Conservation Of Species Research Articles

A bioeconomic model for a multispecies small-scale fishery system

A fishery encompasses various interconnected systems, including ecological, socioeconomic, and governing systems. Managing fisheries requires the simultaneous consideration of all these systems, making it a challenging endeavor. To address these challenges, fisheries bioeconomic models have emerged as a crucial tool. They are particularly valuable in the context of small-scale fisheries, which are often complex, overlooked and poorly understood. Thus, this paper presents a dynamic multispecies and multigear bioeconomic model that can illuminate the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of small-scale fisheries under different management scenarios. The model was applied to a small-scale fisheries system in Southern Brazil that has as a notable feature a cooperative fishing behavior between dolphins and fishers. Three scenarios were explored: the base scenario (status quo), the optimal management scenario, and the constrained optimal management scenario. The model outputs demonstrated a clear tradeoff between labour effort, species conservation, and economic rent. Shifting from the base to an optimal management scenario would result in a labour employment reduction within the system but concurrently yield higher stock levels, economic rent, and wages. These results illustrate how our model can explore critical management scenarios across the multiple dimensions of fisheries systems. In essence, this research offers a novel contribution in the form of a bioeconomic model tailored for small-scale fisheries involving multiple species.

HUMAN ANIMAL CONFLICT (HEC) AND ASSOCIATED PRBLEMS: A CASE STUDY IN THIRUKKOVIL DIVISIONAL SECRETARIAT DIVISION, AMPARA DISTRICT

Department of Wildlife Conservation reported in 2011 that an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) population of 1573 identified in the Eastern province and which has the second highest population in the country, also createda major Human Elephant conflict (HEC). This study aimed to analyze the HEC and associated problems in the Thirukkovil Divisional Secretariat in the Ampara District. The purposive sampling method was used to collect the primary data through interviews and observations. 40 people including 20 men and 20 women were selected for the study, and affected area data was gathered via observation. Secondary data was obtained from the older literatureand Primary and Secondary data were analyzed through SPSS. The Study area has the second-highest Elephant population on the island caused to the high HEC incidents. 9 Grama Niladhari division including Kanchikudiyaru, Sangamam, Thangavelayuthapuram, Thandiyadi, Kanchirankuda, Sangamankiramam, Thirukkovil-04, Thirukkovil-03, and Vinayakapuram are highly affected by the HEC while remaining 13 has the moderate problems. 65% of the elephant attackshappened during the December to February Maha season. 2013 to 2020 shows that a totally of 10 human people died and 22 people were injured due to the HEC. Moreover, estimated crop damages within the last seven years in Paddy cultivation, Highland Crops and Chena cultivation, Coconut, Banana, and Vegetables were Rs, 2234550, Rs, 180,500 and Rs.108,000, Rs.145000, Rs.150,000, Rs.125,000 respectively. High property damages occurred during the 2013 period with a cost of Rs.310,000. Human settlement distance from forest is a main cause for HEC and food insecurity, and lack of access to river water and fuelwood are the impacts created by the HEC.Therefore, this study suggests technologies including Bio-fencing, electric-fencing, trip alarms, chili-fences, and watchtowers to minimize the risk associated with HEC. Moreover, conducting awareness Programmes is important to protect the Eco-system and Asian Elephants.

Towards a Comprehensive Definition of Pandemics and Strategies for Prevention: A Historical Review and Future Perspectives.

