Short Communication:  Rediscovery of Psychotria species, subspecies, and varieties collected in the 1990s and new records of Antirhea benguetensis (Elmer) Valeton and Ixora longifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) in Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Luzon, Philipp

Abstract. Biag RD, Alejandro GJD. 2020. Short Communication: Rediscovery of Psychotria species, subspecies and varieties collected in the 1990s and new records of Antirhea benguetensis (Elmer) Valeton and Ixora longifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) in Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Luzon, Philippines. Biodiversitas 21: 4524-4535. Tagged as the “last great forest” for it possesses the widest remaining tropical rainforest in the island of Luzon, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP) in the province of Isabela is worth-conserving. Owing to the species richness and high levels of endemism in the said area, it was identified as a key biodiversity area for conservation and protection. After a botanical exploration in the park conducted from April to August 2019, 89 Rubiaceae species were found dominated by the genus Psychotria. These Psychotria species were then separated from other genera and were morphologically examined and eventually identified. This study, therefore, primarily aims to provide the list of Psychotria species that were collected long before, particularly in the 1990s and still exist in NSMNP continuously battling against the catastrophic activities within the forest. Eight Philippine endemic Psychotria species and varieties were recollected. As to their current conservation status following IUCN criteria, we herein propose these species, except for Psychotria pubilimba, to be treated as Data Deficient (DD) since there is lack of distributional data for these species. Additional surveys are to be conducted on the areas where these species were previously collected. In this way, information on population size and threats to the species can also be obtained. P. pubilimba is restricted to Cagayan and Isabela. Only one mature individual has been found; hence, a Narrow Endemic Species (NES). Being an NES, it was then assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) based on IUCN rules. It is also worth noting that new records of Antirhea benguetensis and Ixora longifolia species were found in the park, particularly in Divilacan, Isabela. The former has been regarded as Luzon endemic, known to be distributed only in Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Rizal, and Bataan. The latter, on the other hand, is mostly distributed in the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao, and only Masbate and Palawan for Luzon. Moreover, this flora has been recorded in other parts of the world like China, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

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Diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Rubiaceae species in Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, Luzon, Philippines

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d220904 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Biag ◽

GRECEBIO JONATHAN D. ALEJANDRO

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Protected Area ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Single Species ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Natural Park ◽

Sierra Madre ◽

Data Deficient ◽

Near Threatened

Abstract. Biag RA, Alejandro GJD. Diversity, distribution, and conservation status of Rubiaceae species in Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, Luzon, Philippines. Biodiversitas 22: 3627-3636. Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS) is the largest protected area (PA) in the province of Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines. As part of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and being contiguous with the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, there is no doubt that this PA would display species endemism and richness. Hence, botanical surveys through purposive sampling in seven barangays/districts were conducted in the PPLS to determine the species diversity and distribution of Rubiaceae. This study also aims to identify the endemic species and determine their conservation status. Forty-two species of Rubiaceae belonging to 19 genera and 13 tribes were documented in the current study. The most species-rich tribes are Spermacoceae (9 sp.), followed by Psychotrieae (7 sp.), Pavetteae (6 sp.), Naucleae (5 sp.), Ixoreae (4 sp.), Aleisantheae (2 sp.), Mussaendeae (2 sp.), and Vanguerieae (2 sp.). The rest of the tribes, i.e., Augusteae, Coffeeae, Gardenieae, Knoxieae, and Morindeae, are represented by a single species. Minanga, Nabbabalayan and Sisim harbor the most species. Results show that 19 Philippine endemic species are thriving in the PPLS. Of these, four are threatened species; one is near threatened, three being least concern, two as data deficient, and the rest were not evaluated.

