Identification Of Species Research Articles

A DNA barcode reference library of Croatian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): implications for identification and delimitation of species, with notes on the distribution of potential vector species

BackgroundMosquitoes pose a risk to human health worldwide, and correct species identification and detection of cryptic species are the most important keys for surveillance and control of mosquito vectors. In addition to traditional identification based on morphology, DNA barcoding has recently been widely used as a complementary tool for reliable identification of mosquito species. The main objective of this study was to create a reference DNA barcode library for the Croatian mosquito fauna, which should contribute to more accurate and faster identification of species, including cryptic species, and recognition of relevant vector species.MethodsSampling was carried out in three biogeographical regions of Croatia over six years (2017–2022). The mosquitoes were morphologically identified; molecular identification was based on the standard barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene and the nuclear ITS2 region, the latter to identify species within the Anopheles maculipennis complex. The BIN-RESL algorithm assigned the COI sequences to the corresponding BINs (Barcode Index Number clusters) in BOLD, i.e. to putative MOTUs (Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units). The bPTP and ASAP species delimitation methods were applied to the genus datasets in order to verify/confirm the assignment of specimens to specific MOTUs.ResultsA total of 405 mosquito specimens belonging to six genera and 30 morphospecies were collected and processed. Species delimitation methods assigned the samples to 31 (BIN-RESL), 30 (bPTP) and 28 (ASAP) MOTUs, with most delimited MOTUs matching the morphological identification. Some species of the genera Culex, Aedes and Anopheles were assigned to the same MOTUs, especially species that are difficult to distinguish morphologically and/or represent species complexes. In total, COI barcode sequences for 34 mosquito species and ITS2 sequences for three species of the genus Anopheles were added to the mosquito sequence database for Croatia, including one individual from the Intrudens Group, which represents a new record for the Croatian mosquito fauna.ConclusionWe present the results of the first comprehensive study combining morphological and molecular identification of most mosquito species present in Croatia, including several invasive and vector species. With the exception of some closely related species, this study confirmed that DNA barcoding based on COI provides a reliable basis for the identification of mosquito species in Croatia.Graphical

Restoring forest ecosystem services through trait-based ecology

Restoration is moving towards a more mechanistic approach that emphasizes restoration of ecosystem services. Trait-based approaches provide links between species identity and ecosystem functions and have been suggested as a promising way to formally integrate ecosystem services in the design of restoration programs. While practitioners have been routinely using informal knowledge on plant traits in their practices, these approaches are underutilized as operationalization remains challenging. The goal of this paper is to provide guidance for applied scientists and restoration practitioners looking to apply a trait-based approach to restore forest ecosystems. We present a five-step framework: 1) selection of services to be restored, 2) trait selection, 3) data acquisition, 4) analytical planning, and 5) empirical testing and monitoring. We use three Canadian case studies to illustrate the applicability of our framework and the variety of ways trait-based approaches can inform restoration practices: 1) restoration of urban woodlots after an insect outbreak, 2) restoration of a smelter damaged landscape surrounding an urban area, and 3) reclamation of remote upland forests after oil and gas related disturbances. We describe the major mechanisms and traits that determine vegetation effects on ecosystem services of importance in each case study. We then discuss data availability, methodological constraints, comparability issues, analytical methods, and the importance of empirical testing and monitoring to ensure realistic prediction of service restoration. By outlining issues and offering practical information, we aim to contribute to a more robust use of traits in ecological restoration.

Phytochemical Profile of Rhizophora apiculata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Bruguiera cylindrica for Wood Identification

Identification of wood species that are difficult to distinguish from their anatomical structure can be done through phytochemical (extractive substance) profiling. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical profile as a sorter for three species of mangrove wood from Indramayu and Cilacap Regencies, Indonesia, using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrum. The phytochemical markers of taxonomic were the dominant compounds only found in one wood species. The results showed that the three types of wood are dominated by phytochemicals dissolved in ethanol. The results of LCMS analysis of the ethanol extract showed that the phytochemical markers were triterpenoid, flavonoid, and fatty acyls glycoside groups for Rhizophora apiculata, steroid and naphthalene groups for Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and alkaloid as well as fatty amide group for Bruguiera cylindrica. The dominant compounds that characterize these can be used in sorting between mangrove wood species. Keywords: characterizer, compound, mangrove, phytochemicals

Molecular and phenotypic identification of bacterial species isolated from cows with mastitis from three regions of Poland

