The rediscovery of Carya poilanei (Juglandaceae) after 63 years reveals a new record from China

Despite having been first published in 1941, Carya poilanei (A.Chev.) J.-F.Leroy is only known from three collections in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. It has not been recollected since then and was long suspected to have become extinct through repeated deforestation events. Here, we report the rediscovery, and meanwhile the first new record in China, of this extremely rare gigantic hickory species at Yunnan province 63 years after its last collection in 1958. Three small patchy subpopulations were found with a total of about 50 adult trees having diameter at breast height (DBH) larger than 60 cm, together with some seedlings and saplings, but the fruit set was low. Based on new and fresh material, we present a revised morphological description of C. poilanei, and an updated distribution map for the species. In addition, we also provide a key for the hickories in China. Lastly, we suggest C. poilanei should be listed as a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to the latest IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Human-wildlife conflicts with crocodilians, cetaceans and otters in the tropics and subtropics

Conservation of freshwater biodiversity and management of human-wildlife conflicts are major conservation challenges globally. Human-wildlife conflict occurs due to attacks on people, depredation of fisheries, damage to fishing equipment and entanglement in nets. Here we review the current literature on conflicts with tropical and subtropical crocodilians, cetaceans and otters in freshwater and brackish habitats. We also present a new multispecies case study of conflicts with four freshwater predators in the Western Amazon: black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), boto (Inia geoffrensis) and tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis). Documented conflicts occur with 34 crocodilian, cetacean and otter species. Of the species reviewed in this study, 37.5% had conflicts frequently documented in the literature, with the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) the most studied species. We found conflict severity had a positive relationship with species body mass, and a negative relationship with IUCN Red List status. In the Amazonian case study, we found that the black caiman was ranked as the greatest ‘problem’ followed by the boto, giant otter and tucuxi. There was a significant difference between the responses of local fishers when each of the four species were found entangled in nets. We make recommendations for future research, based on the findings of the review and Amazon case study, including the need to standardise data collection.

AVIFAUNISTIC DIVERSITY OF MERINE FOREST, NORTH-WEST ALGERIA

This study is an avifaunistic diversity assessment was carried out in the Merine forest, Sidi Bel Abbes (Northwest Algeria). During three years (2019-2021). The major objective of our investigation is to inventory avian species and to define their phenological categories. Among the important results is a record of, 71 species of bird, belonging to 17 orders and 28 families. The Passeriformes are the most noted with 43 species, distributed across 15 families, of which the Muscicapidae is the most represented with 10 species. The phenological categories indicates that the majority of this species are resident breeders (65 %), 21% are migrant breeders and 14% are passing visitors. Depending on trophic status, 32% are polyphagous, 27% insectivorous, 17% carnivorous, 15% granivorous and 8% omnivorous. In addition, we noted that, 31 species are protected by Flat 12-235 in Algeria, with one species (Falco naumanni) protected by the Ordinance 06-05. Internationally and one species protected according of the IUCN red list (Streptopelia turtur). The Merine forest is shelter to five species endemic to North Africa: Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), Levaillant's Woodpecker (Picus vaillantii), Moussier's Redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri), Tristram's Warbler (Sylvia deserticola), African Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae).

Features of formation of parks-monuments of lanscape art of the second half of the XX century of Ukrainian Polissia

