scholarly journals Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Sardinia

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Fois ◽  
Gianluigi Bacchetta ◽  
Maria Carmela Caria ◽  
Donatella Cogoni ◽  
Emmanuele Farris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Limited Distribution ◽  
Available Information ◽  
New Habitats

The ‘Habitats’ Directive (HD 92/43/EEC) is one of the primary legal tools aiming at conserving nature in Europe. Due to the complex iter to revise it, the habitats listed in the Annex I have been seldom updated after the HD adoption. Basing on already available information and expert knowledge, this paper presents a preliminary list of relevant habitats occurring in Sardinia, not yet considered and worth to be placed in the Annex I. Two new habitat proposals, one habitat new for Italy, and nine new subtypes of already existing HD habitats are here described. Most of the proposed new habitats and subtypes have a limited distribution range, due to the high number of narrow, often endangered, endemic species that characterize them. Being neglected, they are consequently poorly investigated, inconstantly monitored and unprotected. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to promote their conservation through implementation of HD and its interpretation manuals.

scholarly journals Threatened Fishes of the World: Orsinogobius Croaticus (Mrakovčić, Kerovec, Mišetić and Schneider, 1996) (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Horvatić ◽  
Zoran Marčić ◽  
Milorad Mrakovčić ◽  
Perica Mustafić ◽  
Ivana Buj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Fragmentation ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Limited Distribution ◽  
The World ◽  
Threatened Fishes ◽  
Adriatic Basin

Abstract Orsinogobius croaticus is a freshwater fish with a small and limited distribution range in the Adriatic basin in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, where it inhabits cold karstic rivers and springs. The main threats to its populations include habitat fragmentation, declining habitat quality and the introduction of alien species. Conservation recommendations are proposed to improve effective habitat preservation and to expand the knowledge about this species.

scholarly journals Endemic bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Colombia: State of knowledge, distribution, and conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves ◽  
Elkin A. Noguera-Urbano ◽  
Darwin M. Morales-Martínez ◽  
Danny Zurc ◽  
Andrés Felipe Vargas-Arboleda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
National Level ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Type Locality ◽  
International Union ◽  
New Information ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Bat Diversity

Colombia, with 209 species, is one of the richest countries in terms of bat diversity. This high bat diversity is comprised in nine families and 72 genera. A total of eight species of the families Emballonuridae (n = 1) and Phyllostomidae (n = 7) are listed as endemic to the country. In spite the relevance of Colombiain bat diversity, little is known of these endemic species which are mostly known from the type locality (n=4), whereas for others (n = 2), their taxonomic status is uncertain. Here, available information of endemic bats from Colombia is compiled, and new information on their distribution and conservation is provided. The most included species in publications including the original description (n = 15) was Lonchorhina marinkellei. The only distribution pattern observed for the species evaluated was for Carollia monohernandezi and Vampyressa sinchi that might overlap distributions in the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera. Most endemic species are from the Andean and inter-Andean regions of the country (n = 6). At national level, there are no endemic species in any threatened category; however, at least one species (Lonchorhina marinkellei) is considered as Vulnerable (VU) and one (Saccopteryx antioquensis) as Endangered (EN) by the International Union forConservation of Nature-IUCN.

White Flowers in South America: A New Species of Antiphytum (Echiochiloideae, Boraginaceae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-920
Author(s):  
Nidia Mendoza-Díaz ◽  
Marina Díaz ◽  
Patricia Brussa ◽  
Fabián Muñoz ◽  
José M. Bonifacino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South America ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
North American Species ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Sharp Contrast ◽  
South American ◽  
South American Species ◽  
The North ◽  
A New Species

Abstract—Antiphytum charruasorum, a new endemic species from western Uruguay, is described. This is the only South American species in the genus with white corolla and an infra-medial cicatrix on the ventral face of the eremocarp, both features shared with the North American species of Antiphytum, in sharp contrast with the blue corolla and the basal cicatrix at the end of a stipe-like prolongation that characterizes all South American species in the genus. Antiphytum charruasorum increases the diversity of the genus in South America, as well as the endemism and distribution range into Uruguay. Moreover, this new species adds novel features in Antiphytum such as the irregularly dichasial inflorescences, the hirsute faucal appendages, the eremocarps with a tissue plug from the gynobase, and the habitat where the species has been reported.

