Highest Number Of Species Research Articles

A drastic decline in avian diversity in and around the Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary, Lakhimpur, Assam, India

Bordoibam-Bilmukh is a small wetland located at the boundary of the Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Assam, India that provides shelter and breeding ground to many resident and migratory birds. A survey was conducted between October 2022 and March 2024 on the avian diversity of Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary. A total of 47 bird species under 16 orders and 29 families were recorded during the survey. Order Passeriformes, recorded with the highest number of avian species (15). Among the families, the highest number of species (5) was recorded under Ardeidae. Out of all the species recorded, three species, viz., Brown Shrike, Citrine Wagtail, and White Wagtail were winter migratory; one species, the Lesser Kestrel, was summer migratory, and the remaining 43 were resident species. Besides, two species, viz., Lesser Adjutant and Greater Adjutant are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ species on the IUCN Red List. Comparing the avian diversity from 1997 to 2024, a decline in the number of avian species from 167 (as per the 1997 record) to 47 (as per the present study) has been observed in the sanctuary. Various anthropogenic activities such as habitat destruction and disturbance, hunting of birds, are the major causes of the decline of avian diversity. For future species diversity restoration in the sanctuary, these negative anthropogenic activities should be addressed immediately for conservation strategies.

Assessment of diversity of plant species, composition, structure and regeneration status in Gondar Zuria District, Ethiopia

This study assesses the composition, arrangement, and state of regeneration in Gondar Zuria District. The two transect lines over the gradient were set up using a systematic random sample strategy in order to gather the number of species and their diameter for tree species in DBH (cm). The distance between the sample plots was 50 m, and the transect lines were 50 m apart. 12 circular plots were used in the total sample area of the botanical garden, and the sizes of the circular plots were 6.5 m for trees, 4.5 m for saplings, and 2.5 m for seedlings. Using the important value index and the diameter at breast height, the pattern of plant structure displays an inverted J shape. A review of the botanical garden’s plant species’ regeneration status revealed that, of the tree and shrub species, 6.25% had fair regeneration status and 25% had poor regeneration quality. While 56.25% of plant species that were only available as saplings or seedlings were regarded as “new” at the botanical garden, a total of 25% of plant species were not regenerating at all. At the study site, the species diversity as determined by the Shannon-Weiner (H’) index was 1.58. But this value shows the species diversity is included in the low biodiversity range unless they are well managed from disturbance. The species composition of the site shows a few species; only 16 plant species were found. A high number of individual species are found in the Leguminosae family.

Spatial patterns of vascular plant species richness in Poland: Relations among species group richness and hot spot distribution

Knowledge of spatial patterns of species richness (SR) is highly relevant for theoretical research in ecology and the development of conservation plans. In Poland, despite a long tradition of botanical surveys, vascular plant SR has not been mapped, nor have the correlations in richness among different plant species groups been explored at the entire country scale. Here, we used a recently published data set to examine spatial patterns and relationships among the joined SR of vascular plant species, including native species, archaeophytes, neophytes, and species with high conservation value (i.e., red-list species). The basic spatial unit employed was a 10 × 10 km grid from the Atlas of Distribution of Vascular Plants in Poland (ATPOL). We found that SR of native species and archaeophytes, neophytes, and red-list species were positively correlated. The main patterns of SR and the percentage of particular groups in the joined SR were based on three components: (1) gradient of overall SR, (2) invasion level, and (3) peculiarity of flora in some regions resulting from the high number and proportion of rare species that often have high conservation value (red-list species). In general, northeastern Poland was species-poor, while the Carpathian Mountain range, the uplands in southern Poland, and some parts of Wisła River valley had the highest SR concentrations. e location of SR hotspots usually did not overlap with the existing national parks system. The correlations among native SR, high conservation value species, and neophyte SR suggest that biological invasions are among the most important threats to vascular plant diversity in Poland. Finally, despite likely biases in SR assessments, we demonstrated that the presented maps seem to reflect general ecological gradients influencing vascular plant distribution in Poland.