The formation of park-monuments of landscape art was analyzed from a historical perspective. In the second half of the twentieth century, two national and nine local park-monuments of landscape art were created in Ukrainian Polissya. The purpose of PMLA is the protection and the preservation of the most prominent and valuable examples of park construction in order to use them for aesthetic, educational, scientific, environmental and health purposes. By the placement in the planning structure of inhabited localities are defined city, village and district parks. The motivation for the creation of parks was the preservation, reproduction and enrichment of tree diversity in the conditions of the Ukrainian Polissya. In the parks were planted technical, fast-growing, rare species, and species of woody plants valuable for forestry and landscape gardening with their subsequent use for scientific and economic purposes. Some of the plantations in the parks were memorable, anniversary, or dedicated to significant events (the anniversary of the October Revolution and the birthday of V.I. Lenin). In Ukrainian Polissya, there are three parks created on the basis of existing oak plantations “Klevanskyi Park”, “Park Antonivka”, “Bondaretskyi”); one - on the basis of man-made plantations with Acer platanoides L., Carpinus betulus L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Tilia cordata Mill. (“Ovrutskyi”); three parks of culture and recreation (“Horodnianskyi”, “Vysokivskyi”, “Slovianskyi”) including a meadow park (“Slovianskyi”), a children's park (“Bondaretskyi”), three arboretums (“Dubechnenskyi”, “Bairak”, “Novostavskyi dendropark”, “Zhornivskyi”), which were transformed over time, or which were granted the status of PMLA. By the size, PMLA were small, medium, and large with star, axial, fan, loop, cross-shaped and combined planning structures. In four PMLA, there were man-made and natural reservoirs, and a fountain. Five parks were combined (memorial and park of culture and rest); there were concentrated memorial complexes, monuments, and an obelisk. Plantings of parks are represented by groups, solitairs, alleys, ordinary plantings, hedges, and sometimes by groves and massifs. On the territory of 11 PMLA grew 178 species of woody plants, with 121 of them being included to the IUCN Red List. In 4 parks, since their creation the number of species increased by 75–129%; in 6 parks tree diversity decreased, with 29 to 87% of tree plant species remaining, among them 66–94% of trees were rare. 11 PMLA are valuable centers of tree diversity and unique plantings of Ukrainian Polissya; and an example of the formation of didactic, ethnographic, memorial, children's, culture and recreation, and combined parks that need further protection and expansion of the area and collection. Some parks are in need of planting reconstruction.

Fauna diversity in the southern part of the Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Gia Lai province

Kon Ka Kinh National Park (KKK NP) is a priority zone for biodiversity protection in Vietnam as well as ASEAN. In order to survey the current fauna species diversity in the southern part of the KKK NP, we conducted camera trapping surveys in 2017, 2018, and 2019. 28 infrared camera traps were set up on elevations between 1041 to 1497 meters. In total, there were 360 days of survey using camera trap. As result, we recorded a total of 27 animal species of those, five species are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2020). The survey results showed a high richness of wildlife in the southern park region, and it also revealed human disturbance to wildlife in the park. The first-time camera trap was used for surveying wildlife diversity in the southern region of the KKK NP. Conducting camera trap surveys in the whole KKK NP is essential for monitoring and identifying priority areas for wildlife conservation in the national park.

A new species (Begonia giganticaulis) of Begoniaceae from southern Xizang (Tibet) of China

Begonia giganticaulis, a huge new species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum of Begoniaceae from southern Xizang (Tibet) of China, is described. Morphologically, it is mostly similar to B. longifolia and B. acetosella, but clearly differs from the former mainly by its dioecious and taller plants, sparse hairs on abaxial veins, longer inflorescence, unique shape of fruits, and differs from the latter mainly by its late and longer flowering time, 6-tepals of female flower and 3-loculed ovary. The phylogenetic analyses also support the separation of the new species from other taxa. Based on the current data, its conservation status is assigned to Endangered (B2a) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Annotated Checklist and Conservation Status of Mammal Species in Sarpang District, Bhutan

