Rare Species Research Articles

Background: Fungal endocarditis is uncommon, making up an estimated 1-3% of cases. Risk factors for this are prosthetic heart valves, prior heart surgery, and IV drug use. Fungal seeding of CIED is even more rare, and often leads to fatal outcomes. The majority of the species involved are Candida . Pichia kudriavzevii , formerly known as Candida krusei , is a rare non-Candida species of yeast that is most frequently seen in immunocompromised patients and is associated with a high mortality rate. Known risk factors for P. kudriavzevii include underlying gastrointestinal disease or cancer, hematologic malignancies, organ transplant, corticosteroid use, and recent use of antibiotic or antifungal therapies. We present the case of P. kudriavzevii fungemia leading to seeding of ICD. Case Report: A 66-year-old male with past medical history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with dual chamber ICD, and atrial fibrillation s/p re-do CTI and PVI ablation 2 months prior presented to the ED with abdominal pain, vomiting, and dysuria. He was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Workup revealed WBC count of 28.6, blood glucose of 361. CT imaging of the abdomen and pelvis was unremarkable. He was admitted for sepsis secondary to suspected UTI and was started on ceftriaxone. Blood cultures drawn on admission resulted showing Pichia kudriavzevii and Lactobacillus gasseri . Urine cultures resulted showing showing P. kudriavzevii . The patient was then started on micafungin. Initial TTE did not reveal vegetations, LVEF noted to be 55%. A TEE was ordered as the patient was having persistent unexplained leukocytosis, and this revealed a vegetation on the ICD lead in the right atrium. Given the patient’s fungemia with evidence of endovascular seeding and vegetations, in the context of now recovered LVEF, the patient underwent complete extraction of his ICD. Conclusions: This case is unique in that the patient seemingly has no major risk factors for P. kudriavzevii fungemia. He does not have history of prior fungal infections or UTIs, recent anti-fungal or antibiotic use, or immunocompromised status. The patient did undergo a recent CTI and PVI ablation, however the source of infection was proven to be urinary. His uncontrolled diabetes mellitus may have been a contributing factor. A multidisciplinary approach involving infectious disease and cardiology is critical in reducing the risk of adverse outcomes in these patients.

Abstract. Atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) controls local plant physiology and global vegetation productivity. However, at ecologically crucial intermediate spatial scales, the role of VPD variability in forest bryophyte community assembly and the processes controlling this variability are little known. To explore VPD effects on bryophyte community composition and richness and to disentangle processes controlling landscape-scale VPD variability, we recorded bryophyte communities and simultaneously measured forest microclimate air temperature and relative humidity across a topographically diverse landscape representing a bryophyte diversity hotspot in temperate Europe. Based on VPD importance for plant physiology, we hypothesize that VPD can be important also for bryophyte community assembly and that VPD variability will be jointly driven by saturated and actual vapor pressure across the topographically diverse landscape with contrasting forest types and steep microclimatic gradients. Contrary to our expectation, VPD variability was dictated by temperature-driven differences in saturated vapor pressure, while actual vapor pressure was surprisingly constant across the landscape. Gradients in species composition, species richness and community structure of bryophyte assemblages followed closely the VPD variability. The average daily mean VPD was a much better predictor of species composition than average daily maximum VPD. The mean VPD also explained significantly more variation in species composition and richness than maximum temperature, indicating that time-averaged evaporative stress is more relevant for bryophyte communities than microclimatic extremes. While mesic forest bryophytes occurred along the whole VPD gradient, species occurring near their distributional limits and locally rare species preferred sites with low VPD. Consequently, low VPD sites represent species-rich microclimatic refugia within the landscape, where regionally abundant mesic forest bryophytes coexist with rare species occurring near their distributional range limits. Our results showed that VPD variability at ecologically crucial landscape scales is controlled by temperature-driven saturated vapor pressure. Future climate warming will thus increase evaporative stress and reshuffle VPD-sensitive forest bryophyte communities even in topographically diverse landscapes, which are traditionally considered as microclimatic refugia buffered against climate change. Bryophyte species occurring near their distributional range limits in microclimatic refugia with low VPD will be especially vulnerable to the future changes in atmospheric VPD.