Species Composition of Fish Larvae and Juveniles in the Nanji Islands, China

To describe the species composition of fish larvae and juveniles in the Nanji Islands, monthly collection was conducted at 12 stations around the Nanji Islands from March 2023 to February 2024 by using horizontal tow at the surface layer. The fish larvae and juveniles were collected by a larva net (1.3 m mouth diameter, 0.5 mm mesh aperture). A total of 6446 fish larvae and juveniles were collected, belonging to 59 species and 54 genera in 11 families. Most of them were preflexion larvae (93.31%). Gobiidae, with eight species, was the most diverse family. Based on the index of relative importance (IRI) result, the dominant species was Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829), accounting for 84.52% of the total number of samples collected. The common species were Stolephorus commersonii Lacepède, 1803; Omobranchus elegans (Steindachner, 1876); Nibea albiflora (Richardson, 1846); Parablennius yatabei (Jordan & Snyder, 1900); Lateolabrax maculatus (McClelland, 1844); and Odontamblyopus lacepediiand (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845). Other species were all rare species. The highest species number was in September (18 species), and the highest density was in December. Only one fish larva was collected in April. Pielou’s evenness index was highest in November, while Margalef’s richness index and Shannon–Wiener diversity were highest in September. The result of cluster analysis showed that the 11 months (except April) could be divided into four groups. The species number, density, and three diversity indexes showed no significant correlation with temperature and salinity.

An overview of the estuarine ichthyofauna from Bahia, Brazil: expanding the knowledge about the fish species of three important regions of the state

ABSTRACT The coast of Bahia state is the longest along the Brazilian coastline, and there are significant knowledge gaps concerning its estuarine fish fauna. Thus, there is a need to provide extensive coverage of the estuarine ichthyofauna of Bahia to provide an updated checklist of its fishes, which could function as a database for the management of such biodiversity. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize three different important estuarine systems (Camamu, Todos os Santos Bay, and Caravelas) in Bahia to contribute information on the ichthyofauna in shallow areas of the state. We recorded 29 orders, 54 families, 101 genera, and 147 species of fish. The families with the highest number of species were Sciaenidae and Carangidae, with twelve and nine species, respectively, followed by Gobiidae and Engraulidae, each with eight species. In terms of abundance in the northern region, the orders Atheriniformes (28.80%), Pleuronectiformes (15.92%), Clupeiformes (14.20%), and Gerreiformes (13.91%) predominated. In the Central region, Gerreiformes (21.55%), Tetraodontiformes (17.94%), Gobiiformes (12.83%), and Clupeiformes (8.94%) were the most representative. In the southern region, the orders Clupeiformes (57.48%), Mugiliformes (14.09%), Atheriniformes (4.10%), Lutjaniformes (3.97%), Gerreiformes (3.60%), and Carangiformes (2.23%) predominated. The region was characterized by a high representation of guilds of marine migrant species, followed by marine, estuarine, and freshwater visitors.

The diversity of commercial marine bivalves in the Nha Phu Lagoon, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam

The study was conducted as part of the Joint Vietnam–Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center’s project on indicator organisms in the marine environment of south-central Vietnam. The research focused on coastal areas with significant anthropogenic impacts, revealing that biological resources directly affect the livelihood and activities of coastal populations. These resources are dynamic and subject to both human and natural factors. The material from the soft-bottom zone was collected using a grab rake with a mesh bag at the end. Scuba diving equipment was used in areas with a hard substrate and mudflats. In addition, during sample collection, several mollusc specimens were acquired from fishermen who cought marine organisms in that lagoon. Comparing the results with previous studies on bivalve resources in the area, the Nha Phu Lagoon was found to harbour a wide range of economically valuable bivalve species. A total of twenty-seven bivalve species from thirteen families were identified, with the family Veneridae having the highest number of species (eight). The most abundant catches were from the families Ostreidae and Mytilidae, primarily consisting of Magallana gigas (Thunberg 1793) and Perna viridis (Linnaeus 1758), both cultured in the lagoon. Apart from their economic value, these two species also play crucial roles in the ecosystem by filtering water and retaining organic debris in the environment.

Do marine food subsidies predict large scale distribution of scavenging seabirds within the Bay of Biscay?