BackgroundBovine mastitis is a widespread disease affecting dairy cattle worldwide and it generates substantial losses for dairy farmers. Mastitis may be caused by bacteria, fungi or algae. The most common species isolated from infected milk are, among others, Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci. The aim of this paper is to determine the frequency of occurrence of bacterial species in milk samples from cows with mastitis from three regions of Poland: the north-east, the south-west and the south. To this end 203 milk samples taken from cows with a clinical form (CM) of mastitis (n = 100) and healthy animals (n = 103) were examined, which included culture on an appropriate medium followed by molecular detection of E. coli, S. aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus uberis, as one of the most common species isolated from mastitis milk.ResultsThe results obtained indicated that S. uberis was the most commonly cultivated CM species (38%, n = 38), followed by S. aureus (22%, n = 22), E. coli (21%, n = 21) and S. agalactiae (18%, n = 18). Similar frequencies in molecular methods were obtained for S. uberis (35.1%) and S. aureus (28.0%). The variation of sensitivity of both methods may be responsible for the differences in the E. coli (41.0%, p = 0.002) and S. agalactiae (5.0%, p = 0.004) detection rates. Significant differences in composition of species between three regions of Poland were noted for E. coli incidence (p < 0.001), in both the culture and molecular methods, but data obtained by the PCR method indicated that this species was the least common in north-eastern Poland, while the culture method showed that in north-eastern Poland E. coli was the most common species. Significant differences for the molecular method were also observed for S. uberis (p < 0.001) and S. aureus (p < 0.001). Both species were most common in southern and south-western Poland.ConclusionsThe results obtained confirm the need to introduce rapid molecular tests for veterinary diagnostics, as well as providing important epidemiological data, to the best of our knowledge data on Polish cows in selected areas of Poland is lacking.

Comprehensive evaluation and application of woody plants in the green spaces of parks in saline-Alkaline areas from a low-carbon perspective: A case study of Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park.

The field of landscape architecture has placed significant emphasis on low-carbon landscapes due to the increasing challenges posed by global warming and environmental deterioration in recent years. The soil ecological conditions in saline-alkaline areas are characterized by poor quality, resulting in suboptimal growth conditions for trees. This, in turn, hampers their ability to effectively sequester carbon, thereby diminishing the potential benefits of carbon sinks. Additionally, the maintenance of tree landscapes in such areas generates more carbon emissions than does conventional green land, making it difficult to reap the benefits of tree-based carbon. A comprehensive evaluation of trees in green park spaces in saline-alkaline areas is conducted from a low-carbon perspective; by identifying the dominant tree species that are well suited to greening, we can offer a precise scientific foundation for implementing low-carbon greening initiatives in cities situated in saline-alkaline environments. Therefore, as a case study, this study investigates Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park, a typical saline park in the Bohai Bay region. The hierarchical analysis method (AHP) was used to evaluate 50 species of trees and shrubs in the park from a low-carbon perspective. The results show that the evaluation system consists of four criterion layers and 15 indicator factors. The relative weight of the criterion layer followed the order of habitat adaptability (B2) > carbon sequestration capacity (B1) > low-carbon management and conservation (B3) > landscape aesthetics (B4). The indicator layer assigned greater weight values to net assimilation (C1), saline and alkaline adaptability (C3), drought tolerance (C4), irr igation and fertilization needs (C8), growth rate (C2), and adaptability to barrenness (C5). The trees were classified into five distinct categories, with each exhibiting significant variation in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of the indicators. According to the comprehensive score, the trees were categorized into three levels. The Grade I plants exhibited the best carbon efficiency performance, comprising a total of 12 species (e.g. Sabina chinensis, Fraxinus chinensis 'Aurea' and Hibiscus syriacu), and demonstrated superior performance in all aspects. Grade II trees, consisting of 26 species (e.g Pinus tabuliformis, Paulownia fortunei, Ligustrum × vicaryi), had the second-highest comprehensive score. Moreover, Grade III trees, encompassing 12 species (e.g Acer mono, Cedrus deodara, Magnolia denudata), exhibited lower comprehensive scores. The extensive use of Grade I and II tree species is recommended in the implementation of low-carbon greening projects in the Bohai Bay region, while Grade III tree species should be judiciously utilized. The findings of this research can serve as a valuable resource for the scientific identification of tree species that are suitable for urban park green spaces in the Bohai Bay region, which is characterized by predominantly saline and alkaline soil. Additionally, the development of an evaluation system can guide the selection of low-carbon tree species when evaluating other types of saline and alkaline lands.