Ficus subgen. Ficus . Two rare and primitive pachycaul species

1970 ◽  
Vol 259 (831) ◽  
pp. 353-381 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Growth Forms ◽  
Limited Distribution ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
The Common ◽  
Floral Characters ◽  
New Britain ◽  
A New Species ◽  
New Habitats

Ficus diamantiphylla (sect. Ficus ser. Auratae Corner) is described as a new species from Borneo, F. sciaphila (sect. Sycidium Miq. ser. Copiosae Corner) as a new species from New Britain. Both are small pachycaul trees of limited distribution presenting the most primitive vegetative and floral characters in their series. They contrast with the leptocaul species which, with advanced structure, become the common and widespread members of the series. Both species illustrate the manner in which subgeneric evolution, origin and dispersal can be learnt from the pachycaul-leptocaul sequence. F. diamantiphylla places the origin of ser. Auratae in Borneo where the series is mainly endemic. It links with the widespread ser. Eriosyceae Corner, and it is shown how subsect. Eriosycea (Miq.) Corner bears upon the Sino-Himalayan origin of ser. Cariceae Corner with F. carica L. Specific evolution involves the production of new growth-forms and the occupation of new habitats; vicariism plays so little, if any, part that primitive and advanced species live in the same forest. F. sciaphila places the origin of ser. Copiosae , so far as the species with smooth seeds is concerned, in Melanesia in close proximity with ser. Phaeopilosae Corner and ser. Scabrae Miq. It is the pachycaul antecedent to the common and widespread F. copiosa Steud. and F. wassa Roxb.

Risk assessment of COVID-19 based on a new structure of neural fuzzy probabilistic model

2021 ◽  
pp. 014233122110317
Author(s):  
Farnaz Sabahi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Probability Interpretation ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Uncertainty Handling ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Relevant Factors

The risk assessment of the COVID-19 infection can save so many lives, reduce treatment costs, and increase public health. The unknown nature of the COVID-19 infection, the high impreciseness of available information, and not simply recognizing the relevant factors and their effectiveness may cause overestimating and underestimating of factors. This paper puts forward a development of a model with fewer limitations that are more consistent with progressive knowledge about COVID-19. Dealing with the situation of updating the statistical dataset daily, the proposed approach can effectively use the subjectivity inherent in the fuzzy probability interpretation of risk factors using expert knowledge in addition to the statistical dataset. Second, to this uncertainty handling improvement, a specificity-based parameter learning based on the learning network is also added to deal with the complexity aspect of the COVID-19 infection. The learning process helps the proposed structure better adjust the effectiveness of factors. From the achieved results, it is verified that people with advanced age, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and those having cancer treatments are at higher risk of death if they are infected by COVID-19. Undoubtedly, for vaccination, these three groups should be considered in order to prevent death situations.

scholarly journals A Method of Estimating Time-to-Recovery for a Disease Caused by a Contagious Pathogen like SARS-CoV-2 using a Time Series of Aggregated Case Reports

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stavros Pitoglou ◽  
Dimitrios-Dionysios Koutsouris
Keyword(s):  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Mitigation Policy ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Calculation Results ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Calculated Average

Abstract Background: During the outbreak of a disease caused by a pathogen with unknown characteristics, the uncertainty of its progression parameters can be reduced by devising methods that, based on rational assumptions, exploit available information in order to provide actionable insights. Methods: In this study, performed few (~6) weeks into the outbreak of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2), data publicly available on the Internet including daily reported cases of confirmed infections, deaths and recoveries are fed into an algorithm that matches confirmed cases with deaths and recoveries, in order to calculate average time-intervals. Unmatched cases are adjusted based on the matched cases calculation. Results: The mean time-to-recovery calculated from all globally reported cases was found 18.01 days (SD 3.31 days) for the matched cases and 18.29 days (SD 2.73 days), taking under consideration the adjusted unmatched cases as well. Conclusion:The experimental results indicate that the proposed method, in combination with expert knowledge and informed calculated assumptions, could provide a meaningful calculated average time-to-recovery figure, which can be used as an evidence-based estimation to support the containment and mitigation policy decisions. Trial registration: Not applicable.

