Distribution Map Of Species Research Articles

3D-CNN with Multi-Scale Fusion for Tree Crown Segmentation and Species Classification

Natural secondary forests play a crucial role in global ecological security, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. However, accurately delineating individual tree crowns and identifying tree species in dense natural secondary forests remains a challenge. This study combines deep learning with traditional image segmentation methods to improve individual tree crown detection and species classification. The approach utilizes hyperspectral, unmanned aerial vehicle laser scanning data, and ground survey data from Maoershan Forest Farm in Heilongjiang Province, China. The study consists of two main processes: (1) combining semantic segmentation algorithms (U-Net and Deeplab V3 Plus) with watershed transform (WTS) for tree crown detection (U-WTS and D-WTS algorithms); (2) resampling the original images to different pixel densities (16 × 16, 32 × 32, and 64 × 64 pixels) and inputting them into five 3D-CNN models (ResNet10, ResNet18, ResNet34, ResNet50, VGG16). For tree species classification, the MSFB combined with the CNN models were used. The results show that the U-WTS algorithm achieved a recall of 0.809, precision of 0.885, and an F-score of 0.845. ResNet18 with a pixel density of 64 × 64 pixels achieved the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 0.916, an improvement of 0.049 over the original images. After incorporating MSFB, the OA improved by approximately 0.04 across all models, with only a 6% increase in model parameters. Notably, the floating-point operations (FLOPs) of ResNet18 + MSFB were only one-eighth of those of ResNet18 with 64 × 64 pixels, while achieving similar accuracy (OA: 0.912 vs. 0.916). This framework offers a scalable solution for large-scale tree species distribution mapping and forest resource inventories.

Niche Distribution Pattern of Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) and Conservation Implication in Kenya.

Rüppell's vultures are critically endangered, primarily due to anthropogenic activities such as habitat degradation, climate change, and intentional and unintentional poisoning, which have led to the loss of nesting and breeding sites. To aid in the conservation and protection of these species, habitat evaluation and niche mapping are crucial. Species distribution modeling (SDM) is a valuable tool in conservation planning, providing insights into the ecological requirements of species under conservation concerns. This study employed an ensembling modeling approach to assess the habitat suitability and distribution of Rüppell's vultures across Kenya. We utilized four algorithms; Gradient Boosting Machine, Generalized Linear Model, Generalized Additive Model, and Random Forest. Data on Rüppell's vultures were sourced from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, while key environmental variables influencing the species' distribution were obtained from WorldClim. The resultant species distribution map was overlaid with a conservation area map to evaluate the overlap between suitable habitats and existing protected areas. Our analysis identified suitable habitats in regions such as the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Mount Kenya National Park, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East National Park, and Hell's Gate National Park, with the majority of these habitats located outside protected areas, except those within Hell's Gate National Park. Precipitation and elevation emerged as the primary environmental predictors of the distribution of Rüppell's vultures. Based on these findings, we recommend establishing vulture sanctuaries in suitable habitats and hotspots to enhance the conservation of Rüppell's vultures outside the protected areas.

New Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893 (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae: Mythicomyiinae) from Peru.

This work presents the first record of the family Mythicomyiidae from Peru, based on the descriptions of five new species of Mythicomyia Coquillett, 1893: Mythicomyia huk sp. nov. from Amazonas, Mythicomyia iskay sp. nov. from Amazonas, Ancash, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Loreto, Piura and San Martín, Mythicomyia kinsa sp. nov. from Arequipa, Mythicomyia tawa sp. nov. from Arequipa, Ica and Moquegua, and Mythicomyia pisqa sp. nov. from Arequipa and Tacna. Illustrations of the new species, an updated key to South American fauna of Mythicomyia and a distribution map for the Peruvian species are also presented. It is worth noting that this work discusses the difficulty of confidently assigning the new species described herein to either of the two currently known subgenera of Mythicomyia, highlighting the need for a comprehensive revision of their limits. Until further study can be conducted to ascertain the status of each subgenus, all species are treated as Mythicomyia (s. lat.) without subgeneric attribution.