Towards a species-level phylogeny for Neotropical Myrtaceae: Notes on topology and resources for future studies.

Increasingly complete phylogenies underpin studies in systematics, ecology, and evolution. Myrteae (Myrtaceae), with ~2700 species, is a key component of the exceptionally diverse Neotropical flora, but given its complicated taxonomy, automated assembling of molecular supermatrices from public databases often lead to unreliable topologies due to poor species identification. Here, we build a taxonomically verified molecular supermatrix of Neotropical Myrteae by assembling 3909 published and 1004 unpublished sequences from two nuclear and seven plastid molecular markers. We infer a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree that covers 712 species of Myrteae (~28% of the total diversity in the clade) and evaluate geographic and taxonomic gaps in sampling. The tree inferred from the fully concatenated matrix mostly reflects the topology of the plastid data set and there is a moderate to strong incongruence between trees inferred from nuclear and plastid partitions. Large, species-rich genera are still the poorest sampled within the group. Eastern South America is the best-represented area in proportion to its species diversity, while Western Amazon, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean are the least represented. We provide a time-calibrated tree that can be more reliably used to address finer-scale eco-evolutionary questions that involve this group in the Neotropics. Gaps to be filled by future studies include improving representation of taxa and areas that remain poorly sampled, investigating causes of conflict between nuclear and plastid partitions, and the role of hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting in relationships that are poorly supported.

Double-Tube Multiplex TaqMan Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Eight Animal-Derived Dairy Ingredients.

Milk and dairy products represent important sources of nutrition in our daily lives. The identification of species within dairy products holds importance for monitoring food adulteration and ensuring traceability. This study presented a method that integrated double-tube and duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with multiplex TaqMan probes to enable the high-throughput detection of animal-derived ingredients in milk and dairy products. The detection system utilized one pair of universal primers, two pairs of specific primers, and eight animal-derived specific probes for cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, yak, horse, and donkey. These components were optimized within a double-tube and four-probe PCR multiplex system. The developed double-tube detection system could simultaneously identify the above eight targets with a detection limit of 10-0.1 pg/μL. Validation using simulated adulterated milk samples demonstrated a detection limit of 0.1%. The primary advantage of this method lies in the simplification of the multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) system through the use of universal primers. This method provides an efficient approach for detecting ingredients in dairy products, providing powerful technical support for market supervision.

Interspecific and intraspecific difference in egg size of two mackerel (Scomber spp.) species in relation to sea surface temperature in the western North Pacific: A new approach to species identification

AbstractChub mackerel (Scomber japonicus, Scombridae) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) are two important fishery resources in the western North Pacific that spawn eggs during the same season. Although estimating the total egg production (TEP) is important for evaluating the spawning stock biomass of mackerel species, it is difficult to accurately identify formalin‐preserved eggs collected during ichthyoplankton surveys. Hence, a new identification criterion that incorporates the effects of water temperature on egg size was developed in this study. The diameter of 37,304 mackerel eggs collected over 16 years (2006–2021) was measured, and frequency distributions of egg size across sea surface temperature (SST) ranges at 1°C interval were constructed. The frequency distributions were classified into two groups using a Gaussian mixture model; based on the results of DNA analysis, the small group was chub mackerel, while the large group was blue mackerel. The SST at the sampling stations and the mean egg size of both groups were negatively correlated. The new identification criterion, incorporating the relationship between SST and egg size, provided reasonable estimates of the TEP of the two mackerel species compared with the conventional criterion. The new species identification approach is applicable to other fish taxa in the western North Pacific.

A review of the earthworm Amynthas masatakae (Beddard, 1892) (Clitellata, Megascolecidae), with designation of two new synonyms

Correct and timely identification of an invasive species during quarantine or at an early stage of invasion before establishment or spread is critical for preventing biological invasions. However, taxonomic confusion of potential invasive earthworm species caused by incorrect taxonomic treatment or reckless taxonomic work has made it difficult to properly recognize potential invasion threats. Through analyzing publicly available DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, we confirmed the validity of the specific status of Amynthas masatakae (Beddard, 1892), a peregrine earthworm species in East Asia with the potential to spread to other regions of the world, and designated two new synonyms of A. masatakae: Amynthas tralfamadore Blakemore, 2012 syn. nov. and Amynthas scaberulus Sun and Jiang, 2021 syn. nov. Additionally, the name A. triastriatus usualis Dong, Jiang, Yuan, Zhao and Qiu, 2020 is nomenclaturally unavailable since it was published in an electronic journal without ZooBank registration and an explicit statement establishing a new nominal taxon. Specimens described under this unavailable name actually belong to A. masatakae. Inadequate literature review and erroneous species identities associated with sequences in GenBank have caused even more problems in the already confusing earthworm taxonomy.