The lack of a universally accepted definition of a pandemic hinders a comprehensive understanding of and effective response to these global health crises. Current definitions often lack quantitative criteria, rendering them vague and limiting their utility. Here, we propose a refined definition that considers the likelihood of susceptible individuals contracting an infectious disease that culminates in widespread global transmission, increased morbidity and mortality, and profound societal, economic, and political consequences. Applying this definition retrospectively, we identify 22 pandemics that occurred between 165 and 2024 AD and were caused by a variety of diseases, including smallpox (Antonine and American), plague (Justinian, Black Death, and Third Plague), cholera (seven pandemics), influenza (two Russian, Spanish, Asian, Hong Kong, and swine), AIDS, and coronaviruses (SARS, MERS, and COVID-19). This work presents a comprehensive analysis of past pandemics caused by both emerging and re-emerging pathogens, along with their epidemiological characteristics, societal impact, and evolution of public health responses. We also highlight the need for proactive measures to reduce the risk of future pandemics. These strategies include prioritizing surveillance of emerging zoonotic pathogens, conserving biodiversity to counter wildlife trafficking, and minimizing the potential for zoonotic spillover events. In addition, interventions such as promoting alternative protein sources, enforcing the closure of live animal markets in biodiversity-rich regions, and fostering global collaboration among diverse stakeholders are critical to preventing future pandemics. Crucially, improving wildlife surveillance systems will require the concerted efforts of local, national and international entities, including laboratories, field researchers, wildlife conservationists, government agencies and other stakeholders. By fostering collaborative networks and establishing robust biorepositories, we can strengthen our collective capacity to detect, monitor, and mitigate the emergence and transmission of zoonotic pathogens.

Soil Seed Bank of the Alpine Endemic Carnation, Dianthus pavonius Tausch (Piedmont, Italy), a Useful Model for the Study of Host-Pathogen Dynamics.

Soil seedbanks are particularly important for the resiliency of species living in habitats threatened by climate change, such as alpine meadows. We investigated the germination rate and seedbank potential for the endemic species Dianthus pavonius, a carnation native to the Maritime Alps that is used as model system for disease in natural populations due to its frequent infections by a sterilizing anther-smut pathogen. We aimed to ascertain whether this species can create a persistent reserve of viable seeds in the soil which could impact coevolutionary dynamics. Over three years, we collected data from seeds sown in natural soil and analyzed their germination and viability. We found that D. pavonius seeds are not physiologically dormant and they are able to create a persistent soil seed bank that can store seeds in the soil for up to three years, but lower than the estimated plant lifespan. We conclude that while the seedbank may provide some demographic stability to the host population, its short duration is unlikely to strongly affect the host's ability to respond to selection from disease. Our findings have implications for the conservation of this alpine species and for understanding the evolutionary dynamics between the host and its pathogen.

The effect of a warmed enema during ovum pick-up on subsequent in vitro oocyte maturation in Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

Rhinoceros are currently one of the most threatened mammal species globally. Slow population growth, increased poaching and habitat destruction have led to increased conservation efforts for each species. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been implemented in an attempt to aid reproductive outputs for the conservation of these endangered species. Developing species-specific ART programmes for wildlife have been challenging. Temperature control during oocyte recovery is essential for ensuring in vitro success. This study is the first to investigate the effect of enema warming prior to trans-rectal ovum pick-up (OPU) on in vitro oocyte maturation in Southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). OPUs were performed on 20 rhinoceros cows from three different game farms in South Africa; oocytes were transported to one of two in vitro fertilisation laboratories for culture. The enema fluid was either warmed to 32 °C or not warmed prior to the OPU. Location of the farm, the different laboratories, ambient temperature, season, aspiration probe temperature, media type and enema temperature were investigated as predictor variables for oocyte maturation success. After considering all other potential covariates, warming of the enema fluid was the only independent predictor of in vitro oocyte maturation success during this study. Oocytes retrieved from rhinoceros cows that received an enema warmed to 32 °C were 2.3 times more likely to mature in vitro compared to oocytes from cows that received an unwarmed enema; the findings can be implemented in other rhinoceros ART programmes and in conservation efforts of other endangered mammalian species.