Omnivorous and opportunistic species have the potential to exploit human food subsidies. In marine ecosystem, understanding interaction between seabirds and fishery activities, particularly their scavenging behaviour on discards is crucial nowadays, in the context of EU landing obligation. The Bay of Biscay is one of the major fishing zones in Europe and a central area for the wintering of a high number of seabird species. During spring and autumn, oceanographic surveys were conducted by the R/V Thalassa with the aim to evaluate fishing resources along transects over the continental shelf, thereby providing an opportunity to study the distribution and scavenging behaviour of seabirds in this area. We investigated the influence of fishery activities (i.e. distribution of professional fishing vessels, quantity of discards) at large scale, and oceanographic conditions on the distribution of scavenging seabirds along the continental shelf. On average, large gulls (Larus spp) and northern gannets accounted for 70 % of the seabirds scavenging on discards. We compared model predictions using oceanographic variables with those using both oceanographic variables and fishery activities, in separate for spring and autumn and group of seabirds (i.e. large gulls and northern gannets). Results suggested that the distribution of scavenging seabirds was better predicted by oceanographic variables than by fishery activities. The predicted numbers of scavenging seabirds were higher in autumn than in spring, probably due to the annual cycle of seabirds (i.e. breeding versus wintering). At large scale, oceanographic variables were better predictors of suitable habitat. However, a closer evaluation of prediction differences between the two models highlighted high anomaly values for large gulls in autumn along the coast, that may indicate over predictions. These results have provided new knowledge on the ecology of scavenging seabirds, in an area with high fishery activity, especially in the context of landing obligation.

Effects of sown and spontaneous inter-row vegetation on weeds and beneficial arthropods in vineyards

The intensification of crop management has resulted in a decline of biodiversity in the last decades, in particular through habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Semi-natural habitats within agricultural landscapes such as hedges, grasslands or herbaceous field margins, provide resources and refuge to beneficial arthropods. In vineyards, extensively used inter-row vegetation may be functionally equivalent to such semi-natural habitats and sowing of plant species rich in floral resources may improve habitat functions. In this study, three types of vineyard inter-row vegetation treatments were compared in 15 vineyards of South-eastern France: (1) sowing a high-diversity seed mixture (HD) with a high number of nectariferous plant species, (2) spontaneous vegetation, and (3) tilled inter-rows. We monitored the inter-row vegetation including problematic weeds, the abundance of beneficial arthropods, and the predation of sentinel prey. The invasive weedy grass species Cynodon dactylon showed a lower cover in HD inter-rows than in spontaneous vegetation, whereas no differences were found for the invasive herb Erigeron sumatrensis. Both weed species were still best controlled in tilled inter-rows. Beneficial arthropods were less abundant in tilled than in spontaneously vegetated and sown inter-rows. Day predation was higher in HD inter-rows than in spontaneous vegetation although no significant differences were found for observed predators. Over all treatments, plant species richness, flower and grass cover had a positive influence on several beneficial arthropod groups. Our results highlight the positive effects of species-rich inter-row vegetation on weed control, beneficial arthropod abundance and predation but also showed that further research is needed to improve the efficiency beyond services already provided by spontaneous vegetation.

Development of species-specific multiplex PCR for Leishmania identification

Leishmaniasis is a diverse group of clinical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. Species-specific identification of Leishmania spp. is challenging due to the high number of different pathogenic species that sometimes co-circulate in the same foci, hampering efforts to effectively control the disease. Multiplex PCR is an attractive alternative for rapid differentiation of Leishmania species with high sensitivity and specificity. We aimed to generate a panel of primers optimized for a multiplex PCR assay capable of identifying different Leishmania species in a single reaction. Species-specific primers were designed based on genomic data using the TipMT tooL. Potential non-specific amplifications of other trypanosomatids as well as human, dog, and sandfly hosts were first evaluated in silico using the Primer-Blast tooL. Species-specific primers for Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania infantum, Leishmania mexicana and for the Leishmania guyanensis complex were tested in vitro. The primers have a limit of detection ranging from 1 to 0.01 ng of parasite gDNA using the same annealing temperature of 66 °C. The primers were specific for their targets when tested against 13 species of Leishmania, six trypanosomatids, and Babesia sp., and to detect the target species in a prepared pool with gDNA of six pathogenic Leishmania species. The designed primers were optimized for multiplex PCR, enabling species-specific identification of all five Leishmania species and one species complex. This new primer set could allow for efficient, fast, and reliable identification of Leishmania parasites.

