life cycles. The species’ life history traits and occurrence database help understand species responses against ecological factors. Consequently, the species-level-trait database has gained more prominence in recent years as a useful tool for understanding the dimensions of communities, assembly processes of communities, and conserving biodiversity at the ecosystem level against environmental changes. However, in Turkey, there are deficiencies in the knowledge of the ecological traits of amphibians compared to other vertebrate taxa, as most studies have focused on their distribution or taxonomic status. Consequently, there is a need to create such a database for future research on all known extant amphibians in Turkey. We compiled a species-level data set of species traits and occurrences for all amphibians in Turkey using 436 literature sources. We completed 36 trait categories with 5611 occurrence data for 37 amphibian species in Turkey. This study provides an open, useful, and comprehensive database for macroecological and conservation studies on amphibians in Turkey.

Taxonomic revision of the Scaled Antbird Drymophila squamata (Aves: Thamnophilidae) reveals a new and critically endangered taxon from northeastern Brazil.

The Scaled Antbird Drymophila squamata is a suboscine passerine endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Two subspecies, putatively diagnosed by the presence/absence of white spots on the crown, have traditionally been recognized: the nominate, ranging from Pernambuco to Bahia in northeastern Brazil, and D. squamata stictocorypha, from Minas Gerais to Santa Catarina in southeastern and southern Brazil. Here we combine morphological, acoustic, and genetic data to examine geographic variation in and revise the taxonomy of D. squamata. We show that there are two separately evolving population lineages in D. squamata, one south and the other north of the So Francisco River. The latter is unnamed and is thus described herein. We found that crown variation is not as geographically structured as previously thought, and thus we suggest that D. squamata stictocorypha is not a valid taxon. Finally, we also provide evidence of clinal variation in the species vocalizations and underscore the importance of broad geographic sampling when assessing species limits using vocalizations.

Taking advantage of reference-guided assembly in a slowly-evolving lineage: Application to Testudo graeca.

Obtaining de novo chromosome-level genome assemblies greatly enhances conservation and evolutionary biology studies. For many research teams, long-read sequencing technologies (that produce highly contiguous assemblies) remain unaffordable or unpractical. For the groups that display high synteny conservation, these limitations can be overcome by a reference-guided assembly using a close relative genome. Among chelonians, tortoises (Testudinidae) are considered one of the most endangered taxa, which calls for more genomic resources. Here we make the most of high synteny conservation in chelonians to produce the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the genus Testudo with one of the most iconic tortoise species in the Mediterranean basin: Testudo graeca. We used high-quality, paired-end Illumina sequences to build a reference-guided assembly with the chromosome-level reference of Gopherus evgoodei. We reconstructed a 2.29 Gb haploid genome with a scaffold N50 of 107.598 Mb and 5.37% gaps. We sequenced 25,998 protein-coding genes, and identified 41.2% of the assembly as repeats. Demographic history reconstruction based on the genome revealed two events (population decline and recovery) that were consistent with previously suggested phylogeographic patterns for the species. This outlines the value of such reference-guided assemblies for phylogeographic studies. Our results highlight the value of using close relatives to produce de novo draft assemblies in species where such resources are unavailable. Our annotated genome of T. graeca paves the way to delve deeper into the species' evolutionary history and provides a valuable resource to enhance direct conservation efforts on their threatened populations.

Haematology and plasma biochemistry reference intervals of Española, San Cristobal and Eastern Santa Cruz Galapagos tortoise species.

Normal reference intervals (RI) of hematologic and biochemical parameters are important for assessing and monitoring the health status of captive and free-living chelonians; however, such information is not available for most wildlife species. Giant Galapagos tortoises are one of the most iconic animals on earth and health information can make an important contribution to their conservation and management. This study provides formal RI of haematology and plasma biochemistry parameters and describes cell morphology along with morphometrics of free-living Eastern Santa Cruz (Chelonoidis donfaustoi), Española (Chelonoidis hoodensis) and San Cristóbal tortoises (Chelonoidis chathamensis). We explored differences in blood parameters between sexes, across the tortoise species in this study and with previously published RI of the Western Santa Cruz tortoise (Chelonoidis porteri). Biochemistry parameters of both Santa Cruz species were overall more similar to each other than to Española and San Cristobal tortoises. This research constitutes the first RI for these three Galapagos tortoise species and may be of value for advising captive-breeding and conservation plans. We recommend further research to establish RI in additional tortoise species so we may better understand and interpret haematology and biochemistry parameters as a valuable conservation tool for species of this critically endangered taxon.