Potential of Dioscorea spp. for Bioethanol Production Using Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation Method

Thailand is globally recognized for its rich biodiversity, a characteristic that extends to the diverse species of indigenous yams within the Dioscorea spp. genus. With the energy crisis, the selection of agricultural materials for ethanol production to replace the use of economic crops is therefore necessary. This research focuses on six specific yam varieties: Amorphophallus konjac, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea hispida, and Dioscorea esculenta. The primary objective is to investigate their bioethanol productivity through the implementation of a separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, with the broader aim of contributing to the potential preservation of these invaluable indigenous yam species. Initiating the study, the experimental samples underwent hydrolysis by alpha-amylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for 180 min, followed by glucoamylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for an additional 72 h. Post the initial hydrolysis, the detection of small molecule sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed a range of 14.49 ± 1.10 to 28.89 ± 0.03 gtotal sugar/L, with maltose emerging as the predominant sugar compound. Subsequent to the second hydrolysis, it was observed that maltose and starch residues across all six samples underwent successful digestion. The peak glucose productivity was attained at the 12-h mark post-glucoamylase hydrolysis. Among the diverse yam varieties under examination, Dioscorea hispida exhibited the highest glucose production, showcasing a hydrolysis efficiency of 62.53 ± 2.08%. Following the fermentation process with S. cerevisiae, the optimal fermentation time was identified as 72 h, at which point all available glucose in the hydrolysate was fully utilized. The bioethanol productivity spanned from 32.31 ± 3.40 to 43.66 ± 0.02 g/L, with Dioscorea hispida demonstrating the highest ethanol productivity at 0.61 ± 0.00 g/L/h, and a yield of 0.42 ± 0.01 gEtOH/gGlucose. These findings underscore the potential of Dioscorea hispida as a promising contributor to bioethanol production.

Assessing abundance-suitability models to prioritize conservation areas for the dwarf caimans in South America.

Species-environment relationships have been extensively explored through species distribution models (SDM) and species abundance models (SAM), which have become key components to understand the spatial ecology and population dynamics directed at biodiversity conservation. Nonetheless, within the internal structure of species' ranges, habitat suitability and species abundance do not always show similar patterns, and using information derived from either SDM or SAM could be incomplete and mislead conservation efforts. We gauged support for the abundance-suitability relationship and used the combined information to prioritize the conservation of South American dwarf caimans (Paleosuchus palpebrosus and P. trigonatus). We used 7 environmental predictor sets (surface water, human impact, topography, precipitation, temperature, dynamic habitat indices, soil temperature), 2 regressions methods (Generalized Linear Models-GLM, Generalized Additive Models-GAM), and 4 parametric distributions (Binomial, Poisson, Negative binomial, Gamma) to develop distribution and abundance models. We used the best predictive models to define four categories (low, medium, high, very high) to plan species conservation. The best distribution and abundance models for both Paleosuchus species included a combination of all predictor sets, except for the best abundance model for P. trigonatus which incorporated only temperature, precipitation, surface water, human impact, and topography. We found non-consistent and low explanatory power of environmental suitability to predict abundance which aligns with previous studies relating SDM-SAM. We extracted the most relevant information from each optimal SDM and SAM and created a consensus model (2,790,583 km2) that we categorized as low (39.6%), medium (42.7%), high (14.9%), and very high (2.8%) conservation priorities. We identified 279,338 km2 where conservation must be critically prioritized and only 29% of these areas are under protection. We concluded that optimal models from correlative methods can be used to provide a systematic prioritization scheme to promote conservation and as surrogates to generate insights for quantifying ecological patterns.

Can Change in Forest Cover Be Linked to the Management Effectiveness of Protected Areas? The Indian Scenario

Protected areas are an effective mechanism usually supported by a statute to conserve and protect wildlife-rich areas worldwide. Such extensive external management needs elaborate planning, regular monitoring, and periodic assessment of results. Thus, management effectiveness evaluation (MEE) has emerged as one of the major tools for quantifying the performance of any protected area globally since 2006. India has successfully conducted a complete round of management effectiveness evaluation of all its terrestrial protected areas (except conservation reserves and community reserves), with 25 such areas already undergoing a repeat assessment. Simultaneously, India biennially carries out a country-wide status of forest cover in all its states and union territories. This study has correlated the trend in change in forest cover for the states that contain those 25 repeat evaluated protected areas with their change in MEE scores over the same period. Our study found a positive correlation between the change in forest cover and the change in management effectiveness score from 2005–2006 to 2018–2019. Owing to increased protection regimes in the PAs including the degraded areas if they make part of such areas, the habitat often shows recovery. Effective habitat conservation is thus intertwined with the monitoring and preservation of the wildlife populations in the protected areas; therefore, reduction in forest cover equally impacts the management scores. However, in states where the loss in forest cover has been reported, more protected areas need to be assessed to plan complementary strategies for both habitat and species conservation.