Fish Diversity of East Sea Streams in Nakdong River Region

Fish surveys were conducted near artificial structures installed in eight streams flowing from the Nakdong River region to the east coast of Korea. As a result of the survey, a total of 20,000 individuals belonging to nine orders, 17 families, and 47 species were found. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus, and the subdominant species was Pungtungia herzi. Among the surveyed fish species, endangered species were Pseudobagrus brevicorpus (rank I) and Cottus hangiongensis (rank II). In addition, migratory fish species were Oncorhynchus keta, Plecoglossus altivelis, and Tribolodon hakonensis. As a result of community analysis, the highest diversity, dominance, richness, and evenness indices were Wangpi, Chuksan, Gokgang, and Janggi Stream respectively. The highest number of species was surveyed in Gokgang Stream (25 species). Alpha diversity, the number of species at each survey point in each stream, was the highest at a survey point in Wangpi Stream (20 species), and beta diversity, species at each stream survey point that does not overlap with nearby survey point, was the highest at survey points in Gokgang Stream (12 species). As a result of the similarity analysis, surveyed streams were divided into four groups: group 1 (Chuksan, Baeknok Stream), group 2 (Uljinnamdae, Wangpi, Yungdeokosip Steam), group 3 (Gokgang Stream), and group 4 (Janggi, Hoeya Stream). This study is expected to serve as basic data for managing the aquatic ecosystem of streams flowing from the Nakdong River region to the east coast.

Shell-bearing Bivalvia and Gastropoda from a rocky shore in the Central Caribbean of Colombia

This study documents the natural accumulation of mollusk shells on an elevated rocky shore carved into the calcareous rocks of the La Popa formation at Punta Roca (Atlántico), covering an estimated area of 0.35 km2. Hydrodynamic transport and differential exposure to environmental conditions are the primary factors contributing to shell deposition. A total of 58 mollusk species were identified, including 30 bivalves and 28 gastropods. The Veneridae was the most prominent, with the highest number of species (7) and shells comprising 64.22 % of the total. Key species contributing to the accumulation include the bivalves Anomalocardia cf. flexuosa, Polymesoda cf. arctata, Leukoma pectorina, Tivela mactroides, Crassostrea rhizophorae, and the gastropod Vitta virginea. These species are primarily characteristic of estuarine environments, with the exception of T. mactroides. Notably, the first recorded occurrence of the non-native gastropod Naria turdus (Cypraeidae) on the Colombian Caribbean coast was documented. The accumulations exhibit varying degrees of abrasion, fragmentation, encrustation, and bioerosion, with some shells appearing almost intact, indicating differences in origin and transport mechanisms. The extraction of shells for ornamental purposes poses a significant challenge to this natural accumulation.

Lanthanide Atoms Induce Strong Graphene Sheet Distortion When Adsorbed on Stone-Wales Defects.

Local curvature in graphene can enhance its reactivity and catalytic activity and can be induced by the adsorption of certain chemical species. By employing periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that significant local curvature can be systematically observed when lanthanide atoms (the full series from La to Lu) are adsorbed on the Stone-Wales (SW) defect in graphene, contrary to that in defect-free graphene. Despite the typical high coordination numbers of lanthanide species, their hapticity is always η2 (and not η5, η6, or η7), where Ln atoms are adsorbed on the (7,7) junction, forming relatively short Ln···C separations. Contrary to the pristine graphene, the SW region undergoes considerable distortion and results in much stronger Ln bonding. The positive charge acquired by Ln atoms upon adsorption on SW is approximately 1.5 times larger than that on defect-free graphene. The high visibility of electron-rich lanthanide species in scanning tunneling microscopy images provides a means to locate SW defects in graphene samples experimentally.

Taxonomic identification of Morocco scorpions using MALDI-MS fingerprints of venom proteomes and computational modeling

The venom of scorpions has been the subject of numerous studies. However, their taxonomic identification is not a simple task, leading to misidentifications. This study aims to provide a practical approach for identifying scorpions based on the venom molecular mass fingerprint (MFP). Specimens (251) belonging to fifteen species were collected from different regions in Morocco. Their MFPs were acquired using MALDI-MS. These were used as a training dataset to generate predictive models and a library of mean spectral profiles using software programs based on machine learning. The computational model achieved an overall recognition capability of 99 % comprising 32 molecular signatures. The models and the library were tested using a new dataset for external validation and to evaluate their capability of identification. We recorded an accuracy classification with an average of 97 % and 98 % for the computational models and the library, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to demonstrate the potential of MALDI-MS and MFPs to generate predictive models capable of discriminating scorpions from family to species levels, and to build a library of species-specific spectra. These promising results may represent a proof of concept towards developing a reliable approach for rapid molecular identification of scorpions in Morocco. Significance of the studyWith their clinical importance, scorpions may constitute a desirable study model for many researchers. The first step in studying scorpion is systematically identifying the species of interest. However, it can be a difficult task, especially for the non-experts. The taxonomy of scorpions is primarily based on morphometric characters. In Morocco, the high number of species and subspecies mainly endemic, and the morphological similarities between different species may result in false identifications. This was observed in many reports according to the scorpion experts. In this study, we describe a reliable practical approach for identifying scorpions based on the venom molecular mass fingerprints (MFPs). By using two software programs based on machine learning, we have demonstrated that these MFPs contains sufficient inter-specific variation to differentiate between the scorpion species mentioned in this study with a good accuracy. Using a drop of venom, this new approach could be a rapid, accurate and cost saving method for taxonomic identification of scorpions in Morocco.

