Cultural groups play a key role in shaping and maintaining cultivated diversity, yet their influence is rarely considered in conservation or agricultural development initiatives. However, cultural groups sharing the same territory may hold distinct preferences, knowledge, and practices, which must be acknowledged. Despite recent advances, the processes linking ethnolinguistic identities and cultivated diversity and diversification process remain poorly understood. We applied a mixed-methods approach combining a quantitative description of cultivated species frequency and number with a qualitative analysis of 27 semi-structured interviews on farmers motivations to cultivate the different species as well as diversified species assemblage. We compared two ethnolinguistic groups coexisting in the same semi-arid region of Madagascar but with distinct settlement histories, one considered migrant (Antandroy) and the other long-term settled (Masikoro). We found notable differences in socio-economic conditions and crop portfolio between groups. For some crops, motivations were similar, while others revealed contrasts in cultural and symbolic importance, culinary preferences, and economic traits (e.g., seed access, treatment requirements). Although both groups cultivate a comparable number of species on average, their incentives to diversify differ: Antandroy farmers emphasized spreading food availability through time and the risk-reducing effect of diversity, whereas these motivations were not consistently reported by Masikoro farmers. These patterns reflect intertwined cultural and socio-economic specificities. Our findings underline the importance of accounting for cultural group differences in crop choices and crop diversity management, even when these groups coexist in the same landscape. Integrating these perspectives is essential for designing more effective conservation and agricultural development initiatives, particularly those supporting crop diversification in risk-prone regions.

Global biodiversity is increasingly threatened, but still poorly known. Preserving higher taxa (e.g., genera, families, orders) is especially important because each higher taxon may represent more genetic, morphological, ecological, and functional diversity than a typical species within a genus. Given this, there has been considerable focus on the loss of clades and their phylogenetic diversity. However, we know little about whether there are also gains of new clades: new higher taxa that are based on newly discovered species. Here, we analyze these newly discovered branches across the Tree of Life. We estimate that >700 new genera, >20 new families, and >3 new orders are described every year, each associated with newly discovered species. The distribution of new genus-level clades largely reflects current species richness patterns among groups. Thus, they are dominated by terrestrial arthropods. At higher taxonomic ranks, the distribution of new clades among groups is increasingly unrelated to the current, known species richness of these groups, and fungi and bacteria predominate. New clades are increasingly microscopic at higher taxonomic ranks and are often marine or host associated. Overall, we suggest that the known Tree of Life is continuing to rapidly expand with many newly discovered clades, not merely contracting with recent extinctions. Discovering and describing these new clades before they disappear should be an urgent research priority. There is also a pressing need to better incorporate phylogenies into the discovery of these new higher taxa.

Abstract Current number of species of Ornithogalum s. lat. in Slovakia is eight. We here report the discovery of a ninth species, Ornithogalum refractum Kit. ex. Willd. The species was first discovered in the vicinity of Štúrovo town in southern Slovakia in April 2023. We used a multi-method biosystematic approach to demonstrate its difference from morphologically similar species O. divergens Boreau. Flow cytometry and chromosome counting revealed that pentaploids and hexaploids of O. refractum occur in Slovakia. Its residence time in Slovakia is unclear, but we suggest that it is not of a recent origin, and the species occurrence has been overlooked due to its superficial similarity with O. divergens . The species occurrence in southern Slovakia represents a continuation of its distribution in northern Hungary and it is probably the northernmost in the entire range.

Purpose This study offers transformation pathways through the intersections of enterprise governance and farming in response to climate and ecological crises (COP21, COP28 et al.). The analysis further proposes Virtuoso as a novel integration capability for the Viable System Model (“VSM”), Stafford Beer's systemic methodology for enterprise management (Beer, 1985; Jenkinson, 2022). It thereby contrasts farming models and their ways of seeing. Design/methodology/approach The interdisciplinary methodology synthesizes insights from five domains: epistemology, ecological paradigms, farming practices, the VSM theory and Virtuoso, an identity governance framework. Comparative case studies contrast two paradigmatic systems of intensive English farming: conventional “industrial-chemical” (“IC”) and “biodynamic regeneration” (“BD”). Interdisciplinary research, fieldwork, and participatory engagement explored the interrelation of system elements and regenerative potential (Shweder, 1999). Findings Farming has radically altered the planetary biosphere (Ellis et al., 2010). The IC model is a major contributor to global climate and biodiversity challenges through its degenerative cycle of soil degradation, input dependency, and declining resilience (Montgomery, 2017, 39–40, 80–81). BD demonstrates that economically sound, mitigation and regeneration is possible, exceeding UN COP21 soil organic carbon (“SOC”) targets, a key indicator of climate change (Gantlett, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025). Virtuoso articulates their contrasting identities and operational logics, revealing latent potential for agriculture and the VSM. Research limitations/implications The interdisciplinary synthesis suggests fresh lines of academic research and practice in farming, the VSM, and Virtuoso. Given some novelty and interplay between multiple complex fields, each aspect could inevitably be expanded both theoretically and practically. Practical implications Advances the VSM and System 5 (“S5”) practice and capability. Outlines implications for government agricultural policy, positioning farming as a key agent of biodiversity regeneration and climate change requiring support for integrated transition pathways. Notes the rich capability of biodynamic farming. Social implications Global futures are dependent on farming and food systems; this comparative study explores the global significance of agritechnique over agritech. It offers scope for improved enterprise management and performance. Originality/value This study contributes to the novel synthesis of regenerative agriculture, cybernetic governance, and ecological epistemology as it introduces novel VSM system capabilities and biologically intensive farming, each of significant ecosystem potential.