Unraveling the impact of dog‐friendly spaces on urban–wildland pumas and other wildlife

As the most widespread large carnivore on the planet, domestic dogs Canis lupus familiaris can pose a major threat to wildlife, even within protected areas (PAs). Growing human presence in PAs, coupled with increasing pet dog ownership underscores the urgency to understand the influence of dogs on wildlife activity and health. This knowledge can mitigate the adverse repercussions of recreation, optimizing PA management. Drawing on five years (2017–2021) of data from 101 camera traps in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States, we measured the spatiotemporal responses of puma Puma concolor, bobcat Lynx rufus, coyote Canis latrans, and mule deer Odocoileus hemionus towards domestic dogs. Additionally, using six years (2017–2022) of community science data, we explored the impacts of PA dog policies on puma sightings outside park boundaries. Puma responses provide insights into broader ecological impacts, while analyses of bobcat, coyote, and mule deer offer a comprehensive understanding of species responses to dog‐friendly spaces. Because dogs can be perceived as predators or competitors by wildlife, we anticipated shifts in spatial and temporal activity patterns in response to dogs. Wildlife responses included avoidance (bobcat, puma) or spatial overlap (mule deer) for areas with more dogs, and no effect (coyote). Mule deer may benefit from a “human shield” provided by people with dogs, while pumas and bobcats appeared more sensitive, and coyotes more adaptable. Dog policies influenced puma and mule deer temporal activity, with increased nocturnal activity in dog‐friendly PAs. Bobcat temporal activity was less variable in dog‐friendly PAs and coyote activity was similar between treatments. Outside PAs, puma sightings increased with human disturbance. Our study underscores the trade‐offs between recreation and wildlife conservation, emphasizing the need to quantify the ecological impacts of dogs. This understanding is vital for informing conservation strategies and promoting coexistence between dogs, wildlife, and protected environments.

On the tail of two species: The changing place of the peregrine falcon in society

Abstract Wildlife conservation can become contentious when human interests are impinged. For peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the United Kingdom, their iconic status as a protected species is contested by pigeon racers and falconers restrained by strict wildlife policies. However, even entrenched conservation policies can shift, sparking controversy. This paper seeks to understand the conditions leading to recent conservation policy shifts and conflicts. Through archival research and discourse analysis of falconry and pigeon racers' rhetoric, I review the development of 150 years of UK wildlife legislation and politics surrounding peregrines, situating present‐day conflict within long‐standing tensions between competing interests. In doing so, I demonstrate how contrasting ideologies of the raptors existed simultaneously between groups. Each vied for dominance and influenced policies over time, with the ideologies of ‘winners’ suppressing that of the ‘losers’ to become the norm. This historical approach highlights the key role global events like war played in overpowering the dominance of protective ideologies towards peregrines domestically, allowing peregrine culls and capture to become socially permissible. Conversely, post‐War environmental movements originating in the United States suppressed falconry's extractive relationships with peregrines in the United Kingdom, entrenching ecological priorities as a norm still conventional today. I argue that wildlife protection is contested because cultural extinction of falconry and pigeon racing were imminent, brought on by policymakers' focus on preventing the biological extinction of peregrines. However, recent policy shifts highlight the acceptance of anthropocentric interests within conservation practices. Policy implications: Animals can play multiple roles in society, but the public may not be accustomed to anthropocentric interests overtly displayed within contemporary conservation practices. Policy needs to be more sensitive towards accommodating or communicating human interests, but to also reflect on the social and ecological implications of their own ideologies towards conservation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Reassessment of French breeding bird population sizes using citizen science and accounting for species detectability.