The flora of the island of Rivanj and the vegetation of the macchia and forest of Rivanj and the Sestrice islets

According to literature data and field research conducted in 2019 and 2020, there are 346 vascular native and non-native taxa with the ability to survive outside crops (309 species, 36 subspecies and varieties) on the island of Rivanj (3,615 km2). Including 84 taxa in cultivation, we state that the total flora of Rivanj numbers 430 taxa. Those in cultivation are not included in the flora analysis. During earlier research, 45 taxa were recorded, while 385 taxa are listed for the first time in this work. In addition to the flora inventory, a taxonomic, ecological and phytogeographical analysis was performed. The results are presented in Tables 1–4 and Figure 2. The composition of the flora is dominated by angiosperms, in which dicotyledons (73.99%) are significantly more common than monocotyledons (23.99%). The flora also includes two ferns and 5 gymnosperms. By the number of taxa, the most represented families are Poaceae (13.01%), Asteraceae s.l. (11.85%) and Fabaceae (8.96%). The spectrum of life forms is dominated by therophytes (43.93%) and hemicryptophytes (24.28%), while plants of the Mediterranean floral element (42.77%) dominate in the phytogeographical analysis, which indicates the climatic conditions and geographical position of the island of Rivanj. Four endemics and four endangered taxa (Lathyrus ochrus – critically endangered, Carex extensa – endangered and two vulnerable taxa: Orchis tridentata and Parapholis incurva) were recorded in the flora, as well as five orchid. Eleven invasive taxa were recorded in the weed and ruderal vegetation of the settlement (3.18% of the total flora of the island). The investigation of the macchia and forest vegetation of the island of Rivanj and the islets of Sestrice was conducted in 2019 and 2020. The relevés were produced and analyzed according to the Braun-Blanquet method. Thirty relevés presenting the vegetation of the Quercetea ilicis and Pinetea halepensis classes were statistically analyzed and their dendrogram created. The results are shown in Tables 5–7 in accordance with the classic presentation regarding phytosociological relevés. Through the syntaxonomic analysis the Erico arboreae-Arbutetum unedonis Allier et Lacoste 1980 ex Foggi in Foggi et Grigioni 1999, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci (Molinier 1954) Rivas-Martínez 1975, Pistacio lentisci-Juniperetum turbinatae Trinajstić 1987 ex Asensi, Díez-Garretas & Quézel 2007 and Myrto communis-Quercetum ilicis (Horvatić 1963) Trinajstić (1976) 1985 associations from the Quercetea ilicis class and the Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis De Marco, Veri & Caneva 1984 association. The autochthonous macchia and forest vegetation is mostly endangered by planted community of Aleppo pine on the islet of Mala Sestrica and on smaller areas on the island of Rivanj. North-west of the settlements on the Rivanj island a thick and impassable macchia grows. It is necessary to clear out the firefighting access paths and ban all activities that might cause fire.

Balkan endemic vascular flora of the Konjuh Mountain

This paper presents data on the diversity and distribution of Balkan endemic vascular plants on the Konjuh Mountain in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Konjuh is characterized by geological heterogeneity and a significant proportion of ophiolitic substrate, which supports the development of endemic-relict serpentinophytes. A total of 31 endemic and four subendemic taxa were recorded in the surveyed area. Among these, Caryophyllaceae, with five recorded endemic taxa, is the most abundant family. The analysis of life forms and chorological spectra showed a dominance of hemicryptophytes and taxa from the South European and Mediterranean-Sub-Mediterranean chorological groups. The majority of endemic and relict taxa in the surveyed area are serpentinophytes. A total of 18 recorded taxa are listed as threatened according to the Red List of Flora of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The species findings are presented with a distribution map. The distribution range of endemic and endangered taxa in Konjuh extends beyond the protected area. The results provide a list of locations of particular interest for further research and potential protection due to the diversity of endemic taxa.