Not everything that is green is Gonolobus uniflorus (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae): a new species for Mexico

A new species of Gonolobus restricted to the Mexican states Jalisco and Michoacán and that has usually been confused with G. uniflorus is described. Gonolobus leotzinii is characterized by having sepals 3.48–5.08 mm long, corolla 1.5–1.75 cm in diameter with a whitish green callus on the margin of the lobes, and a gynostegial corona with five cucculate lobes. The new species is generally confused with Gonolobus uniflorus, which is why it has gone unnoticed in herbaria. This work presents a detailed description, data on the species’ habitat, phenology, and conservation status. A distribution map of the new species and an identification key for the Gonolobus species distributed in Jalisco and Michoacán is included.

The spider genus Tutaibo (Araneae, Linyphiidae) in Uruguay: two new species and new records.

Tutaibo carita Cajade sp. nov. and Tutaibo sam Cajade sp. nov. are described from Uruguay based on males and females. Illustrations of somatic and sexual characters and a species distribution map are provided. In addition, new records of Tutaibo velox (Keyserling, 1886) are provided. These findings represent the southernmost records for Tutaibo and constitute the first report of the genus for Uruguay.

Checklist and distribution of Carabidae Latreille, 1802 and Cicindelidae Latreille, 1802 (Insecta: Coleoptera) of El Salvador.

A paucity of knowledge regarding species distribution is one of the main shortfalls in large-scale biodiversity studies. This shortfall results in distribution maps of species that largely reflect sampling effort. Ground beetles (Carabidae) and tiger beetles (Cicindelidae) are among the most diverse and conspicuous families within the Order Coleoptera. However, no previous studies of these families have been published for El Salvador. Based on a literature revision, field work, and several entomological collections, the present article aims to describe the current state of knowledge of Carabidae and Cicindelidae occurrence in El Salvador. Eight subfamilies, 17 tribes, 35 genera, and 66 species are reported from the country; including a new country record of Eurycoleus macularius. We present a local distribution map for each species with available records. Our final aim is to stimulate interest in developing further studies that explore the taxonomic and ecological aspects of Carabidae and Cicindelidae in El Salvador.

Predictions of species distributions based only on models estimating future climate change are not reliable

Changes in climate and land use are the most often mentioned factors responsible for the current decline in species diversity. To reduce the effect of these factors, we need reliable predictions of future species distributions. This is usually done by utilizing species distribution models (SDMs) based on expected climate. Here we explore the accuracy of such projections: we use orchid (Orchidaceae) recordings and environmental (mainly climatic) data from the years 1901–1950 in SDMs to predict maps of potential species distributions in 1980–2014. This should enable us to compare the predictions of species distributions in 1980–2014, based on records of species distribution in the years 1901–1950, with real data in the 1980–2014 period. We found that the predictions of the SDMs often differ from reality in this experiment. The results clearly indicate that SDM predictions of future species distributions as a reaction to climate change must be treated with caution.

A new species of the genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Sparianthinae) from Guangdong, China

A new species of the genus Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 is described from Guangdong Province, China: T. recta sp. nov. (♂, ♀). Diagnosis, morphological description, photos and distribution map of the new species are provided. Specimens are deposited in the Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University in Wuhan.

Four new species of Enochrus Thomson (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) from southern China.

Four new species of the water scavenger beetle genus Enochrus Thomson, 1859 are described from China. Among the new species, Enochrus hani sp. nov. from Yunnan and E. tathagatus sp. nov. from Xizang are very similar to E. laoticus Hebauer, 2005 and E. niisatoi Minoshima, 2017 in aedeagus and external morphology. E. imprimedius sp. nov. from Guizhou is similar to E. liangi Jia & Zhao, 2007 and E. japonicus sharp, 1873 in general form and colour. E. strangulatus sp. nov. from Guangxi is similar to E. laoticus Hebauer, 2005, but elytra with five longitudinal rows of punctures and a marginal series. Species diagnoses, illustrations and a distribution map of the new species are provided.

A review of the genus Lagynochthonius Beier, 1951 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from China

The genus of Lagynochthonius from China was reviewed. Nine new hypogean species were described: Lagynochthonius apexus sp. nov. (♂♀), L. infirmus sp. nov. (♂♀), L. longquanensis sp. nov. (♀) and L. zhakouensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Sichuan, L. baiguensis sp. nov. (♂♀), L. guangyangensis sp. nov. (♂♀), L. jingshengensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and L. zhaoae sp. nov. (♀) from Guangxi, L. galeatus sp. nov. (♀) from Guizhou. The male L. guanniuensis Hou, Feng & Zhang, 2023, L. maanensis Hou, Feng & Zhang, 2023 and L. xiaoensis Hou, Feng & Zhang, 2023 from Guizhou are reported for the first time. The species key and a geographical distribution map of Lagynochthonius species from China are provided.