Community Structure, Abundance and Ecological Index of Phytoplankton in Jembrana Coastal Waters, Bali

Phytoplankton is an important component in aquatic ecosystems. Apart from producing oxygen, phytoplankton also act as primary producers in the food chain. Bali Sardinella (Lemuru) is an important fishery commodity in the Bali Strait, which is known to eat plankton (Plankton Feeder), so its existence depends on the distribution of plankton. This descriptive research aims to determine the community structure, abundance and ecological index of phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Jembrana Regency. Sampling was conducted in July 2023 at five observation stations in the coastal waters of Jembrana Regency (Pengambengan Beach, Perancak Beach and Delod Berawah Beach). Around 250 litres of seawater was filtered by a plankton net measuring 35 mm. The filtered samples collected in a 100 ml collecting bottle were then transferred to a 120 ml sample bottle and preserved in 4% formalin. The samples obtained were taken to the laboratory for observation under a microscope. This research shows that 66 types of phytoplankton were found to belong to 5 classes in the waters of Jembrana, Bali. The Bacillariophyceae class were found with the highest number of species (44 species), followed by the Dinophyceae (19 species), Chlorophyceae (1 species), Cryptophyceae (1 species), and Cyanophyceae (1 species). Based on the results of calculating phytoplankton abundance, various abundance values ​​were obtained at each observation station. Station 2 has the highest abundance of phytoplankton with 297 individuals/l followed by Station 1 (221 individuals/l), Station 4 (130 individuals/l), Station 3 (127 individuals/l), and Station 5 (36 individuals/l). The species Diversity Index (H') ranges from 2.61 - 2.83, the Dominance Index (C) ranges from 0.07 - 0.13, and the Evenness Index (e) ranges from 0.72 - 0.95. The ecological index value shows that the phytoplankton community in Jembrana coastal waters included in the moderate diversity category is not dominant and evenly distributed. The ecological index value shows that the water quality is categorized as moderately polluted.

Assessment of bird diversity and abundance in Mai-Nigus artificial reservoir and surrounding semi-forest in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

BackgroundArtificial reservoirs are alternative habitats for bird diversity, and knowledge of the diversity and abundance of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the species diversity and abundance of birds in Mai-Nigus reservoir and its surrounding semi-forest from July 2022 to March 2023. Point count method with a total of fifteen count stations at an interval of 50 m radius was used to study the diversity and abundance of bird species in the semi-forest habitat while total count employed on the reservoir.ResultsA total of 123 bird species comprising endemic and globally threatened species were identified. Order Passeriformes had the highest number of species followed by Charadriiformes and Pelecaniformes. Family Scolopacidae was the most abundant followed by Ardeidae, Ploceidae and Anatidae. Bird species richness and abundance were not significantly varied across seasons and habitats (P > 0.05). The highest species diversity (H´=3.96) were recorded in the Semi-forest during the wet season, whereas the least was recorded from reservoir during the dry season (H´=2.66). The highest and lowest species evenness of birds was recorded in Semi-forest (E = 0.725) and reservoir (E = 0.448) during the dry season, respectively. Most birds that inhabited the area had frequent relative abundance followed by uncommon and common species.ConclusionMai-Nigus reservoir and surrounding habitat host high bird diversity and this requires critical conservation concerns for the long-term survival of birds.

