Harnessing the Power of Social Media to Obtain Biodiversity Data About Cetaceans in a Poorly Monitored Area

The study and conservation of cetaceans benefit from systematic studies and non-systematic records about sightings and strandings. However, iEcology (internet ecology) was critical for numerous ecological studies and should be in the toolkit of cetacean ecologists. We hypothesize that iEcology is irreplaceable to obtain diversity data about cetaceans in poorly monitored regions that coincide with touristic destinations, where whale-watching companies go out to sea regularly and post their sightings on social media. Our study assessed the advantages and disadvantages of iEcology while obtaining the first broadscale and long-term assessment about cetaceans’ diversity off the Algarve, a European tourist destination with numerous whale-watching companies. We retrieved 1,299 time-referenced records about 15 species posted on Facebook and Instagram between 2011 and 2020. Data collected from Biodiversity4All, an online citizen science biodiversity database, disclosed georeferenced records about nine species made between 2008 and 2020, however, the number of records was 15.8 times lower than social media posts. We obtained information about 16 species, two of which were never mentioned in the scientific literature [Balaenoptera musculus, Balaenoptera edeni (record made in 2021)] and five species were only mentioned in the gray literature. Previous assessments were restricted in time, published in the gray literature, and only reported six and 11 species. So, social media was essential to obtain the first broadscale and long-term assessment of cetaceans’ diversity off the Algarve. The main advantages of iEcology were the possibility to obtain data collected over one decade and its low cost. The main disadvantages are the impossibility to obtain georeferenced records from social media, the difficulty to estimate the number of individuals in large groups, and the presence of rare species can be inflated if multiple whale-watching companies report the same individual(s) while they migrate along the coast. Nonetheless, these disadvantages can be mitigated. Overall, we endorse the use of iEcology to increase the ecological knowledge about cetaceans which might be the only tool to study them in numerous regions across the world. The contributions of whale-watching companies are invaluable, so we recommend the implementation of a standardized cetacean observation log as a relevant source of data for conservation.

New assessment of Least Concern lichens in the Red List of Estonia: are common species still common?

The threat status of 161 lichenized species that were considered common in Estonia was assessed in 2021. For most of these species, it was the second Red List assessment using the IUCN system (the first such evaluation was performed in 2008). The main data sources for species occurrence were the records reported in 100 study sites located throughout the country during 2020, and the PlutoF biodiversity database. 125 species remained, according to the new assessment, in the category Least Concern (LC) and their populations are not under threat in Estonia at present. Two species were placed in the category Not Applicable (NA) because of systematic revisions while 33 species were assigned to the categories Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU) or Near Threatened (NT); one further species received the status Data Deficient (DD). Thus, the threat status has changed for 22% of the studied species that had generally been considered common in Estonia. The reasons for this change are variable but there is clear evidence that 26 species have become more threatened during last 12 years.

Re-examination of the vascular plants on Hongdo Island, Korea

This study was carried out to survey the flora of Hongdo Island in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Specimens collected from previous Hongdo flora studies were reexamined using a relevant biodiversity database, and field surveys were carried out 22 times from April of 2003 to October of 2020. Based on the specimens collected during both previous studies and this study, the identified vascular plants of Hongdo consisted of 472 taxa comprising 102 families, 296 genera, 425 species, 6 subspecies, and 41 varieties. Among them, 111 taxa are newly recorded in this study, and 6 taxa are described in detail in terms of their morphological characteristics and habitat. Also, 29 taxa were reviewed or re-identified with corresponding taxonomic annotations. In Korea, Hongdo represents the northern distributional limit of the 4 taxa of Goodyera biflora, Damnacanthus major, Calanthe aristulifera, and Hemerocallis hongdoensis. Moreover, Hosta yingeri and Saussurea polylepis are endemic to Hongdo and nearby islands in Korea. Distribution maps of these species were prepared. Protected species designated by the Ministry of Environment were 7 taxa consisting of 2 taxa of level I, specifically Sedirea japonica and Neofinetia falcata, and 5 taxa of level II, which were Cymbidium macrorhizon, Woodwardia japonica, Dendrobium moniliforme, Calanthe aristulifera, and Bulbophyllum inconspicuum. Red list plants as designated by the National Institute of Biological Resources numbered 11 taxa. Naturalized plants numbered 40 taxa.