Open-source software integration: A tutorial on species distribution mapping and ecological niche modelling

Over the last decade, access to global data has become increasingly critical for research, allowing insights into diverse biological, environmental and societal questions at a macro scale. Digitisation has greatly enhanced the use of herbarium data in the analysis of species distributions and ecological niche modelling. Yet, sources on modelling and mapping methodology using open-source software is greatly lacking for beginners. We have created a replicable and thorough tutorial to visualise species occurrence data and exploratory analysis that was developed by undergraduates with broad backgrounds and levels of experience. This tutorial integrates the open-source programmes QGIS, MaxEnt and R to develop distribution maps, using bryophytes as a case study, to promote the accessibility of open-source software and remote access learning. This tutorial has already set the foundation for further research into distribution modelling of rare Illinois bryophytes to better understand the potential impact of climate change.

PPDC: An online platform for the prediction of plant distributions in China

Abstract The survival and reproduction of plants in a particular region are closely related to the local ecological niche. The use of species distribution models based on the ecological niche concept to predict potential distributions can effectively guide the protection of endangered plants, prevention and control of invasive plants, and plant introduction and ex-situ conservation. However, traditional methods and processes for predicting potential distributions of plants are tedious and complex, requiring the collection and processing of large amounts of data and the manual operation of multiple tools. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve large-scale prediction of the potential distributions of plants. To address these limitations, by collecting and organizing a large amount of basic data, occurrence records, and environmental data and integrating species distribution models and mapping techniques, a workflow to automatically predict the potential distributions of Chinese plants was established, thus the innovative work of predicting the potential distributions of 32,000 species of plants in China was completed. Furthermore, an online platform for predicting plant distributions in China (PPDC) based on visualization technology was developed, providing a basis for sharing the prediction results across a wide range of scientists and technologists. Users can quickly access information about the potential distributions of plants in China, providing a reference for the collection, preservation, and protection of plant resources. In addition, users can quickly predict the potential distribution of a certain plant in a certain region in China according to specific needs, thus providing technical support for research and a basis for biodiversity conservation.

Alien species distribution mapping using satellite and drone fusion on river dikes along the Tone River, Japan

Alien species distribution mapping using satellite and drone fusion on river dikes along the Tone River, Japan

Mapping Species Distributions of Latoia consocia Walker under Climate Change Using Current Geographical Presence Data and MAXENT (CMIP 6).

Latoia consocia Walker is an important phytophagous pest that has rapidly spread across North China in recent years, posing a severe threat to related plants. To study the impact of climatic conditions on its distribution and to predict its distribution under current and future climate conditions, the MaxEnt niche model and ArcGIS 10.8 software were used. The results showed that the MaxEnt model performs well in predicting the distribution of L. consocia, with an AUC value of 0.913. The annual precipitation (Bio12), the precipitation of the driest month (Bio14), the temperature annual range (Bio7), and the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) are key environmental factors affecting the potential distribution of L. consocia. Under current climate conditions, L. consocia has a highly suitable growth area of 2243 km2 in China, among which Taiwan has the largest high-suitable area with a total area of 1450 km2. With climate warming, the potential habitat area for L. consocia shows an overall decreasing trend in future. This work provides a scientific basis for research on pest control and ecological protection. A "graded response" detection and early warning system, as well as prevention and control strategies, can be developed for potentially suitable areas to effectively address this pest challenge.