Higher efficiency in large-scale and long-term biodiversity monitoring can be obtained through the use of Essential Biodiversity Variables, among which species population sizes provide key data for conservation programs. Relevant estimations and assessment of actual population sizes are critical for species conservation, especially in the current context of global biodiversity erosion. However, knowledge on population size varies greatly, depending on species conservation status and ranges. While the most threatened or restricted-range species generally benefit from exhaustive counts and surveys, monitoring common and widespread species population size tends to be neglected or is simply more challenging to achieve. In such a context, citizen science (CS) is a powerful tool for the long-term monitoring of common species through the engagement of various volunteers, permitting data acquisition on the long term and over large spatial scales. Despite this substantially increased sampling effort, detectability issues imply that even common species may remain unnoticed at suitable sites. The use of structured CS schemes, including repeated visits, enables to model the detection process, permitting reliable inferences of population size estimates. Here, we relied on a large French structured CS scheme (EPOC-ODF) comprising 27,156 complete checklists over 3,873 sites collected during the 2021-2023 breeding seasons to estimate the population size of 63 common bird species using hierarchical distance sampling (HDS). These population size estimates were compared to the previous expert-based French breeding bird atlas estimations, which did not account for detectability issues. We found that population size estimates from the former French breeding bird atlas were lower than those estimated using HDS for 65% of species. Such a prevalence of lower estimations is likely due to more conservative estimates inferred from semi-quantitative expert-based assessments used for the previous atlas. We also found that species with long-range songs such as the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) or the Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) had, in contrast, higher estimated population sizes in the previous atlas than in our HDS models. Our study highlights the need to rely on sound statistical methodology to ensure reliable ecological inferences with adequate uncertainty estimation and advocates for a higher reliance on structured CS in support of long-term biodiversity monitoring.

The non-flowering plants of a near-polar forest in East Gondwana, Tasmania, Australia, during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum.

The Cenozoic Macquarie Harbour Formation (MHF) hosts one of the oldest and southernmost post-Cretaceous fossil plant assemblages in Australia. Coinciding with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) and predating the breakup of Australia from Antarctica, it offers critical data to study the diversity and extent of the Austral Polar Forest Biome, and the floristic divergence between Australasia and South America resulting from the Gondwana breakup. The micromorphology and macromorphology of new fossil plant compressions from the MHF were described and systematically analyzed. Previously published non-flowering plant records were reviewed and revised. Macrofossil abundance data were provided. The flora was compared with other early Paleogene assemblages from across the Southern Hemisphere. Twelve species of non-flowering plants were identified from the macrofossil record. Conifers include Araucariaceae (Araucaria macrophylla, A. readiae, A. timkarikensis sp. nov., and Araucarioides linearis), Podocarpaceae (Acmopyle glabra, Dacrycarpus mucronatus, Podocarpus paralungatikensis sp. nov., and Retrophyllum sp.), and Cupressaceae (Libocedrus microformis). Dacrycarpus linifolius was designated a junior synonym of D. mucronatus. Further components include a cycad (Bowenia johnsonii, Zamiaceae), a pteridosperm (Komlopteris cenozoicus, Umkomasiaceae), and a fern (Lygodium dinmorphyllum, Schizaeaceae). The fossil assemblage represents a mixed near-polar forest with a high diversity of conifers. The morphology and preservation of several species indicate adaptations to life at high latitudes. The coexistence of large- and small-leaved conifers implies complex, possibly open forest structures. Comparisons with contemporaneous assemblages from Argentina support a circumpolar biome during the EECO, reaching from southern Australia across Antarctica to southern South America.