Xarifiid Copepods (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Xarifiidae) Parasitic in the Coral Psammocora columna Dana, 1846 from Taiwan

A comprehensive knowledge of relationships between coral and coral-associated organisms is essential for the conservation studies of the coral reef community, yet the biodiversity database of coral-inhabiting copepods remains incomplete. Here we surveyed in a widely distributed scleractinian coral, Psammocora columna Dana, 1846, and newly discovered two endoparasitic copepod species, Xarifia yanliaoensis sp. nov. and Xarifia magnifica sp. nov. These two new species are described based on specimens collected in Taiwan, and they share several common morphological characters of Xarifia copepods, i.e., region dorsal to fifth legs having three posteriorly directed processes unequally. However, X. yanliaoensis sp. nov. is distinguishable from other species by the morphology of the endopods of legs, antenna, maxilla, and maxilliped (in both genders). The morphological characters of X. magnifica sp. nov. are the endopods of legs, leg 5, and maxilliped in the male. Including the two new species described in the present work, the genus Xarifia Humes, 1960 belongs to the cyclopoid family Xarifiidae Humes, 1960 currently consists of 94 species, and eight of them live in association with the Psammocora coral. A comparison table and a key to the species of Xarifia from Psammocora corals are given herein.

Creating a National Biodiversity Database in Gabon and the Challenges of Mobilizing Natural History Data for Francophone Countries

Language is a major barrier for researchers wanting to digitize and publish collection data in Africa. Despite being the fifth most spoken language on Earth and the second most common in Africa, resources in French about digitization, data management, and publishing are lacking. Furthermore, French-speaking regions of Africa (primarily Central/West Africa and Madagascar) host some of the highest biodiversity on the continent and therefore are of great importance to scientists and decision-makers. Without having representation in online portals like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio), these important collections are effectively invisible. Producing relevant/applicable resources about digitization in French will help shine a light on these valuable natural history records and allow the data-holders in Africa to retain the autonomy of their collections. Awarded a GBIF-BID (Biodiversity Information for Development) grant in 2021, an international, multilingual network of partners has undertaken the important task of digitizing and mobilizing Gabon’s vertebrate collections. There are an estimated 13,500 vertebrate specimens housed in five institutions in different parts of Gabon. To date, the group has mobilized >4,600 vertebrate records to our recently launched Gabon Biodiversity Portal (https://gabonbiota.org/). The portal also hosts French guides for using Symbiota-based portals to manage, georeference, and publish natural history databases. These resources can provide much-needed guidance for other Francophone countries⁠—in Africa and beyond⁠—working to maximize the accessibility and value of their biodiversity collections.

Measuring the temporal quality of a biodiversity database

In the context of climate change it is important to keep biodiversity databases up-to-date. This priority generates the need for a metric to assess the concept of up-to-dateness. The objective of this paper is to devise a measure of up-to-dateness for atlas-type biodiversity data. The data input into the algorithm consists of the species, date and grid cell allocation of all available records for a taxon in a region. First, for each grid cell in a region, the median of the date of the most recent record of each species is calculated. Secondly, the median of the median dates for each grid cell yields an overall measure of up-to-dateness. The performance of this algorithm is investigated in relation to databases for six taxa in southern Africa. In June 2021, the up-to-dateness of the databases varied from 41 years for the reptile database to two years for the bird database. The quality of a biodiversity database is a multidimensional concept; up-to-dateness is only one of several dimensions. The paper identifies a need to quantify the rate at which the “value” of a record decays as evidence that a species still occurs at a locality, and suggests an experimental process for doing this. The use of the up-to-dateness index to motivate citizen scientists is discussed.

The Contribution of Local Management to Biodiversity Conservation: An Analysis of Specific Cases in the Region of Madrid (Spain)

In line with the Urban Agenda for the EU, this article highlights the importance of local actions in the conservation of biodiversity, both through specific activities and by increasing the availability of information. As such, the policies and projects related to the conservation of biodiversity have been analyzed here at different levels and, in particular, the initiatives undertaken in the Madrid Region, Spain. Consequently, two cases are presented that demonstrate the role that local administrations can play in improving the biodiversity database, and hence, in the effective protection of areas of significant environmental value. First, we will examine the effects that creating an environmental inventory of vegetation, flora and landscape has had in Torrelodones. Second, among the more recent environmental policies implemented in the municipality of Madrid are those that resulted in the environmental recovery of the urban section of the Manzanares River. Both these actions demonstrate how local authorities can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity at relatively low expense and in line with EU guidelines. Notably, this occurred despite the fact that competences in environmental matters in Spain are not municipal. In this context, the paper reflects on the untapped potential of the General Urban Planning Plans (PGOU) in deep knowledge and sustainable and responsible management of municipal environmental values.