Herbarium collections are a vast but underutilized resource for ancient DNA research, containing over 400 million specimens with detailed metadata and spanning centuries of global biodiversity. Understanding patterns of DNA preservation in natural collections is crucial for optimizing ancient DNA studies and informing future curation practices. We analysed genomic data for 573 herbarium specimens from six plant species from the genera Hordeum and Oryza collected from the Americas and Eurasia over 220 years. Using standardized laboratory protocols and shotgun sequencing, we quantified DNA degradation and elucidated factors that accelerate it. We find significant age-dependent DNA fragmentation rates, indicating temporal degradation processes not detected in prehistoric samples. In our analysis, DNA decay rates in herbarium specimens were almost eight times faster than in moa bones, reflecting fundamental differences in tissue composition and preservation environments. Environmental conditions at the time of specimen collection emerged as the major determinants of post-mortem damage rates, with the interaction term between temperature and genus being the dominant driver of cytosine deamination. We find no effect of sample storage on DNA damage and degradation. These findings provide insights into how climatic origin, preservation environment, taxonomic identity and age influence DNA preservation while highlighting opportunities for improving institutional preservation practices. Due to standardised preservation conditions, museum collections can provide better insights into DNA damage and degradation over time than archaeological and paleontological samples.

Abstract The tree Xylopia decorticans is a rare endemic in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. Described in 2007 from two protected areas, it was originally categorized as Least Concern but as a result of progressive forest conversion and degradation it is now categorized as Endangered in the Brazilian Red List and IUCN Red List. Ecologically, the search for new populations is important because the species provides resources to a range of wildlife in different forest layers, but there have been no demographic studies on which to base conservation action. To address this lack of information, we surveyed a private protected area in south-eastern Brazil where there was a new record of X. decorticans . We located 121 individuals within a minimum convex polygon area of 4.08 ha (density 29.65 individuals/ha), c. 30% of which were juveniles. Mean tree height was 9 m and diameter at breast height ≤ 10 cm. The species is ombrophilous and sensitive to edge effects, as evidenced by desiccation observed in the field. The findings of this study improve our understanding of the ecological characteristics of species within regions afflicted by ongoing forest degradation, and underscores the pivotal role of Reservas Particular do Patrimônio Natural (private natural heritage reserves) in Brazil in the conservation of threatened species such as X. decorticans .

Accurate estimation of forest aboveground carbon (AGC) is crucial for understanding the carbon cycle and formulating climate policies, yet it remains challenging in complex mountainous regions. This study used machine learning framework to estimate the spatiotemporal dynamics of AGC in the Three Parallel Rivers region of China from 2003 to 2024. By integrating China’s National Forest Continuous Inventory (NFCI) data with multispectral satellite imagery, we employed a two-stage feature selection strategy to identify key predictor variables. Among three ensemble algorithms tested, the Random Forest model achieved the optimal performance (R2 = 0.74). The results indicated a net increase of 67.05 Tg in total AGC over the two decades, with a spatial pattern characterized by higher densities in the west and north. Geographical Detector analysis revealed that the driving forces were synergistic, with the interaction between temperature and population density exhibiting the most prominent explanatory capacity. This study provides a high-resolution (30 m) benchmark for AGC in a global biodiversity hotspot and underscores the critical role of ecological protection policies in enhancing carbon sequestration, offering valuable insights for managing similar mountain ecosystems worldwide.

The present systematic investigation of Avifauna was conducted in village Daurala ,Meerut Uttar Pradesh for 4 months from August 2025 to November 2025 ( summer to winter ) the observation were recorded monthly at different time of the day (morning, mid-day and evening) variable viz.. family name, habitat preference and characteristics features (identifying feature) were noted during the survey. A total of 33 species, belonging to 28 families were recorded. Most of the bird species were found to be frequent visitor and also most of species used more than one habitat with highest number of species 33 was observed on the trees , whereas the lowest number of species 4,was found around the ponds .