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On the Data Deficient amphibians occurring in Colombia

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v66i3.30818 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 1272

Author(s):

Cristian Román Palacios ◽

Alejandro Valencia Zuleta

Keyword(s):

Spatial Clustering ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Amphibian Species ◽

Current Conservation ◽

Geographic Ranges ◽

Human Footprint ◽

Data Deficient ◽

The Relationship

Whereas more than 10 % of the global amphibian richness is known to occur in Colombia, almost 16 % of these species are currently classified as Data Deficient according to the IUCN. These estimates suggest that the available data for a large portion of the amphibians occurring in Colombia is insufficient to assess extinction risk. Here we aim to (1) review the available information on the distribution of the Colombian Data Deficient (DD hereafter) amphibians, (2) analyze their geographic distribution, and (3) evaluate the relationship between anthropogenic impact and their current conservation status. For this, we first compiled geographical records for the DD amphibian species using primary sources. Geographical records were obtained mainly from taxonomic descriptions and non-systematic surveys. We then estimated the geographical range and inferred the potential distribution for each species using LetsR and MaxEnt, respectively. We quantified the human footprint for each species and tested the relationship between spatial distribution and anthropogenic change across populations. Analyses are here based on 128 of the 129 amphibians that occur in Colombia and are currently listed as DD. We found that most of these species were recently described and have small geographic ranges. A large proportion of these DD amphibians inhabit the Colombian Andes, and their populations have been strongly affected by human activities. Overall, the spatial clustering suggests that many of these species have faced similar environmental and anthropogenic pressures that have contributed to their rareness. We also suggest that the conservation status of several of the analyzed DD amphibians should be changed to account for the threats they face.

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New records of a lost species and a geographic range expansion for sengis in the Horn of Africa

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9652 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9652 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Steven Heritage ◽

Houssein Rayaleh ◽

Djama G. Awaleh ◽

Galen B. Rathbun

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

New Records ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Current Data ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Horn Of Africa ◽

International Borders ◽

Elephant Shrew ◽

Voucher Specimens ◽

Data Deficient

The Somali Sengi or Somali Elephant-shrew (‘Elephantulus’ revoilii, Macroscelidea, Mammalia) has been considered a “lost species” and is primarily known from about 39 museum specimens, with no new vouchered occurrence records since the early 1970s. The scientific literature contains no data concerning living Somali Sengi individuals and the species’ current Data Deficient conservation status is attributable to an absence of modern information. Almost everything that has been published about the species is derived from anatomical examinations of historic specimens, gleaned from museum collection notes, or inferred from the known habits and ecology of other sengi taxa. Here we report new evidence that the Somali Sengi is currently extant. These data include voucher specimens, georeferenced occurrence localities, body measurements, habitat parameters, and DNA sequences. While the species is historically documented as endemic to Somalia, these new records are from the neighboring Republic of Djibouti and thus expand the Somali Sengi’s known range in the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, Djiboutian locality data near international borders suggests that the Somali Sengi is also a current inhabitant of both Somalia and Ethiopia. Criteria that inform conservation status assessments (e.g., suitable habitat contiguity and occurrence in wildlife protected areas) can be positively characterized in Djibouti and therefore bode well for the survival of the Somali Sengi species. New data also inform previously undocumented substrate and sheltering affiliations. DNA analyses indicate that the Somali Sengi is a descendant of the Macroscelidini lineage and therefore reveal that the species’ referral to the genus Elephantulus is incompatible with sengi phylogeny. This taxonomic issue is resolved by recognizing a new genus replacement and recombinant binomial that redesignates the Somali Sengi as Galegeeska revoilii (gen. nov., nov. comb). An analysis of ancestral biogeography suggests that the Somali Sengi has inhabited the Horn of Africa for more than 5.4 million years—and the recognition of the species’ phylogenetic ancestry appends the already remarkable biogeographic story of the Macroscelidini tribe.

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Amphibia, Anura, Microhylidae, Myersiella microps (Duméril and Bibron, 1841): new records and geographic distribution map

Check List ◽

10.15560/9.4.847 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 847 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marco Antônio de Amorim Peixoto ◽

João Victor Andrade Lacerda ◽

Carla Da Silva Guimarães ◽

Bruno Teixeira ◽

Emanuel Teixeira Da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geographic Distribution ◽

New Records ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

The State ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Status Assessment ◽

Data Deficient

Myersiella microps (Duméril and Bibron, 1841) is considered data deficient (DD) in the State of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Herein we provide new records and a geographic distribution map of this Poorly known species. These data provide valuable information for a conservation status assessment of M. microps.