Quantifying the potential health risk of surface waters in the Qinling giant panda habitat

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is recognized worldwide as an icon for wildlife conservation. The Qinling subspecies (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis) inhabiting the Qinling Mountains is more endangered. Previous studies have indicated that Qinling pandas are potentially at risk from environmental pollutants, which they are exposed to via food and drinking water. However, there is little information about the surface water quality in the Qinling Mountains, and it is unknown whether drinking water is an important pollutant source for pandas. Water samples were collected from five different nature reserves in Qinling, each of which is home to a population of pandas. The samples were analyzed for five essential metals of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) and four non-essential metals of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). The concentrations of all heavy metals (HMs) were higher in buffer zones than in the core areas and were highest in Foping and Niuweihe nature reserves. The concentrations of mercury exceeded the water quality standard in the core zone of three reserves, suggesting that NWH (Niuweihe), THS (Tianhuashan), and PHL (Pingheliang) giant panda populations were at risk from mercury toxicity. The accumulation of other elements over time could also pose a serious risk to pandas. Three main sources of pollution were identified: coal combustion, waste incineration, and fertilizer use; traffic-related activities; and metal mining. Environmental pollution is compromising the efforts to conserve the giant panda, and measures need to be put in place to control pollution sources.

Genetic Differentiation Between Sympatric Crustacean Decapods Inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea: Implications to Avoid Larval and Adult Misidentification

ABSTRACTThe conservation of species, especially those with high levels of exploitation and economic interest, relies on the knowledge of their biology and geographical distribution. In the marine realm, similar morphology between species is a common difficulty in identifying sympatric species, especially in early stages of development. Therefore, genetic identification of crustacean species has been shown to be the only way to identify the species. We used a 451‐bp fragment of the 16S rDNA gene to differentiate nine species of decapod crustaceans, five of which are sympatric and heavily exploited in the Mediterranean Sea: Aristeus antennatus (blue and red shrimp), A. virilis (stout red shrimp), A. varidens (striped red shrimp), Aristaeomorpha foliacea (giant red shrimp), Aristaeopsis edwardsiana (scarlet shrimp), Gennadas elegans (graceful blunt‐tail prawn), Gennadas valens (valuable blunt‐tail prawn), Parapenaeus longirostris (deep‐water rose shrimp) and Penaeus kerathurus (camarote prawn). Analysis of the 16S rDNA gene provides clear evidence of genetic differentiation to be used as an easy method to identify these species.

Preservation of Natural History and Biodiversity of Bangladesh: Effort of Bangladesh National Museum

The study of nature has likely been one of humanity’s earliest pursuits, considering that a natural inclination for humans, even in a primitive state, is to pay attention to the environment, appreciating the flora, fauna, and the earth beneath their feet. This study aims to assess the role and contributions of the Department of National History of Bangladesh National Museum in preserving the natural history, heritage and biodiversity of Bangladesh through analysis of gathered exhibits, specimens, and input from diverse sources, including general visitors, field experts, and researchers. Additionally, this research seeks to identify potential avenues of future growth and development within the department. The Natural History department has meticulously gathered a treasure trove of ancient animals, plants, and geological fossils, butterflies, live snakes, snails, and oysters. The scope of Bangladesh’s biodiversity and natural history is far too broad to be fully represented within limited galleries. As such, it is imperative to consider establishing a separate Natural History Museum. Additional recommendations from the participants include creating a separate herb gallery consisting of diverse collection of medicinal herbs and other plants for greater conservation of plant species. The usage of diorama and semi-dioramas in representing the biodiversity of Bangladesh is not only very appealing to the visitors but also expressive of the natural habitats of the wildlife. As such, modernizing the other galleries and incorporating dioramas as medium of display might be taken into consideration. There have been calls from the participants to incorporate modern technology, in particular 3D visuals.