Diversity of wasps (Hymenoptera) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) farms in Basrah Governorate, Southern Iraq

Studies on the diversity of parasitoid wasps in agroecosystems exemplify the first stage of recognizing the best species to be used in biological control programs. There is an increased effort to recognize the diversity of pests in agroecosystems, but information on agricultural environments in Iraq is still unknown. This study is interested in the diversity of wasps in a cultivated area in Basrah governorate and the identification of dominant species for potential application in biological control studies. Samples were collected from alfalfa farms between January and December 2020 using two insect collection methods: sweep nets and yellow pan traps in four stations in Basrah governorate. This paper confirms that there is a high diversity of wasp species in agricultural environments. During this study, 18 wasp species were recorded for the first time in Iraq. Gronotoma micromorpha recorded the highest annual relative abundance value of 26.5%, while Chalcis biguttata recorded the lowest relative abundance of 0.89% in most agricultural environments. Numerous studies on G. micromorpha indicate that it is a parasitoid of Liriomyza species (Diptera). Thus, this species may be an important agent in the biological control of this pest.

Isolation of Naegleria lustrarea n. sp. (Excavata, Discoba, Heterolobosea) from the feces of Ambystoma annulatum (Ringed Salamander) in Northwest Arkansas.

The salamander, Ambystoma annulatum, is considered a "species of special concern" in the state of Arkansas, USA, due to its limited geographic range, specialized habitat requirements and low population size. Although metazoan parasites have been documented in this salamander species, neither its native protists nor microbiome have yet been evaluated. This is likely due to the elusive nature and under-sampling of the animal. Here, we initiate the cataloguing of microbial associates with the identification of a new heterlobosean species, Naegleria lustrarea n. sp. (Excavata, Discoba, Heterolobosea), isolated from feces of an adult A. annulatum.

Mammalian and avian species quantification in homogenized foods: real time PCR and digital PCR as tools for label compliance controls

Currently food fraud and authenticity of products composition are topics of great concern; ingredients quantification could allow to identify small amounts of contaminats or voluntary addition of improper components. Many molecular methods are available for species identification in foodstuffs but, for a better application, they should not be affected by the interference of other ingredients. The main purpose of this work was to verify the Real Time PCR and the Digital PCR (dPCR) quantification performances on baby food samples, specifically selected for their high miscibility to limit variability; chicken was selected as target to verify the performance of quantification of methods after having spiked the same quantity in different baby foods. The other aims were: (1) to verify a constant genome copies ratio existence between mammalian and avian species (2) to verify the dPCR performance, set up on housekeeping, to quantify mammalian and avian species in commercial products. Digital PCR showed fewer differences respect to Real Time PCR, at the same 15% w/w chicken spiking level. Despite the constant difference between mammalian and avian genome copies, in samples with the same spiking weight, the confidence intervals increasing towards the extreme values, made impossible to use genome copies ratio as a sort of correction factor between species. Finally, the dPCR system using the myostatin housekeeping gene to determine the chicken content seemed reliable to verify the labelling compliance in meat-based commercial products.

Scanning electron microscopic investigation on Chicory tribe (Compositae) botanical sources and their antimicrobial potential.

This study discusses the micro-level structural details of Cichorieae pollen sources elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and explains their symmetry and morphometry. The in-depth knowledge from the electron ultrastructure of Asteraceae pollen has provided insights into enhanced pollen morphology, and the antimicrobial significance of species under study presents novel avenues for their natural defense mechanisms in the development of antimicrobial agents. In this research, both quantitative and qualitative features of pollen were examined. The pollen grains are prolate-spheroidal and oblate-spheroidal in shape, characterized by a maximum polar diameter of 55.6-61.0 μm and a maximum equatorial distance of 68.3-74.4 μm. SEM reveals various configurations such as echinate perforate-tectate, psilate, and echino-lophate perforate. The Cichorieae species have significant antimicrobial efficacy and are promising sources for the development of novel antimicrobial drugs with potential implications in pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. SEM analysis of Cichorieae pollens has provided remarkable insights into their unique structures, revealing diverse shapes and surface ornamentations, which can be used for accurate Asteraceae species identification. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: SEM provides unique pollen surface structures and patterns of Chicory pollen grains. Chemical composition of Chicory botanical sources provides valuable information on their potential as antimicrobial agents. SEM imaging reveals specialized fenestrate grain structures of taxonomic importance.