Bhutan has a total geographical area of 38,394 Km² located in between the Indo-Malayan and Palearctic region, out of which 51.44% (19750.75 km²) of its total geographical area has been designated as the protected area. However, none of the districts have a structured baseline checklist of mammal species documented till date. Therefore, Sarpang Forest Division under the Department of Forests and Park Services had carried out five rigorous camera trap surveys including a nationwide tiger survey that covers representable areas of the district from 2014 till 2020. The survey shows that district has 36 mammal species that belong to 18 families under seven orders. Felidae and Cervidae families has the highest species abundance (n = 17%), while, Canidae, Herpestidae, Leporidae, Manidae, Melinae, Muridae, Mustelidae, Tupaiidae, Proboscidae, Pteromyidae, Suidae and Ursidae were the lowest (n = 3%). Above all, Sarpang homed 29.90% of total mammal species of Bhutan, out of which 3% of mammal species were categorized under Critically Endangered, 14% Endangered, 14% Vulnerable, 22% Near Threatened, and 47% Least Concern as per IUCN Red List. However, only 20 mammal species are listed under CITES and nine in Schedule I of Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995. Therefore, landscape-based planning such as the Division-based Conservation & Management plan; periodic monitoring of wildlife species using camera traps, and validation of Schedule I species are suggested for long-term conservation and management of globally threatened species inside the landscape of Sarpang district in Bhutan.

Habitat Suitability, Population Structure and Conservation Status of Pinanga arinasae (Arecaceae), an Endemic Palm in Bali Island, Indonesia

The conservation of species should be based on knowledge of habitat requirements, population structure and conservation status. This knowledge is quite important to design conservation areas for species and to promote long-term persistence. In this study, we investigated habitat suitability, population size structure and conservation status of Pinanga arinasae in Bali. Plots with palms and adjacent areas with no palms were sampled to characterize key habitat variables. Habitat suitability was modeled using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) methods. The population size structure was characterized by counting and measuring the height and reproductive status of the individuals found in plots. Furthermore, we assessed the extinction risk of the species using the IUCN Red List Criteria. The ANN variables that best explained occurrence were litter depth, elevation, canopy openness and slope. The RF variables that best explained the data were elevation, litter depth, slope, and aspect. Both ANN and RF are robust models that can be used to predict the occurrence of P. arinasae. The population size structure included many seedlings, but juvenile and mature individuals were found in relatively small numbers. Based on the findings, we proposed Endangered B1+B2ab(i,ii,iii,v); D as the conservation status of P. arinasae.

Conservation-Status Gaps for Marine Top-Fished Commercial Species

Biodiversity loss is a global problem, accelerated by human-induced pressures. In the marine realm, one of the major threats to species conservation, together with climate change, is overfishing. In this context, having information on the conservation status of target commercial marine fish species becomes crucial for assuring safe standards. We put together fisheries statistics from the FAO, the IUCN Red List, FishBase, and RAM Legacy databases to understand to what extent top commercial species’ conservation status has been assessed. Levels of assessment for top-fished species were higher than those for general commercial or highly commercial species, but almost half of the species have outdated assessments. We found no relation between IUCN Red List traits and FishBase Vulnerability Index, depreciating the latter value as a guidance for extinction threat. The RAM database suggests good management of more-threatened species in recent decades, but more data are required to assess whether the trend has reverted in recent years. Outdated IUCN Red List assessments can benefit from reputed stock assessments for new reassessments. The future of IUCN Red List evaluations for commercial fish species relies on integrating new parameters from fisheries sources and improved collaboration with fisheries stakeholders and managers.

Cololobus ruschianus (Vernonieae, Asteraceae), a Threatened Narrow Endemic Species from Atlantic Forest Inselbergs, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract— The Atlantic Forest is the most species rich vegetation in Brazil and holds several phytophysiognomies, including the vegetation on inselbergs, which is a very stressful xeric environment that selects for very specialized biota. Cololobus is an endemic genus from Atlantic Forest inselbergs of eastern Brazil, and Cololobus ruschianus is a new species based on morphological evidence, differing from other species of the genus by its morphological traits in petioles, subinvolucral bracts, and outer involucral bracts. Cololobus ruschianus occurs in Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo State, Brazil and would likely be considered Critically Endangered (CR), based on the criteria of the IUCN red list.