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Reassessing the conservation status of the shrew Crocidura thomensis, endemic to São Tomé Island

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s003060531400091x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 360-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ricardo Faustino de Lima ◽

Eden Maloney ◽

W. Brian Simison ◽

Robert Drewes

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Intensification ◽

New Records ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Effective Protection ◽

Term Survival ◽

Natural Park ◽

Forested Areas

AbstractThe shrew Crocidura thomensis is a little-known species endemic to São Tomé Island. We review its distribution, ecology and conservation status based on nine published and 23 new records. The species has a wide distribution across São Tomé, preferring rugged forested areas with high rainfall. The location of new records coincides with that of historical records but the proportion of records in plantations has declined, possibly as a result of agricultural intensification, increased use of pesticides, and presence of exotic species. The shrew is restricted to a single island, its extent of occurrence is < 1,000 km2 and its habitat is declining in extent and quality, and thus its categorization as Endangered on the IUCN Red List remains appropriate. It is important to gain a better knowledge of population trends, ecological preferences and sensitivity to potential threats, but the effective protection of São Tomé Obô Natural Park and surrounding forests is the most important measure to ensure the long-term survival of this mammal.

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Short notice concerning the current conservation status of dark-barked birch taxa and the proposed changes to the next edition of the Red Book of Ukraine

Plant Introduction ◽

10.46341/pi2020034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87-88 ◽

pp. 104-107

Author(s):

Andrii Tarieiev ◽

Igor Olshanskyi

Keyword(s):

Short Communication ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Research Data ◽

Species Level ◽

Separate Species ◽

Current Conservation ◽

Short Notice ◽

New Research

Recently in Ukraine, there were many discussions about proposed changes to the next edition of the Red Book of Ukraine. Kingdom Plantae. In this short communication, we clarify one particular aspect within the discussions concerning the proposition to exclude dark-barked birch Betula obscura from the next edition of the Red Book of Ukraine. It is argued by the new research data obtained and published during last years, and which provide evidence that there is no reason to treat B. obscura as a separate species because it represents only one of at least two different dark-barked birch forms of two widely distributed birch species in Ukraine (B. pendula f. obscura and B. pubescens f. sibakademica), respectively. Therefore, the proposition to exclude B. obscura from the next edition of the Red Book of Ukraine is reasonable since it is aimed to protect plants on the species level only.

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First confirmed records of the Pantanal Cat, Leopardus colocola braccatus (Cope, 1889), in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/14.5.699 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 699-703 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Crasso Paulo B. Breviglieri ◽

Mariela C. Castro ◽

Douglas C. Ribeiro ◽

Lúcio de Oliveira e Souza ◽

João Henrique Pinheiro Dias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

New Records ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Red List ◽

The State ◽

The Other ◽

São Paulo ◽

Broad Distribution ◽

Data Deficient

The Pantanal Cat, Leopardus colocola braccatus, presents a broad distribution over several biomes in South America. However, the distribution of the species is based on a limited number of occurrences, and confirmed records of the species are scarce. Here, we present 2 confirmed records of Leopardus colocola braccatus from the state of São Paulo, southeast Brazil. Both records are juvenile individuals, 1 recorded in the municipality of Castilho and the other in Araçatuba. These São Paulo records expand the distribution of this uncommon felid to the most populous state of Brazil. This species is currently Data Deficient on the São Paulo Red List, and these new records may help with future assessments of the conservation status of this felid.