Macrophytes in Ganjuwa LGA play a critical role in maintaining the healthy and stability of freshwater ecosystems, and maintain ecosystem properties and function. The study was conducted in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State to document and compile voucher specimens of macrophytes. Swamps and lakes are the primary aquatic ecosystems used for study. A richness of 49 macrophytes belonging to 21 families was recorded and collected using the quadrat sampling method. A 1m2 square was used at an interval of 10m2 between each quadrat sampling. These findings contribute to checklists and in-situ photographs of rare plant taxa, including Ranalisma humile: Ammannia senegalensis, Pontederia natans, and other macrophytes. Notably, Aeschynomene fluitans (the giant water-sensitive plant) was reported from one of the study locations, marking the first documentation of Aeschynomene fluitans in West Africa. However, ongoing habitat degradation, deforestation, infrastructure developments, urbanization, and poor agricultural practice continues to threatens freshwater aquatic ecosystems and their plants diversity. Conservation measures are particularly needed on roadways with swamps that are increasingly impacted by human activities

Rare species in past pollen records and herbarium specimens: Linnaea borealis L. lived in north-eastern lowlands in Italy during the Neolithic

Response of abundant and rare microbial taxa to three iron-carbon composite amendments in metal-contaminated agricultural soil.

Reliable estimates of abundance are crucial for informing wildlife management strategies for small populations. However, this is particularly challenging for rare, elusive, and wide-ranging species that occur in low-visibility habitats. Such conditions demand intensive and carefully designed surveys or combining multiple methods to enhance the reliability of population estimates. Using the Knysna elephant (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a small population, we combined a mark-recapture approach, based on data from an intensive, nine-year (July 2014–December 2023) camera trap survey, with data from a dung survey. The latter included dung bolus circumference measurements, which we used as a proxy for age class. We also compared spatial data from both methods to assess whether elephant camera trap detections aligned spatio-temporally with fresh dung. We identified a single adult female elephant, with no evidence of additional individuals. All measured dung bolus sizes fell within the range typical of adult females, with no signs of larger and smaller boli characteristic of mature males or calves, respectively. Fresh dung was found only in areas where the elephant was recorded on camera, reinforcing the conclusion that a single elephant remains. Our findings validate camera trapping as a reliable stand-alone method for surveying low density populations of individually identifiable species, provided it is applied intensively and with carefully considered sampling design.

Co-occurrence networks dominated by rare and abundant fungal species influence the potential function of fungal communities in Eucalyptus urophylla plantations under successive planting

Reef fish community structure across an ecological transition zone.

In vitro cultured biomass of Rindera graeca, a rare endemic plant, is an efficient renewable source of bioactive naphthoquinones, e.g., rinderol, a potential bioactive inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells. Bioengineering strategies, as biomass immobilization on functionalized biomaterial-based scaffolds, elicitation by chitosan, and in situ extraction of metabolites, are tested for intensifying naphthoquinones production in R. graeca hairy roots. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of hybrid poly(lactic)–chitosan scaffolds on biomass proliferation and rinderol production in R. graeca hairy roots. Effects of chitosan origin (fungal or squid), molecular mass (350–1800 kDa), and concentration (up to 45%) in the developed hybrid scaffolds have been quantitatively identified, and the results were compared to the reference culture system containing an unmodified PLA-based construct. Applying PLA–chitosan scaffold containing 33% of fungal chitosan resulted in 635 times higher rinderol production (3660 µg gDW−1) than the application of reference scaffolds. Among the tested parameters, the chitosan concentration in the hybrid scaffolds revealed significant importance in rinderol production. To sum up, the developed hybrid PLA-chitosan scaffold may be recognized as a functional key element supporting the production of naphthoquinones in cultures of R. graeca biomass.

Outcrossing preference in Magnolia ×soulangeana 'Hongyun' is associated with differential stigmatic ROS accumulation regulated by MsFERONIA-MsROP2-MsROBHD module.

Hypertension is a global health threat, which, in coexistence with chronic kidney disease, increases the associated health risks. Most of the vulnerable patients receive prophylactic therapeutic intervention for fungal infections, though, in a few instances, there is a delay in symptomatic presentation. The patients with hypertension and chronic kidney disease receiving haemodialysis should be monitored strictly for the same. This is a case of a 41-year-old male infected with Trichosporon infection with a positive history of hypertension and chronic kidney disease, receiving haemodialysis treatment. The patient was timely confirmed to have the diagnosis and successfully managed with the systemic antifungal drug Itraconazole {100 mg (BD) for 14 days} and Fluoroquinolones {500 mg (OD) for seven days}. A follow-up at one month showed the patient with laboratory markers within normal limits.

Studying the biocenoses of urban reservoirs can signifi cantly expand the understanding of the biodiversityof specially protected natural territories located within the city. In 2024, the phytoplankton of reservoirs of theStarozagorodny natural recreational complex of regional importance, located in the center of Omsk, was studied for thefi rst time. Two artifi cial fl owing reservoirs (small and large) have the established nature protection regime, the main taskof which is to regulate anthropogenic load. Th e study determined the taxonomic composition, abundance and biomassof phytoplankton, and established the trophic status of water bodies. Th ree new species and intraspecifi c taxa of algaefrom the Chlorophyta (1 BBT) and Charophyta (2 BBT) divisions have been identifi ed in the phytoplankton of reservoirs.Information is also provided on green and desmidium algae found in reservoirs rare for the IWT region. Micrographs ofnew and rare species are presented, as well as a brief description with instructions. In terms of biomass, the trophic statusof the large reservoir corresponded to the eutrophic category of waters, and that of the small reservoir corresponded to themesotrophic category. Th e conducted studies allowed us to supplement the taxonomic list of algae and cyanobacteria ofthe Omsk Irtysh region, which currently includes 1166 IWT.