Characterising a genetic stronghold amidst pervasive admixture: Morelet’s crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) in central Yucatan

When backcrosses are fertile, interbreeding between endangered taxa can lead to the admixture of gene pools under threat. One such case pertains to the Mesoamerican crocodile Crocodylus moreletii, a species which shows strong signatures of both recent hybridisation and historic intogression with the American crocodile C. acutus across large parts of its range. In the present paper, we use RAD-seq derived SNPs (4980 nuclear and seven mtDNA loci) to demonstrate that C. moreletii populations inhabiting the region of Calakmul in central Yucatan (Mexico) are rather unaffected by hybridization, despite being surrounded by coastal areas where pervasive admixture has previously been documented. All (based on fastSTRUCTURE) and 96% (based on NGSadmix) of 84 genotyped individuals from 18 sampled waterbodies (locally termed aguadas) were free from nuclear introgression of C. acutus DNA at at threshold of 0.95. Seven individuals (8%) possessed a C. acutus mtDNA haplotype, five of which were derived from two adjacent, rather peripheral aguadas. Spatial inferences based on a DAPC and fineRADstructure further showed that the region of Calakmul is inhabited by three genetic clusters spanning across a set of distinct aguadas each. Taken together, our findings reveal that central Yucatan contains the currently largest documented stronghold of C. moreletii populations only marginally affected by introgression, which has major implications for the conservation management of this important flagship species.

Ancient and modern scats record broken ecological interactions and a decline in dietary breadth of the critically endangered kākāpō parrot (Strigops habroptilus)

Threatened animal taxa are often absent from most of their original habitats, meaning their ecological niche cannot be fully captured by contemporary data alone. Although DNA metabarcoding of scats and coprolites (palaeofaeces) can identify the past and present species interactions of their depositors, the usefulness of coprolites in conservation biology is untested as few endangered taxa have known coprolite records. Here, we perform multilocus metabarcoding sequencing and palynological analysis of dietary plants of >100 coprolites (estimated to date from c. 400–1900 A.D.) and > 100 frozen scats (dating c. 1950 A.D. to present) of the critically endangered, flightless, herbivorous kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus), a species that disappeared from its natural range in Aotearoa-New Zealand (NZ) after the 13th C. A.D. We identify 24 orders, 56 families and 67 native plant genera unrecorded in modern kākāpō diets (increases of 69, 108 and 75% respectively). We found that southern beeches (Nothofagaceae), which are important canopy-forming trees and not an important kākāpō food today, dominated kākāpō diets in upland (c. >900 m elevation) habitats. We also found that kākāpō frequently consumed hemiparasitic mistletoes (Loranthaceae) and the holoparasitic wood rose (Dactylanthus taylorii), taxa which are nutrient rich, and now threatened by mammalian herbivory and a paucity of dispersers and pollinators. No single dataset or gene identified all taxa in our dataset, demonstrating the value of multiproxy or multigene datasets in studies of animal diets. Our results highlight how contemporary data may considerably underestimate the full dietary breadth of threatened species and demonstrate the potential value of coprolite analysis in conservation biology.

Amphibians and reptiles encountered during an expedition to Panama

Abstract.—During a recent expedition to five protected areas in Panama (Parque Nacional Volcán Barú andReserva Forestal Fortuna, Chiriquí Province; Parque Nacional Santa Fe, Veraguas Province; Parque Nacional Darien,Rancho Frío, Darien Province; and Mamoni Valley Private Reserve, Panama Province), we observed 95 species ofamphibians and reptiles (51 amphibians and 44 reptiles). We made opportunistic observations of many of them,including noteworthy updates on the conservation status of critically endangered or endangered taxa (Atelopus glyphus,A. limosus, A. varius, Isthmohyla angustilineata, I. tica, Oedipina grandis), the third and fourth distribution records forPanama of Trilepida macrolepis, the second distribution report of Leptophis cupreus for the country, the fourth countryrecord of Bachia blairi, new behavior and maximum size for Oophaga vicentei, and the second known specimen ofNorops triumphalis.