Efforts to 'bend the curve' of biodiversity loss involve setting targets to halt declines. Here, we propose an empirical test of such targets. This test states the probability that the rate of change in a biodiversity indicator is greater than or equal to zero. We used a combination of real and simulated data to explore factors affecting test performance. We found that while smoothing had a minimal effect, the outcome depends heavily on the variability and number of species in a dataset. This suggests that thresholds for target acceptance should be set on a case-by-case basis. Adding data for subsequent years could retrospectively change the outcome in a target year. Assessments made with data only up until the target year should therefore be regarded as interim, with the assessment of the target only finalised once subsequent data are also included. We recommend that simulations are used a priori to choose smoothing levels and to set thresholds for accepting a target has been met.

Mammalian evolution and human mutation burden in Rab GTPases.

Implications of functional zoning on river sediment bacteria in a transitional medium-sized city: Insights from environmental drivers, assembly processes, and keystone species.

Mediated electron transfer in five prevalent human oral microbial species.

Emerging biodiversity credit markets are promoted globally as a solution to financing nature recovery at scale. In southern England, which has experienced particularly strong declines in biodiversity as a result of intensification of farming practices, the Knepp Estate has pioneered trophic rewilding of marginal arable land as a nature recovery solution. The scaling up of rewilding initiatives will require long-term funding, for example, through biodiversity credits. We used DNA metabarcoding to characterize aerial invertebrate, terrestrial invertebrate, soil invertebrate, and soil fungal populations recorded from the 20-year-old rewilded Knepp estate and a conventional arable farm proposed as a nature recovery project (Boothby). We used the Wallacea Trust framework to estimate the economic value of the arable farm's restoration on the global voluntary biodiversity credit market. We also estimated the economic value of the arable farm's restoration on England's compliance offsite biodiversity net gain market. Compared with the farm, Knepp had higher conservation value (167% more species with a conservation designation, 56% rare invertebrate species) and better ecosystem functioning (33% more pollinator species, 25% more fungal symbiotrophs, 21% fewer plant pathotrophs). Knepp had higher taxon richness (40-52%) for all taxa, except soil invertebrates (-35%) and soil fungi (-10%), and higher taxon biomass (6-123%). Following the Wallacea Trust definition, we predicted a median biodiversity uplift between 69% and 92% for the farm after 30years, worth £1,176,169-£1,559,875 at £23/credit, around 15 times less than project costs. On England's offsite biodiversity net gain market, habitat restoration could generate revenue up to £68,902,500 over 30years, although unit supply currently outstrips demand. Although voluntary biodiversity credits are unlikely to fill the biodiversity funding gap alone, they can be combined with carbon credits to increase a project's financial viability, have global reach, may represent an additional biodiversity contribution rather than offset previous damage, and can be used to support projects unsuitable for regulatory biodiversity or carbon markets.

Recent social experience alters song behavior in Drosophila.

Primary Cutaneous Melanoma Microbiome Is Associated with Overall Survival and Recurrence.

Both energy transition and external financial support are vital in stimulating global biodiversity conservation.

Swimming impairment caused by pharmaceuticals in native and invasive fishes: A comparison of fluoxetine effects in two poeciliid species.

Taxonomy and Virulence Factors in the Root Canal Microbiome: Metagenomic Insights by Lesion Size and Clinical Factors in Primary Endodontic Infections.

The rapid expansion of offshore wind energy in Korea has raised concerns among coastal fishing communities about potential changes in fish assemblages. We conducted a summer 2022 survey at the Tamra Offshore Wind Farm (Jeju, Korea), comparing turbine-adjacent and reference sites using diver-operated video (DOV), direct capture, and stereo-baited remote underwater video (stereo-BRUV). Across methods, 23 fish species were identified, and stereo-BRUV detected the highest species richness. In stereo-BRUV analysis, the observed fish species and relative abundance metrics were higher in turbine-adjacent sites than reference site, including greater MaxN (maximum number of individuals observed in a single video frame) and Max spp. (maximum number of species observed in a single video frame). Most individuals measured from stereo imagery were 15–25 cm in total length (TL). For dominant taxa, TL distributions derived from stereo-BRUV were comparable to those measured from captured specimens, supporting the practical use of stereo-BRUV for size–structure characterization. Epifaunal assemblages on turbine jackets exhibited higher density and biomass than the reference site and showed clear vertical stratification (upper/mid > bottom). Diet items in captured fish overlapped with dominant jacket epifauna, consistent with a potential trophic linkage. Overall, stereo-BRUV can be used as a non-destructive and auditable approach for documenting fish assemblages around wind-farm structures. Because sampling was limited in spatial and temporal replication, the observed patterns should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating for future synchronized and replicated monitoring.

Many global biodiversity datasets overlook or misrepresent the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Afro-Descendants (IPLCAD). We propose minimum data and metadata standards for a global data infrastructure on biodiversity knowledge and use, co-designed with IPLCAD, including information on language, community attribution and consent, to ensure data traceability and ethical use. This initiative integrates ancestral and academic sciences to advance inclusive biodiversity governance, addressing historical inequities for global sustainability.