Preservation of Kazakhstan biodiversity, characterised by a variety of bioresources, is among the key national interests of the state. Medicinal plants making up a quater of all vascular plants in Kazakhstan, are an irreplaceable natural resource capable of providing raw materials for the domestic pharmaceutical and food industries. Literature screening of natural flora conducted in 2012–2014 indicates a low degree (10 %) of study of wild medicinal plant resources on the territory of the Republic. Of 1406 Kazakhstan medicinal plants, only 230 species are used in official medicine, the rest are used in folk or experimental medicine. For most of the demanded species, modern resource studies with assessment of the ecological state of natural populations are required. Due to predatory harvesting of economically important species of medicinal plants, their export from the country and increasing exploitation pressure, 65 species are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan as rare, endemic or endangered. There is a lack of up-to-date data on medicinal plants of Kazakhstan with an assessment of species and phytocenotic diversity, phytochemical and resource potential. To develop a strategy for sustainable use and conservation of plant resources of the country, primarily ecosystems of economically valuable, intensively exploited, as well as endemic, rare and endangered species of medicinal plants, it is necessary to identify key areas of medicinal plants, characterised by saturation and species richnes, and provide a modern assessment of their potential for pharmaceutical needs. Modern assessment of medicinal plants of Kazakhstan will provide a scientific basis for inventory and state monitoring of plant world, strategy for conservation and optimisation of in situ and ex situ use of plants; optimal nature management that does not contradict the principles of sustainable development, long-term conservation of biodiversity and environmental sustainability.

The review article is devoted to the study of the main morpho-biological features of the rare plant species Clintonia udensis Trautv. ex A. C. Mey, listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Yakutia (Sakha) as a species with naturally low abundance. The relevance of this article is in the fact that present modern literary sources, including foreign ones, contain very little information about Clintonia udensis, which grows mainly in the Far East. Based on previously published data, we characterized the main morphological features in the structure and reproductive biology of Clintonia udensis. A brief historical note on the name origin of this species is described. The article presents basic information on the distribution of Clintonia udensis in Russia and on the neighboring territories. Distinctive features in the morphology of fruit-corners in specimens of the species Clintonia udensis growing in the mainland (Republic of Yakutia (Sakha), Khabarovsk, Primorsky and Kamchatka Territories, Magadan, Amur Regions) and on islands (southern part of Sakhalin Island and Kuril Islands) of the Russian Far East are revealed.

Natural populations of 5 juniper species are widespread in Crimea: Juniperus communis L., Juniperus deltoides R. P. Adams, Juniperus excelsa M.-Bieb., Juniperus foetidissima Willd., Juniperus sabina L. All of them are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Crimea. The study of the generative sphere of rare and endangered species underlies the development of measures to maintain and preserve their populations. The aim of the studies was to determine the morphological features of the berries and seeds of tree junipers of Crimea. Based on the purpose of the work, the following tasks were set: to identify the degree of heterogeneity of the berries and seeds of the studied species; to describe the structural features of female generative ones that affect the intensity of renewal of Crimean junipers. Crimean juniper species vary quite significantly in the level of development of the generative sphere. When examining the morphological features of their berries, it was found that J. deltoides is the most heterogeneous. Of particular interest is the study of the developmental features of the berries and seeds of the least common juniper in the Mountainous Crimea – J. foetidissima. If the seeds of J. deltoides and J. excelsa had a fairly thin seed coat (up to 0.61 mm), easily amenable to scarification, then the thickness of the seed coat of J. foetidissima can reach 2.8 mm, which in turn, in some cases, is more than a third of the width of the seed itself.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are of increasing clinical importance, yet their identification remains challenging. While matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) offers a rapid, high-throughput solution, its diagnostic accuracy for NTM has not been fully established. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis published between 2011 and May 2024 were conducted. Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS for NTM species identification against reference standards were included. Pooled identification rates were calculated via a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were used to assess the influence of variables such as growth rate, culture media, and instrument platform. Quality assessment was performed via the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Across 55 studies, MALDI-TOF MS achieved a pooled identification accuracy of 88% (95% CI: 84-91%) for clinical NTM isolates. Subgroup analyses revealed greater accuracy for rapidly growing mycobacteria (93%) than for slowly growing mycobacteria (89%). Compared with liquid (85%) or co-culture (84%) systems, cultures on solid media yielded superior results (91%). The Bruker MALDI Biotyper and bioMérieux VITEK MS platforms showed comparable performance, although species-level accuracy varied. Notably, species such as M. fortuitum, M. smegmatis, and M. marinum were identified with high precision (> 95%), whereas species such as M. colombiense and M. parascrofulaceum exhibited poor discrimination. MALDI-TOF MS is highly accurate in identifying clinically relevant NTM, particularly rapidly growing species. Despite improvements in databases and sample preparation, distinguishing closely related or rare species remains challenging, underscoring the need for further optimization and standardization.