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Two for the price of one: eDNA metabarcoding reveals temporal and spatial variability of mussel and fish co‐distributions in Michigan riverine systems

AbstractFreshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the world's most endangered taxa, with almost 75% of North American taxa classified as a species of concern, threatened, or endangered. Despite the critical importance of comprehensive distributional data for the conservation of unionids and fishes, these data are often lacking because of the labor and resources associated with traditional survey methods. During their larval stage, unionid mussels use various fish species as obligate hosts, making native fish species vital to unionid persistence and an understanding of host distribution similarly important. Here, we utilized an eDNA metabarcoding approach to evaluate patterns of co‐distribution of unionid mussels and fishes along ~362 km of the densely sampled Grand River network as well as the outlets of 19 tributaries along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, USA. We detected a total of 21 mussel and 40 fish taxa, with distinctive composition of both mussel and fish assemblages across tributaries and differences in fish taxa between sampling periods. Notably, we detected more mussel taxa within the Grand River watershed than at the outlets of all 20 rivers combined. Within the Grand River network, two fish taxa (Pylodictus olivaris and Cyprinella) were found more frequently in areas of high mussel diversity, and three fish taxa more frequently in areas of low mussel diversity (Umbra, Leuciscidae, and Etheostoma). There was little difference between eDNA detections of mussels from samples collected in June versus August, but we detected significantly more fish taxa in August compared to June. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the value of eDNA metabarcoding for evaluating co‐distribution of ecologically connected taxa. The use of eDNA as a tool for determining distributions of mussels and their obligate hosts may facilitate conservation efforts for these imperiled taxa.

A Multivariate Study of Morphological Characters for Echinocactus horizonthalonius and E. texensis (Cactaceae) and Description of a New Subspecies, E. horizonthalonius subsp. australis

A study was conducted to ascertain the taxonomic validity of the endangered taxon Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii and whether there may be other groups of populations worthy of subspecies status within the range of the species. To test the hypothesis that individuals of E. horizonthalonius var. nicholii are morphologically distinct from those of the typical variety, a multivariate analysis was done to compare the degree of morphological variation or phenotypic plasticity of stem characters within populations to the variation among populations of E. horizonthalonius throughout its known range. Populations of E. texensis were sampled for outgroup comparison. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) assigning individuals by population showed loose groupings of geographically correlated populations. The DFA assigning individuals to regions or potential subspecific taxa indicated high percentages of correct classification for individuals within populations grouped into the Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert, and Central Mexican Plateau regions. Taxonomically, these groups correspond to E. horizonthalonius subsp. horizonthalonius (Chihuahuan Desert), E. horizonthalonius var. nicholii (Sonoran Desert), and unnamed taxon of E. horizonthalonius (Central Mexican Plateau). Because these morphological entities are correlated with regional distributions, they are placed here under subspecies, including a newly described taxon, E. horizonthalonius subsp. australis. Because no type for E. horizonthalonius could be located, a neotype is designated.

Predicting global seasonal distributions and population exchange routes of a Critically Endangered shark