H3K9me3 Levels Affect the Proliferation of Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) possess the characteristics of self-renewal and differentiation, as well as the ability to generate functional sperm. Their unique stemness has broad applications in male infertility treatment and species preservation. In rodents, research on SSCs has been widely reported, but progress is slow in large livestock such as cattle and pigs due to long growth cycles, difficult proliferation in vitro, and significant species differences. Previously, we showed that histone 3 (H3) lysine 9 (K9) trimethylation (H3K9me3) is associated with the proliferation of bovine SSCs. Here, we isolated and purified SSCs from calf testicular tissues and investigated the impact of different H3K9me3 levels on the in vitro proliferation of bovine SSCs. The enriched SSCs eventually formed classical stem cell clones in vitro in our feeder-free culture system. These clones expressed glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-1 (GFRα1, specific marker for SSCs), NANOG (pluripotency protein), C-KIT (germ cell marker), and strong alkaline phosphatase (AKP) positivity. qRT-PCR analysis further showed that these clones expressed the pluripotency genes NANOG and SOX2, and the SSC-specific marker gene GFRα1. To investigate the dynamic relationship between H3K9me3 levels and SSC proliferation, H3K9me3 levels in bovine SSCs were first downregulated using the methyltransferase inhibitor, chaetocin, or transfection with the siRNA of H3K9 methyltransferase suppressor of variegation 3-9 homologue 1 (SUV39H1). The EDU (5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) assay revealed that SSC proliferation was inhibited. Conversely, when H3K9me3 levels in bovine SSCs were upregulated by transfecting lysine demethylase 4D (KDM4D) siRNA, the EDU assay showed a promotion of cell proliferation. In summary, this study established a feeder-free culture system to obtain bovine SSCs and explored its effects on the proliferation of bovine SSCs by regulating H3K9me3 levels, laying the foundation for elucidating the regulatory mechanism underlying histone methylation modification in the proliferation of bovine SSCs.

Comparative chloroplast genome analyses of cultivated and wild Capsicum species shed light on evolution and phylogeny

The chloroplast (cp.) genome, also known as plastome, plays crucial roles in plant survival, adaptation, and evolution. The stable genetic structure of cp. genomes provides an ideal system for investigating species evolution. We sequenced three complete cp. genome sequences of Capsicum species and analyzed them using sequences of various Capsicum species retrieved from the NCBI database. The cp. genome of Capsicum species maintains a well-preserved quadripartite structure consisting of two inverted repeats (IRs) flanked by a large single copy (LSC) region and a small single copy (SSC) region. The sizes of cp. genome sequences ranged from 156,583 bp (C. lycianthoides) to 157,390 bp (C.pubescens). A total of 127–132 unique genes, including 83–87 protein-coding, 36–37 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes, were predicted. Comparison of cp. genomes of 10 Capsicum species revealed high sequence similarity in genome-wide organization and gene arrangements. Fragments of trnT-UGU/trnL-UAA, ccsA, ndhD, rps12, and ycf1 were identified as variable regions, and nucleotide variability of LSC and SSC was higher than that of IR. Phylogenetic speciation analysis showed that the major domesticated C. annuum species were the most extensively divergent species and closely related to C. tovarii and C. frutescens. Analysis of divergent times suggested that a substantial range of speciation events started occurring ~ 25.79 million years ago (Mya). Overall, comparative analysis of cp. genomes of Capsicum species not only offers new insights into their genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships, but also lays a foundation for evolutionary history, genetic diversity, conservation, and biological breeding of Capsicum species.

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of vulnerable male and female elongate loach (Leptobotia elongata)

Endemic to the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China, elongate loach (Leptobotia elongata) has become a vulnerable species mainly due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Thus far, no genome data of this species are reported. As a result, lacking of such genomic information has restricted practical conservation and utilization of this economic fish. Here, we constructed chromosome-level genome assemblies for both male and female elongate loach by integration of MGI, PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing technologies. Two primary genome assemblies (586-Mb and 589-Mb) were obtained for female and male fishes, respectively. Indeed, 98.22% and 98.61% of the contig sequences were anchored onto 25 chromosomes, with identification of 26.22% and 25.92% repeat contents in both assembled genomes. Meanwhile, a total of 25,215 and 25,253 protein-coding genes were annotated, of which 97.41% and 98.8% could be predicted with functions. Taken together, our genome data presented here provide a valuable genomic resource for in-depth evolutionary and functional research, as well as molecular breeding and conservation of this economic fish species.