The Commission: A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing?

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 270-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Darpö
Keyword(s):  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
National Courts ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
The Common ◽  
Public Scrutiny

This article centres on the effectiveness of Article 258 tfeu proceedings for the enforcement of eu environmental law. Employing as an example the case between the Commission and Sweden on the licensed hunting of wolves – a species enjoying strict protection in accordance with the Habitats Directive – the pros and cons will be discussed of infringement proceedings for the enforcement of the common responsibilities in the environmental area. While these proceedings can be effective in situations where they are used, they suffer unpredictability and a lack of consistency owing to political balancing within the Commission. Furthermore, lack of transparency in communication between the Commission and the governments of the Member States prevent public scrutiny of the system, which contributes to alienation of the eu from the public. Finally, on areas of environmental law – which are highly dependent upon scientific expert knowledge and thus dominated by ‘soft guidelines’ – infringement proceedings are an important complement to references from national courts to cjeu for preliminary rulings on controversial issues in order to avoid ‘circular decision-making’. Thus, the Swedish wolf issue can serve as a background for a more general discussion on infringement proceedings as an effective means for the enforcement of environmental law within the Union.

scholarly journals Rinorea calcicola (Violaceae), an endangered new species from south-eastern Gabon

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 167 (3) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBIN VAN VELZEN ◽  
JAN J. WIERINGA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Limited Distribution ◽  
Narrow Endemic ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Distribution And Ecology ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Iucn Criteria

Rinorea calcicola, endemic to south-eastern Gabon, is described as a new species. Its most striking characteristic is the laminate fruit, a character so far only known for R. zenkeri. Rinorea calcicola has a limited distribution and appears to be restricted to limestone outcroppings. We have assessed it as endangered—EN B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)—according to IUCN criteria. Morphological affinities of R. calcicola are discussed, and a key to R. zenkeri and the Gabonese species of Rinorea with textured fruits is given. The new species is one of many endemic species from the same region, and we recommend that a study of their distribution and ecology is undertaken to inform conservation planning. Because of the presence of so many narrow endemic species in the region, we suggest that the area be considered for protected status.

scholarly journals Eukarya biodiversity in the Thala Hills, East Antarctica

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Dzmitry A. Lukashanets ◽  
Peter Convey ◽  
Oleg I. Borodin ◽  
Vladislav Ye. Miamin ◽  
Yury H. Hihiniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Soil Nematodes ◽  
Antarctic Expedition ◽  
Taxonomic Studies ◽  
Available Information ◽  
First Time ◽  
Marine Macrobenthos

Abstract Knowledge of the biodiversity of the Thala Hills oasis (Enderby Land, East Antarctica) is very limited. Here, we integrate all information available since 1962, when the Russian ‘Molodyozhnaya’ station was established in the western part of the oasis. The published data on local eukaryote diversity (lichens, embryophytes, metazoans) include records of 90 species. Since 2008, Belarusian Antarctic Expedition researchers have worked in the eastern part of the oasis, accessible from the Belarusian station ‘Vechernyaya Mount'. This research revealed 95 species, including 44 species not recorded in the earlier published literature. The level of available information is uneven across major taxa. Lichens are the better-known group, with 51 species recorded in total, including 13 species recently recorded for the first time in the oasis. New records were also obtained for rotifers. Thala Hills biodiversity is consistent with wider patterns of Antarctic biogeography, with a high proportion of regionally endemic species (especially metazoans), the occurrence of both endemic and bipolar species of lichens and generally low numbers of cosmopolitan species (largely limited to aquatic rotifers, with the caveat that up-to-date taxonomic studies are required). The lack of data on marine macrobenthos, soil nematodes and terrestrial rotifers emphasizes the need for studies focusing on these groups.

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