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Anuran species composition of Cancão Municipal Natural Park, Municipality of Serra do Navio, Amapá state, Brazil

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.762.22634 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 762 ◽

pp. 131-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yuri Breno Silva e Silva ◽

Carlos Eduardo Costa-Campos

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Protected Area ◽

New Records ◽

Sampling Effort ◽

Red Lists ◽

Anuran Species ◽

Natural Park ◽

Considerable Portion ◽

Data Deficient

In this study, the first survey of anuran species in the Cancão Municipal Natural Park is presented, a protected area of approximately 370 hectares of Amazonian forest located in the northwest center region of the state of Amapá, Brazil. The work was performed during the dry and rainy season, through active visual and auditory survey, totaling 216 man hours of sampling effort. Forty-nine species of anuran amphibians were recorded in the Cancão Municipal Natural Park, including three new records:Hyalinobatrachiumiaspidiense, Pristimantiscf.ockendeni, andScinaxgarbei. Three species,Hyalinobatrachiumiaspidiense,Ameeregapulchripecta, andAnomaloglossusbaeobatrachus, are listed as Data Deficient and one is listed as Vulnerable (Atelopushoogmoedi) according red lists of IUCN. The rarefaction curve cumulative species did not reach an asymptote, indicating that site has potential for species that have not yet been recorded. Nine species were represented by only one individual and were considered rare in the studied environments, eight species were defined as common, and the 32 remaining species were classified as having intermediary abundance. Our data indicated that Cancão Municipal Natural Park contains a considerable portion of the anurans species richness of Amapá state, turn the area into a place of great importance for the conservation of the anurans of the Eastern Amazon.

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The rediscovery of the Southern Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor Esper, 1799) in Bosnia & Herzegovina after 50 years of absence

Entomologist s Gazette ◽

10.31184/g00138894.701.1692 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 27-30

Author(s):

Toni Koren ◽

Matea Martinović

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Recent Observation ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Red List ◽

Historical Records ◽

Limited Extent ◽

Current Conservation ◽

The Third ◽

Larval Host

The caterpillars of the Southern Swallowtail, Papilio alexanor have been recorded in the vicinity of Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina. This is the first recent observation of this species in the country and the third observation so far. Opopanax chironium is confirmed as the larval host plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was expected due to the recent observations from Croatia. Its status and distribution in the country are still not clear, and further surveys are recommended in order to reconfirm the historical records as well as to assess its current conservation status. Due to the limited extent of its occurrence, we propose to include it in the Red list of fauna of Bosnia & Herzegovina as Vulnerable (VU).

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Global extinction risk for seahorses, pipefishes and their near relatives (Syngnathiformes)

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000782 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Riley A. Pollom ◽

Gina M. Ralph ◽

Caroline M. Pollock ◽

Amanda C.J. Vincent

Keyword(s):

Threatened Species ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Extinction Risk ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Field Research ◽

Selective Extraction ◽

Iucn Red List ◽

Point Estimate ◽

Conservation Action ◽

Data Deficient

Abstract Few marine taxa have been comprehensively assessed for their conservation status, despite heavy pressures from fishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Here we report on the first global assessment of extinction risk for 300 species of syngnathiform fishes known as of 2017, using the IUCN Red List criteria. This order of bony teleosts is dominated by seahorses, pipefishes and seadragons (family Syngnathidae). It also includes trumpetfishes (Aulostomidae), shrimpfishes (Centriscidae), cornetfishes (Fistulariidae) and ghost pipefishes (Solenostomidae). At least 6% are threatened, but data suggest a mid-point estimate of 7.9% and an upper bound of 38%. Most of the threatened species are seahorses (Hippocampus spp.: 14/42 species, with an additional 17 that are Data Deficient) or freshwater pipefishes of the genus Microphis (2/18 species, with seven additional that are Data Deficient). Two species are Near Threatened. Nearly one-third of syngnathiformes (97 species) are Data Deficient and could potentially be threatened, requiring further field research and evaluation. Most species (61%) were, however, evaluated as Least Concern. Primary threats to syngnathids are (1) overexploitation, primarily by non-selective fisheries, for which most assessments were determined by criterion A (Hippocampus) and/or (2) habitat loss and degradation, for which assessments were determined by criterion B (Microphis and some Hippocampus). Threatened species occurred in most regions but more are found in East and South-east Asia and in South African estuaries. Vital conservation action for syngnathids, including constraining fisheries, particularly non-selective extraction, and habitat protection and rehabilitation, will benefit many other aquatic species.

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