Biodiversity of Agromyzidae (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Central Slovakia), with new records and an updated checklist for Slovakia

Abstract A total of 327 species of Agromyzidae has been recorded from the Gemer area and for 245 of these species new data are given. Altogether 89 species are ascertained to occur in the Gemer area for the first time. Of this number, 35 species are new additions to the fauna of Slovakia, viz. Agromyza filipendulae Spencer, 1976, A. myosotidis Kaltenbach, 1864, Amauromyza (Amauromyza) rameli Černý, 2011, Am. (Cephalomyza) flavifrons (Meigen, 1830), Aulagromyza populicola (Haliday in Walker, 1853), Cerodontha (Butomomyza) rohdendorfi Nowakowski, 1967, C. (Cerodontha) coxalis Martinez, 1987, C. (C.) xanthocera Hendel, 1920, C. (Dizygomyza) eriophori Nowakowski, 1972, C. (Poemyza) beigerae Nowakowski, 1973, C. (P.) kerteszi (Hendel, 1931), Chromatomyia dorsata (Hendel, 1920), Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach, 1858), L. coronillae Pakalniškis, 1994, L. dracunculi Hering, 1932, Melanagromyza lappae (Loew, 1850), M. limata Spencer, 1971, M. verbasci Spencer, 1957, Napomyza inquilina (Kock, 1966), Ophiomyia crispa Guglya, 2013, O. gnaphalii Hering, 1949, O. submaura Hering, 1926, Phytobia cerasiferae (Kangas, 1955), Phb. errans (Meigen, 1830), Phb. mallochi (Hendel, 1924), Phytoliriomyza perpusilla (Meigen, 1830), Phl. variegata (Meigen, 1830), Phytomyza aconiti Hendel, 1920, Ph. anemones Hering, 1925, Ph. astrantiae Hendel, 1924, Ph. bipunctata Loew, 1858, Ph. kugleri Spencer, 1974, Ph. leucanthemi Hering, 1935, Pseudonapomyza balkanensis Spencer, 1973 and Ps. vota Spencer, 1973. The biogeographically most important are records of Amauromyza (Am.) rameli, Cerodontha (C.) xanthocera, C. (P.) kerteszi, Chromatomyia dorsata, Phytomyza kugleri and Pseudonapomyza vota being from their northernmost occurrence limits and usually the first record from Central Europe. Cerodontha (Dizygomyza) eriophori (first record outside Poland) has been found in a new southernmost locality, similarly as was also Chromatomyia rhaetica Griffiths, 1980. The biodiversity of species of the family Agromyzidae in particular large-sized protected areas of the Gemer region is discussed. Thanks to recent intensive research, the highest number of species was found in the Muránska planina National Park (250) and in the Cerová vrchovina PLA (198), which is significantly more than in the other protected areas of similar extent in Slovakia that have been studied in detail for Diptera up to the present. A new checklist of Agromyzidae for the fauna of Slovakia is presented, which now includes 414 species.

424. EFFECT OF GUT MICROBIOTA ON THE RESPONSE TO NEOADJUVANT IMMUNOTHERAPY COMBINED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract Background To explore the impact of gut microbiota diversity on the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients, aiming to identify microbial markers for predicting treatment outcomes. Methods In this study, we prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were scheduled to undergo neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy; stool specimens were collected before the first cycle, the second cycle of immunotherapy, and at the time of preoperative disease evaluation. To examine the gut microbiota's composition and abundance, we employed the 16S rDNA sequencing technique. The sequencing data were preprocessed with FLASH and Uparse software, and species annotation was performed using the SSUrRNA database. Microbiota analysis was conducted using the R language, and group differences were assessed using appropriate statistical methods. Results In this study, 43 patients (totally 122 stool samples) with neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled from December 2020 to January 2022. 16S rDNA sequencing results suggested that patients in the sensitive group had higher total fecal microbiota diversity than those in the drug-resistant group, and a notable variation in the structure of the microbiota was detected between the two groups. During treatment, the results did not show any significant statistical difference in the number of species (alpha diversity) in the sensitive group compared to the resistant group, although there was a trend towards a higher number of species in the pre-treatment sensitive group. As the treatment progressed, starting from the second cycle of treatment, the sensitive group had a higher alpha diversity than the resistant group. And we found that Bray-Curtis distance assessment of beta diversity showed that the difference between the sensitive and resistant groups also became more pronounced as treatment progressed. At the phylum level, the gut flora composition of the sensitive group remained relatively stable as treatment progressed, while the microbial diversity of the resistant group appeared to decrease. At the genus level, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Akkermansia and Ruminococcus were more abundant in the immunotherapy-sensitive group; whereas Ligilactobacillus and Escherichia-Shigella was more rich in the immunotherapy-resistant group. The prediction model based on the baseline differences of gut microbiota in the two groups using a random forest method can be applied to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion There are differences in species diversity and microbiota structure between the sensitive and resistant groups of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, and the predictive model, which is based on the microbiota differences between the two groups before treatment, could be clinically relevant in predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Diversity, abundance and habitat association of small mammals in Maze National Park, Ethiopia