The first occurrence of Cycloachelous granulatus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Decapoda Portunidae) from Klah Island, Indonesia

NiThis article reported the first occurrance of Cycloachelous granulatus (H. Milne Edwards,1834) (Decapoda Portunidae) from Klah Island (close to Sabang Island), Aceh Province. Twospecimens were collected in intertidal zone of Klah beach, on June 2018. Our findings con-tribute to Indonesian Biodiversity Database and could be used as the basis to develop faunalknowledge such as study on taxonomic, biogeographic, evolutionary or conservation.

VALUASI JASA LINGKUNGAN HUTAN TROPIS: STUDI KASUS BEBERAPA KAMPUNG DI KALIMANTAN TIMUR

ABSTRAKDalam perumusan kebijakan terkait pengelolaan lingkungan hidup, khususnya terkait ekosistem hutan hujan tropis di Kalimantan Timur, perlu didasarkan pada kajian yang berbasis sains. Dengan latar belakang tersebut, penelitian ini dilaksanakan. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menentukan nilai manfaat jasa lingkungan dari keberadaan ekosistem hutan hujan tropis yang berada di kawasan beberapa kampung di Kalimantan Timur. Empat kampung yang menjadi area studi meliputi Bea Nehas, Merabu, Dumaring, dan Long Duhung. Valuasi dilakukan dengan metode benefit transfer, dengan memanfaatkan database TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) sebagai acuan. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa TEV (Total Economic Value) untuk kampung Bea Nehas adalah sebesar 1,25 milyar USD/tahun atau setara dengan 18,2 triliun rupiah/tahun; TEV untuk kampung Merabu adalah sebesar 314,1 juta USD/tahun atau setara dengan 4,6 triliun rupiah/tahun; TEV untuk kampung Dumaring adalah sebesar 325,9 juta USD/tahun atau setara dengan 4,7 trilyun rupiah/tahun; sedangkan, kampung Long Duhung memiliki TEV sebesar 202,8 juta USD/tahun atau setara dengan 2,9 trilyun rupiah. Dari nilai TEV kampung-kampung tersebut, proporsi nilai jasa pendukung adalah sebesar 0,1%, jasa penyediaan sebesar 45,2%, jasa pengaturan sebesar 17,3%, dan jasa kultural sebesar 37,4%. Kata kunci: jasa lingkungan, hutan hujan tropis, Kalimantan Timur, valuasi, TEEB database ABSTRACTPolicy formulation for environmental management needs to be founded by science-based evidence, particularly in regard of East Kalimantan tropical rainforest ecosystem. Thus, the establishment of this research. Moreover, the research aims to estimate the value of tropical rainforest ecosystem services in several kampongs within the boundary of the East Kalimantan province. The study takes into account four kampongs, Bea Nehas, Merabu, Dumaring, and Long Duhung. The valuation employs the benefit transfer method by using the TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) database as reference. The result shows that the TEV (Total Economic Value) for Bea Nehas amounts to 1,25 billion USD/year, 314,1 million USD/year for Merabu, 325,9 million USD/year for Dumaring, and 202,8 million USD/year for Long Duhung. In term of TEV proportion, for all kampongs, supporting services take 0,1%, provisioning services take 45,2%, regulating services take 17,3%, and cultural services take 37,4%. Keywords: ecosystem services, tropical rainforest, East Kalimantan, valuation, TEEB database

Occurrence data of terrestrial vertebrates of Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang City, Vietnam

The forest of Son Tra Peninsula was designated as a nature reserve in 1977 and serves as a green lung for Da Nang City. Due to the economic development scheme of Da Nang City, the forest of the peninsula has been disturbed by human activities and by invasive plant species. Moreover, the management board of the nature reserve lacked sufficient data of the species distribution of its biodiversity for developing future management and conservation plans. To provide and enhance knowledge for the distribution of wildlife species in Son Tra Peninsula, we conducted field surveys over two years to collect data on species richness and distribution and then build a biodiversity database for the protected area. The project collected the occurrence data of 145 species of terrestrial vertebrates, accounting for 51.6% of vertebrate species known from the peninsula with total of 900 observations. In addition, distribution data of six threatened species were recorded on the peninsula.