Changing patterns of bacterial profile and antimicrobial resistance in high-risk patients during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary oncology hospital

Changing patterns of bacterial profile and antimicrobial resistance in high-risk patients during the COVID-19 pandemic at a tertiary oncology hospital

SOME CHARACTERISTICS AND CAUSES OF CHANGES IN THE RATE OF DISCOVERY OF NEW MINERALS SINCE 1800

ABSTRACT Construction of a discovery curve for Earth's minerals illustrates an abrupt inflection in rates of discovery and acceptance of new species that occurred in the middle of the 20th century. Prior to that time new mineral discovery is found to have accelerated at a modest pace of 0.3 species / year2. Since 1950 the rate of acceptance has accelerated at an average of 1.04 species / year2 such that the first two decades of the 21st century have been characterized by the acceptance of over 100 new minerals per year. Despite this rapid acceleration of discovery, the relative distribution among the 10 mineral classes of the Nickel-Strunz classification system of minerals identified prior to and after 1950 are nearly identical. Variation in the rates of attestation of the divisions, families, and mineral groups show distinct differences in that the maximum rates of discovery of minerals populating higher taxonomic levels occurred prior to 1950 while the attestation curve of newly recognized groups closely follows that defined by the identification of mineral species. The application of any hierarchical classification system to the mineral species is somewhat arbitrary and subject to biases or inconsistencies associated with the systematics of classification. Therefore, the discovery of new minerals is also considered within the context of the mathematically defined crystallographic space group symmetries. The space group attestation curve has a shape similar to those exhibited by the higher taxonomic levels within the Nickel-Strunz system. However, not all space groups are represented by naturally occurring minerals. Minerals discovered before and after the inflection in rates of new mineral discovery illustrate significantly different patterns of paragenesis. Nearly all of the species have been associated with one or more of 57 distinct paragenetic modes. Minerals that have long been known tend to have a higher number of paragenetic modes than those more recently discovered such that the average number of paragenetic modes is shown to have decreased linearly from 1950 to 2022. Further, the earliest known occurrence of over 80% of the currently accepted mineral species has been tabulated by the International Mineralogical Association. For species discovered prior to the inflection of 1950 a linear distribution of oldest ages is observed indicating that these minerals have earliest ages of occurrence that are uniformly distributed across the interval 0 to 4700 Ma. Conversely, approximately 70% of the species identified since 1950 have oldest known occurrences of less than 600 Ma and the age distribution of these post-1950 minerals exhibit an exponential distribution suggesting increasing efforts in new mineral discovery in tectonically active settings. Despite the differences in the pre- and post-1950 oldest age distributions, both populations exhibit similar temporal excursions in rates of new mineral creation that likely reflect substantial changes in Earth system processes responsible for new mineral formation.

Studies on chevron crickets: Minarisoma gen. nov. (Orthoptera, Anostostomatidae), a new genus and a new species from South Africa

A new genus, Minarisomagen. nov., is described to include three small species of South African distribution: Minarisoma landeckisp. nov. (type species), Minarisoma crassipescomb. nov., and M. tigrinumcomb. nov. These species were previously assigned to the genus Onosandrus. Minarisomagen. nov. marks the ninth genus of king crickets known from southern Africa. A comprehensive key to the identification of species within this newly established taxon is presented. In conclusion, the taxonomic relationships of South African taxa are discussed.

Färgvariation hos vattenpiplärka Anthus spinoletta i vinterdräkt

This study of colour variation on Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta in winter plumage, is based on photos of 93 individuals from southern Sweden. Using moulting criteria, the birds were aged from the photographs, and the presence or absence of five specific plumage characteristics were recorded. Twelve individuals in this study confirm the hypothesis that adult Water Pipits show a distinct combination of plumage traits during winter. However, the presence of these plumage traits varied in younger birds in their first winter plumage. Among the 81 individuals classified as first winter plumage, 23 (28%) displayed all “adult characteristics”, 32 (40%) one to four of the characteristics, while 26 (32%) lacked all “adult characteristics”. The latter group thus lacked a gray nape/crown, whitish supercilium, and lighter brown colouration of the mantle/scapulars. Ever since the first Swedish records in the mid-1990s, there have been ongoing discussions regarding species-specific characters in Water Pipits. The present quantification of colour variation in different age groups complements previous criteria for a reliable species identification of Water Pipits in winter plumage.