We investigated species composition, relative abundance, habitat association and density of small mammals in Maze National Park, Ethiopia. Data were collected using the capture-mark-recapture technique in three representative habitat types (grassland, bushland and riverine forest) from November 2021 to August 2022. Descriptive statistics and indices for diversity and evenness were used to analyse the data. A total of 679 rodents and insectivores were collected during a span of 2 646 trap nights. Of these, 534 (76.64%) individuals were newly captured, while 145 (23.36%) were recaptures. Overall trap success was 20.18%. Five species of rodents were captured: four from the family Muridae (Mastomys natalensis, Arvicanthis niloticus, Rattus rattus and Lemniscomys macculus) and one (Xerus rutilus) from the family Sciuridae; and one insectivore species (Elephantulus rufescens) from the family Macroscelididae. Mastomys natalensis (178; 33.3%) was the most abundant, while X. rutilus (1; 0.2%) and E. rufescens (1; 0.2%) were the least abundant. Small mammal species varied significantly with habitat types (χ2 = 6.101, df = 2, p ≤ 0.05), with the highest count in the bushland habitat (197; 36.89 %) and the lowest in riverine forest (152; 28.46%). The bushland and riverine forest habitats supported the highest (H’ = 1.04) and the lowest (H’ = 0.506) diversity of small mammal species, respectively. A relatively high number of small mammal species were caught during the wet season (n = 336) compared to the dry season (n = 198). Future studies using more trapping grids covering additional habitat types and genetic analyses for small mammal species confirmation are necessary for a better understanding of the Park’s small mammal fauna.

Vascular epiphytes of the South America Dry Diagonal: characterising their occurrence and richness in this neglected region

ABSTRACT The South America Dry Diagonal (SADD) is the most extensive and continuous portion of dry vegetation on the continent, characterised by lower rainfall and a marked dry season. Epiphytes are very poorly known and understudied in this area, even though they represent a high proportion of plant diversity in South America. Here, we compiled a dataset of epiphyte records from the SADD. The compiled epiphyte records date from 1859 to 2021, covering all four SADD domains, four countries, and 24 ecoregions. We utilised two databases for life form classification: Epilist and Brazil Flora Group. Our dataset contains 41,039 records distributed among 1119 epiphyte and hemiepiphyte species belonging to three main groups: angiosperms, ferns, and lycophytes. The SADD domains host a high number of unique species in each domain, with the Cerrado and Caatinga regions serving as primary hosts for the majority of species in the SADD dataset. Despite notable differences in species composition among domains, the least significant differences were observed between the Caatinga and Cerrado, as well as between the Chaco and the Pantanal. Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Polypodiaceae families exhibited the highest species diversity within the region. However, the species containing the highest number of specimens collected varied considerably among the domains. Herein, we also outlined some inconsistencies in the life-form classification across taxonomic bases, acknowledging the challenges of categorising epiphyte species while considering their intraspecific life-form variation.

A nonlinear fractional fishery resource system model with Crowley–Martin functional response under Mittag-Leffler kernel

This article studies the action of predators and the predator-dependent functional response in the fishery resource model. We employ the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo fractional derivative to study the proposed fractional fishery resource model in the presence of predators with Crowley–Martin functional response. We present a theoretical and numerical analysis of the governing nonlinear differential equations of the model consisting of the biomass density of the fish population inside the unrestricted fishing zone, the biomass density of the fish population inside the reserve or restricted fishing zone, and the predator population. Using the fixed point theory and nonlinear analysis, we establish the existence and uniqueness results of the proposed ABC fractional fishery resource model. We establish stability analysis of the fishery model using the Ulam–Hyers stability approach. The numerical scheme of the fractional Adams–Bashforth method is provided and the approximate solutions for the model under consideration are given and discussed. We observe that an increase in the fish capturing rates increases the size of the predator population and reduces the fish subpopulations. To maintain a high number of fish species, we recommend a control measure to reduce the fish capturing rate by the predators.