Spatio‐temporal occupancy models with INLA

Abstract Modern methods for quantifying, predicting and mapping species distributions have played a crucial part in biodiversity conservation. Occupancy models have become a popular choice for analysing species occurrence data due to their ability to separate out the observational error induced by imperfect detection of a species, and the sources of bias affecting the occupancy process. However, the spatial and temporal variation in occupancy that is not accounted for by environmental covariates is often ignored or modelled through simple spatial structures as the computational costs of fitting explicit spatio‐temporal models is too high. In this work, we demonstrate how Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) may be used to fit complex spatio‐temporal occupancy models and how the R‐INLA package can provide a user‐friendly interface to make such complex models available to users. We show how occupancy models, provided some simplification on the detection process is assumed, can be framed as latent Gaussian models and, as such, benefit from the powerful INLA framework. A large selection of complex modelling features, and random effect models, including spatio‐temporal models, have already been implemented in R‐INLA. These also become available for occupancy models, providing the user with an efficient, reliable and flexible toolbox. We illustrate how INLA provides a flexible and computationally efficient framework for developing and fitting complex occupancy models using two complex case studies. Through these, we show how different spatio‐temporal models that include spatial‐varying trends, smooth terms and spatio‐temporal random effects can be fitted to aggregated detection/non‐detection data. At the cost of limiting the complexity of the detection model structure, INLA can incorporate a range of rather complex structures in the ecological process of interest and hence, extend the functionality of occupancy models. The limitations of occupancy models in terms of scalability for large spatio‐temporal data sets remain a challenge and an active area of research. INLA‐based occupancy models provide an alternative inferential and computational framework to fit complex spatio‐temporal occupancy models. The need for new and more flexible computationally efficient approaches to fit such models makes INLA an attractive option for addressing complex ecological problems, and a promising area of research.

A new species of Alipumilio Shannon, 1927 (Diptera: Syrphidae), with the description of the male of A. avispas Vockeroth, 1964 and A. femoratus Shannon, 1927.

Alipumilio Shannon, 1927 is a flower fly genus endemic to the New World, comprising five described species. In the present study we describe Alipumulio aureus sp. nov. from the Colombian Amazon region. This is the first record of this genus from Colombia. Additionally, the male of A. avispas Vockeroth, 1964 is described from Peru and the male of A. femoratus Shannon, 1927 is described from new material collected in Ecuador. Moreover, we provide an identification key to all the Alipumilio species and a species distribution map.

Hesperis oznur-duraniae (Brassicaceae), a new species from the East Anatolia region, Turkey

A new species of Hesperis L. is described from East Anatolia. This species has been collected from Yolçatı village (Bingöl province) in Turkey. Hesperis oznur-duraniae A.Duran sp. nova is morphologically similar to H. kitiana P.H.Davis but it differs mainly with life form, habitat, leaves, pedicels, sepals, petals, and anthers. In this study, an identification key with a description of the new species is provided along with statements about the habitat, distribution map, phenology, and conservation status of the new species. Additionally, seed features are also documented using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

A new species of Oxalis sect. Holophyllum (Oxalidaceae) from the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, discovered with the help of citizen science

A new species of Oxalis sect. Holophyllum restricted to the Atlantic Forest of the State of Espírito Santo (Brazil) is described. This species can be distinguished from others of the section by the leaf blades up to ca. 1.6× longer than wide, adaxially with very abundant, patent hairs, phyllodial peduncles shorter than the leaves, distally enlarged and hiding floral buds and young fruits underneath, and flowers with yellow corolla. A morphological description with taxonomic notes and a preliminary assessment of its conservation status are presented here, as well as a photographic plate, and a geographic distribution map for the new species. An identification key for the species of O. sect. Holophyllum with the peduncle wider distally than proximally is also provided.

A new species of Nogunius Jałoszyński (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae: Stenichnini) in Korea

The ant-like stone beetle genus Nogunis Jałoszyński (Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae: Stenichnini) is reported for the first time in Korea, and a new species, Nogunius oseongensissp. nov. is described. Photographs and illustrations of the habitus, morphological character, and genitalia of the new species are provided. Nogunius is now represented by two species in Taiwan, five in Japan, and one in Korea, increasing the total number of species of eight. A distribution map, identification key, and checklist of Nogunius species are also provided.

Diversity and distribution of the lichen genus Umbilicaria in the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region, the maritime Antarctic

This paper documents the occurrence of the genus Umbilicaria in the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region of the Graham Coast in the maritime Antarctic. The presence of seven Umbilicaria species (U. africana, U. antarctica, U. aprina, U. decussata, U. kappenii, U. nylanderiana and U. umbilicarioides) in the ice-free areas of the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region were confirmed. The species of U. africana and U. aprina are documented from the studied region for the first time. This study moves the southern distribution limit of U. africana about 300 km to the south: to the Argentine Islands–Kyiv Peninsula region. The distribution maps of Umbilicaria species for the studied region and maritime Antarctica are prepared.