Recent Trends in Therapeutic and Electroanalytical Applications of Boron-Doped Diamond Sensors

Abstract:: In recent years, research and development efforts have been heavily focused on conductive diamond electrodes for electrochemical applications. Such initiatives may have been spurred by their broad potential window, low background current, chemical inertness, and mechanical robustness. Compared to other carbon-based materials, conducting diamond can oxidize several analytes before the breakdown of water in aqueous electrolytes. Since the evolution of oxygen and hydrogen does not obstruct the analysis, this is significant for the detection and/or identification of species in solution. As a result, conductive diamond electrodes expand the application of electrochemical detection and make it possible to use them for analytes that are incompatible with traditional electrode materials. Fabricating boron-doped diamond films via chemical vapor deposition on different substrates is of special interest. This article highlights the therapeutic and electroanalytical applications of boron-doped diamond electrodes in various aspects in addition to the synthetic strategies to obtain Boron Doped Diamond Electrodes (BDDE), the cost-effectiveness of BDD and its in-vivo compatibility that will help the analytical researchers to learn almost everything about the previous studies done on BDDE and encourage them to work more efficiently in this research field.

SPECIES DISTRIBUTION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF VAGINAL &lt;i&gt;CANDIDA&lt;/i&gt; ISOLATES

Introduction: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the most common Candida infection in females of reproductive age. Data concerning the species identification and antifungal susceptibility of vaginal Candida isolates are of great importance for the infection management. Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of Candida isolates obtained from vaginal samples of women with VVC. Material and methods: A total of 125 vaginal Candida isolates were collected and tested. The definitive species identification was performed by VITEC2 Compact (Bio Merieux, France) using YST ID cards. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nine antifungal agents were determined by the commercial system Micronaut-AM (Merlin Diagnostika GmbH, Germany). Results: Overall, 8 Candida species were established among the vaginal yeast isolates. The most common was C. albicans (77.6%), followed by C. glabrata (12%), C. krusei (4%), C. kefyr (2.4%), C. spherica (1.6%), C. lusitaniae, C. utilis, and C. sake (each one 0.8%). All C. albicans and 20 non-albicans Candida (NAC) were susceptible to nine antifungal agents. In the group of NAC, 8 isolates were resistant to fluconazole – 5 C. krusei with intrinsic resistance, 2 C. spherica, and 1 C. sake. The fluconazole MICs of C. spherica and C. sake were 32 - 128 μg/mL, and 16 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: C. albicans was the main causative agent of VVC. Among NAC, C. glabrata was the predominant species. In general, vaginal C. albicans and non-albicans Candida were susceptible to azoles as well as echinocandins, amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. Of particular interest was the detection of rare non-albicans Candida isolates with acquired resistance to azoles.

Identification of Dominant Species and Their Distributions on an Uninhabited Island Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Machine Learning Models

Comprehensive vegetation surveys are crucial for species selection and layout during the restoration of degraded island ecosystems. However, due to the poor accessibility of uninhabited islands, traditional quadrat surveys are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it is challenging to fully identify the specific species and their spatial distributions. With miniaturized sensors and strong accessibility, high spatial and temporal resolution, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been extensively implemented for vegetation surveys. By collecting UAVs multispectral images and conducting field quadrat surveys on Anyu Island, we employ four machine learning models, namely Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and Multiple Classifier Systems (MCS). We aim to identify the dominant species and analyze their spatial distributions according to spectral characteristics, vegetation index, topographic factors, texture features, and canopy heights. The results indicate that SVM model achieves the highest (88.55%) overall accuracy (OA) (kappa coefficient = 0.87), while MCS model does not significantly improve it as expected. Acacia confusa has the highest OA among 7 dominant species, reaching 97.67%. Besides the spectral characteristics, the inclusion of topographic factors and texture features in the SVM model can significantly improve the OA of dominant species. By contrast, the vegetation index, particularly the canopy height even reduces it. The dominant species exhibit significant zonal distributions with distance from the coastline on the Anyu Island (p &lt; 0.001). Our study provides an effective and universal path to identify and map the dominant species and is helpful to manage and restore the degraded vegetation on uninhabited islands.