Oceanic sharks are of great importance to marine ecosystems but among the most endangered taxa in the world. Their conservation requires spatially and temporally explicit knowledge about distributions and migrations across oceanic basins, which are often challenging to monitor and thus little is known at the global scale. The present study addressed this challenge for the scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) which is Critically Endangered. I gathered geo-referenced occurrences of this species from online biogeographic databases, catch data, and peer-reviewed literature. I built seasonal species distribution models (SSDMs) based on these occurrences and 11 environmental variables to predict their suitable habitats. I then predicted their seasonal migration routes for population exchanges with two connectivity analysis techniques (Circuitscape, least-cost path analysis). All SSDMs performed well and showed that there were prominent divergences in seasonal distributions driven by the species' ecological niches. Generally, sea surface temperature was the most important predictor, followed by depth, salinity, primary productivity, distance to macrohabitats, and distance to shoreline. Seasonal suitable habitats were mainly found in tropical continental shelves and deep seas. Possible seasonal migration corridors for population exchanges across ocean basins were identified and some were commonly used by oceanic sharks. The present study highlights (i) the utility of integrating SDMs and connectivity-analysis techniques to predict migration routes for oceanic sharks, and (ii) seasonal and regional changes in their habitat uses, suggesting dynamic, ocean-based conservation measures are needed to conserve these marine apex predators.

Development of a Slow Loris Computer Vision Detection Model.

Simple SummarySlow lorises are nocturnal primates native to south-east Asia. All the species of slow loris have been listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is difficult to artificially detect the slow loris due to its nocturnal habit and venomous bite. This article investigates the feasibility of computer vision for slow loris detection and proposes an improved YOLOv5 algorithm that contributes to formulating an available model for behavior recognition of this endangered taxon.The slow loris (Genus Nycticebus) is a group of small, nocturnal and venomous primates with a distinctive locomotion mode. The detection of slow loris plays an important role in the subsequent individual identification and behavioral recognition and thus contributes to formulating targeted conservation strategies, particularly in reintroduction and post-release monitoring. However, fewer studies have been conducted on efficient and accurate detection methods of this endangered taxa. The traditional methods to detect the slow loris involve long-term observation or watching surveillance video repeatedly, which would involve manpower and be time consuming. Because humans cannot maintain a high degree of attention for a long time, they are also prone to making missed detections or false detections. Due to these observational challenges, using computer vision to detect slow loris presence and activity is desirable. This article establishes a novel target detection dataset based on monitoring videos of captive Bengal slow loris (N. bengalensis) from the wildlife rescue centers in Xishuangbanna and Pu’er, Yunnan, China. The dataset is used to test two improvement schemes based on the YOLOv5 network: (1) YOLOv5-CBAM + TC, the attention mechanism and deconvolution are introduced; (2) YOLOv5-SD, the small object detection layer is added. The results demonstrate that the YOLOv5-CBAM + TC effectively improves the detection effect. At the cost of increasing the model size by 0.6 MB, the precision rate, the recall rate and the mean average precision (mAP) are increased by 2.9%, 3.7% and 3.5%, respectively. The YOLOv5-CBAM + TC model can be used as an effective method to detect individual slow loris in a captive environment, which helps to realize slow loris face and posture recognition based on computer vision.

Resolution of a 35-year taxonomic dilemma: Eucalyptus sp. Howes Swamp Creek (Myrtaceae) from eastern Wollemi National Park, New South Wales

The identity of a population of eucalypts from Howes Swamp Creek in the eastern part of Wollemi National Park in New South Wales has remained unresolved for over 35 years. Despite several workers inspecting both the site and the trees growing there over this period, little consensus has been achieved on its taxonomic status. Various suggestions have been made that the entity was a new species with affinities to Eucalyptus dalrympleana, E. viminalis or E. bridgesiana, and at one time the unpublished manuscript name E. ‘wollemiensis’ was used. Because of the perceived small population size and threats posed by wildfire and other factors, the entity phrase name E. sp. Howes Swamp Creek (M.Doherty 26) was listed as an endangered taxon in both Commonwealth and State threatened species legislation. Our investigations over the last few years, involving field, seedling, and herbarium studies, have determined the original reference specimen designated for the phrase name is E. bridgesiana, and that the population from which the specimen was gathered comprises a hybrid swarm of E. bridgesiana × E. viminalis. Both parent species are present at the site, although the former species is seemingly very rare there. We recommend that E. sp. Howes Swamp Creek be removed from threatened species legislation, and that the names E. sp. Howes Swamp Creek (M.Doherty 26) and E. ‘wollemiensis’ ms be considered nomenclatural synonyms of E. bridgesiana.