88 species of mosses have been identified in the bryoflora of the ancient manor parks of the Zaoksky part of the Moscow region (18 objects), of which 2 species are listed in the Red Book of the Moscow Region. Information about the condition of the manor complexes, their historical and scientific value, and bryological indicators are given for each object. A list of mossy species is given, indicating their locations, anthropogenic stability, and proximity to substrates. The bryophora of parks is dominated by stenotic hemerophobic species with low occurrence. The high level of species richness and the presence of rare species confirm the important role of ancient manor parks in preserving the biodiversity of mosses. The most valuable objects are the estates of Darovoe, Starodub, Sennitsy, Pushchino, Taraskovo.

Specially protected areas play a significant role in preserving plant biodiversity. There are 6 reserves in Primorsky Krai, which differ in location, relief, and climatic conditions. This determines the difference of their pteridofloras, which differ not only in species composition, but also in the ratio of ecological and cenotic groups. In the flora of the reserves, a significant part (86.3 %) of ferns of Primorsky Krai is represented. The predominant part of them is represented by East Asian forest species. The most diverse are the ferns of the Lazovsky Reserve, which account for 82.3 % of the total pteridoflora of all the reserves of Primorsky Krai. The composition of pteridoflora of forest reserves is similar; the pteridoflora of the Khankaisky Reserve occupies a special place, which is connected with the peculiarities of its location and the character of vegetation. 15 rare species were recorded in the territories of the Primorsky Krai reserves, 5 of which are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, 15 – in the Red Data Book of Primorsky Krai, 3 species (Dryopteris chinensis, D. monticola, Matteuccia orientalis), known in Primorsky Krai from a limited number of habitats, deserve special attention as endangered species from the flora of the Russian Far East.

The assessment of elasmobranch biodiversity in Thailand benefits greatly from the application of DNA barcoding, which helps mitigate the challenge posed by a shortage of expert taxonomists. Fragments of COI and ND2 mitochondrial DNA were examined, and the strengths and weaknesses of these two markers were compared. In this study, DNA products from 153 elasmobranch samples were amplifiable and revealed a total of 28 shark species and 32 batoid species. Many species could be confidently identified as their morphological characteristics aligned with DNA barcodes. However, several exceptions were recognized. The absence of reference sequences for rare species presented a challenge for species verification, and the misidentification of reference sequences, as well as changes in species names due to taxonomic revisions, added complexity when comparing DNA barcoding sequences. Conflicts between morphology and genetics were also observed. While intraspecific genetic variation based on both DNA barcodes generally indicated 0–2% variation, this metric could not always be used for species delimitation. This was particularly true for species displaying low genetic variation among closely related species and species where cryptic diversity remained hidden and yet to be uncovered. In such cases, the morphological characteristics of the samples served as the primary means of species identification. Despite these challenges, DNA barcoding remains an invaluable tool for biodiversity assessment, especially in light of the shortage of skilled experts, and for identification of products made from vulnerable species. However, it is essential to exercise caution and be aware of these complexities in its application.

Thesium ebracteatum Hayne is an endangered hemiparasitic plant, rare in the south-western part of its range. It is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and appears on the national Red Lists of many European countries. In Romania, the species is considered extinct according to the national Red List, with only a few historical records from Transylvania. In June 2025, approximately 100 individuals of T. ebracteatum were discovered near Bălcăuți, Suceava Region, Romania. This represents the first national record of the species in several decades and the first ever from eastern Romania. The species occurred in a stand documented by a vegetation plot, corresponding to the phytosociological association Brachypodio pinnati - Molinietum arundinaceae . The isolated occurrence near Bălcăuți, similar to other peripheral populations in the south-western part of the species’ range, is regarded as relict. This interpretation is further supported by the disjunct occurrence of other rare plant species typical of peri-Carpathian forest-steppe. Historical maps indicate that the site once formed part of an extensive grassland complex known as Horaiț/Horaiza, most of which was converted to arable land during the 19 th and 20 th centuries. For the long-term conservation of T. ebracteatum and other rare species at the site, targeted management is required, including the prevention of further ploughing and the extension of legal protection to all valuable local stands.