Ectoparasites of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) in Germany

Understanding the impact of parasites on wildlife populations is an important aspect of conservation management. However, research on ectoparasites in wildlife can be difficult, as examinations of live animals which are not habituated to human handling are often impossible. The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) is a strictly protected wildlife species whose population has been recovering in Germany in recent decades. Several studies from different European countries have investigated the parasitological status of European wildcat populations. However, most of these studies assessed endoparasite infections, whereas ectoparasite infestations have often been neglected. To fill this knowledge gap for wildcats in Germany, 131 dead found specimens were examined for ectoparasites by macroscopic and microscopic examination of the fur and the ear canals. Infestation with ectoparasites was present in 84.0% (110/131) of the wildcats. Ticks showed the highest prevalence with 72.5% (95/131) of wildcats infested, with 49.6% (65/131) infested with Ixodes ricinus and 36.6% (48/131) with Ixodes hexagonus/canisuga. A total of 27.5% (36/131) of the wildcats were positive for at least one flea species. Of the nine different flea species identified by morphology and/or molecular analyses, Ceratophyllidae were most common (16.8% [22/131]), with Ceratophyllus sciurorum confirmed on 12.2% (16/131) and Nosopsyllus fasciatus on 1.5% (2/131) animals, followed by Pulex irritans (5.3% [7/131]), Spilopsyllus cuniculi (3.8% [5/131]), Chaetopsylla spp. (3.1% [4/131]) (2/131 Chaetopsylla trichosa and 1/131 Chaetopsylla globiceps), Ctenocephalides felis (1.5% [2/131]), Archaeopsylla erinacei (1.5% [2/131]) and Ctenophthalmus baeticus (0.8% [1/131]). Further, 23.7% (31/131) of the wildcats harboured mites, identified as Trombicula autumnalis in 12.2% (16/131) and Otodectes cynotis in 4.8% (6/124) of cases. The only louse species detected was Felicola hercynianus with a prevalence of 2.3% (3/131). Infestation intensities ranged from 1 to 86 ticks, 1–49 fleas, 1–1896 mites, and 1–92 F. hercynianus per wildcat. This study demonstrates that a variety of ectoparasites infests wildcats in Germany, but they do not seem to have a serious impact on the general health of wildcats, as judged by the hosts' mostly good or very good nutritional condition. In addition, the potential risk to domestic cats (Felis catus) and humans posed by the wildcats’ ectoparasites, appears to be low but present.

YOLO-SAG: An improved wildlife object detection algorithm based on YOLOv8n

Wildlife conservation is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, ensuring ecosystem balance and stability, and fostering sustainable development. Currently, the use of infrared camera traps to monitor and capture photos of wildlife is a vital methodology in protecting and researching wildlife, and automatic detection and identification of animals within captured photographs are paramount. However, factors such as the complexity of the field environment and the varying sizes of animal targets lead to low detection accuracy, while high-precision detection models are hindered by high computational complexity and sluggish training speeds. This paper proposes a wildlife target detection algorithm based on improved YOLOv8n - YOLO-SAG, which aims to balance accuracy and speed. Training stability is enhanced by introducing the Softplus activation function, which increases detection accuracy; incorporating the AIFI enhances intra-scale feature interaction, reducing missed and false detections. Integrating the GSConv and VoV-GSCSP module lightens neck convolutions, reducing computational redundancy and balancing the computational and parametric quantities brought by the AIFI. Experimental results on a self-made wildlife dataset indicate that the YOLO-SAG achieves 94.9%, 90.9%, 96.8%, and 79.9% in Precision, Recall, mAP@0.5, and mAP@0.5–0.95, respectively, which are 3.4%, 3.3%, 3.2%, and 4.9% higher than the original YOLOv8n. Inference and post-processing times reach 1.2 ms and 0.5 ms, a speedup of 25% and 54.5%, respectively, and the computation volume is only 7.2 GFLOPs, an 11.1% decrease.