Bone histology of acipenseriform fishes reveals seasonality during the final years of the Mesozoic.

The Cretaceous-Paleogene (KPg) mass extinction ~66 million years ago (Ma) was triggered by the Chicxulub impact on the present-day Yucatán Peninsula. This event caused the extinction of circa 76% of species, including all non-avian dinosaurs, and represents one of the most selective extinctions to date. The timing of the impact and its aftermath have mainly been studied on millennial timescales, leaving the season of the impact unconstrained. Here, we demonstrate that the impact that caused the KPg mass extinction took place during boreal spring. Osteohistology and stable isotope records of exceptionally preserved dermal and perichondrial bones in acipenseriform fishes from the Tanis impact-induced seiche deposits reveal annual cyclicity across the final years of the Cretaceous. These fishes ultimately perished in boreal spring. Annual life cycles, involving seasonal timing and duration of reproduction, feeding, hibernation, and aestivation, vary strongly across latest Cretaceous biotic diversity. We conclude that the timing of the Chicxulub impact in boreal spring significantly influenced selective biotic survival across the KPg boundary.

Cryptic speciation in freshwaters: are speciation in lentic species shaped by paleohydrological events?

The Indian subcontinent is extremely diverse in terms of its flora and fauna. However, there is a severe underestimation of the biotic diversity in invertebrate groups as well as a lack of understanding of the processes generating diversity in these groups. Here we aimed to jointly estimate the cryptic diversity of two freshwater snail species complexes, Pila globosa and Pila virens, and uncover the processes behind the speciation in these groups. We employed phylogenetic, morphometric, population genetic and niche modelling technique to address these questions. We found out that both species complexes consist of several genetically and ecologically distinct putative species. The speciation was primarily driven by allopatric isolation into different river basins. A combination of paleoclimatic and paleohydrological changes during the Miocene have shaped the speciation events. Local climatic adaptation also could have contributed towards some of the speciation events. The study sheds light on the complex interaction between the biology of the species and the environment that shape the diversification patterns in a group.

Valuation and Appreciation of Biodiversity: The “Maintenance of Options” Provided by the Variety of Life

“Nature’s contributions to people” (NCP) is an important expansion beyond the standard ecosystem services framework, particularly as a pathway to better address global/regional biodiversity values. NCP18, “maintenance of options,” refers broadly to the capacity of ecosystems, habitats, species, or genotypes to keep options open to support a good quality of life. “Biodiversity,” interpreted as living variation, is an important, but under-appreciated, aspect of “maintenance of options.” IPBES refers to “the “option values of biodiversity,” that is, the value of maintaining living variation in order to provide possible future uses and benefits.” IPBES assessments include biodiversity option value, and use phylogenetic diversity (PD) as an indicator of change in status of NCP18. At the same time, IPBES notes the need for greater appreciation of option values of biodiversity. Popular ecosystem services framings forget the long history of consideration of these global benefits of biotic diversity to humanity, and their normative links. Popular ecological definitions mean that many current valuations of “biodiversity” neglect the benefits of biodiversity-as-variety. Economic valuations of “biodiversity” typically have focused on ecosystem aspects, not variety; related ecosystems framings value “biodiversity” with a focus on those critical elements relating to functioning of ecosystems. Greater appreciation of biodiversity option value and NCP18 may depend on clearer messaging from academia, better highlighting of the link between biodiversity and intergenerational justice, and greater communication of stories of past surprising discoveries of benefits from species that highlight biodiversity as an ongoing source of future benefits. An important pathway for better appreciation of insurance and investment benefits of variety is to understand and communicate the reasons why we value these benefits from variety. Biodiversity-as-variety is valued because we care about the welfare of future generations.

On species, its reality and types of species

An analysis of the concept of "species" in view of the reality of its existence in the theoretical constructions of eidologists and in the practice of research and description of biotic diversity (BD) is presented. The work includes five main sections. The first considers the concept of species as a designation of individuality (speciesness) in the structure of BD. The etymology and connotations of the terms that were used previously or are used now to denote the category of eidos in Ukrainian, English, and related to Ukrainian Slavic languages are considered (genus, specie[s], kind). The significant influence of the connotative load on dominant species concepts and, in particular, the stable and long-lasting predominance of typology is noted in works of scientists of the 20th century, after the introduction of the term “species”. In the second part, the issue of reality of species and the phenomenon of diversity of its realities, in particular different realities in different contexts, are analysed. It is postulated that the reality of the concept of species is actually determined by the concept of separateness (individuality), three distinct forms of which are proposed: morphological (mostly in museum collections), phyletic (in phylogenetic studies), and biotic (within communities). The third section "On kinds of species and the diversity of species concepts" is devoted to the analysis of systems that describe the diversity of species as concepts, including species categories, kinds (classes) of species, and types of species. The fourth section "Emergent properties of species" discusses emergence and key features of species common for most concepts, as well as biosemiotics as one of the systems for maintaining the integrity of species. Finally, the last (fifth) section deals with the one-dimensional model of "species", the actual concept of "species within a community", when a species is defined not through the closest sister forms (with which it essentially does not intersect anywhere), but through other species with which it is part of the same guilds and communities. It is shown that this aspect of consideration of a species is the closest to its initial interpretation as an object of actual BD within local or regional biotic communities, in which the species is determined through other species with which it coexists and interacts. This significantly distinguishes the species as an element of BD among other interpretations, especially of the phyletic type, in which the species is determined not through ecosystem interactions with sympatric species, but through sister taxa.

Broaching the brook: Daylighting, community and the ‘stickiness’ of water

Over the last century, under the modern hydraulic model, waterways across the world have been heavily canalized and culverted, driven into underground pipes, drains and sewers. This hydraulic approach has hardwired an isolated water network into the urban fabric, fragmenting erstwhile patterns and dynamics of life, both human and nonhuman. Ecologically, it has been hugely damaging, reducing water quality and biotic diversity, but also socially, disconnecting citizens from the waterways that service and characterize the city. Consequently, since the 1990s, waterway restoration has become widespread as a design solution to degraded rivers and streams, reinstating compromised hydrological, geomorphological and ecological processes. Deculverting or ‘daylighting’, the focus of this paper, is a radical form of restoration, opening up subterranean, culverted waterways often forgotten by communities above ground. Yet, as this paper emphasizes, waterway restoration has tended to privilege ecological over social objectives, while public engagement in project conceptualization has been limited, conducted ‘downstream’ subsequent to planning and design stages. Restoration schemes have therefore tended to reflect the concerns of professionals rather than communities, overlooking their potential for social renewal and change. Drawing on workshop data collected through participatory mapping exercises, this paper explores the case for daylighting a culverted brook in Urmston, Greater Manchester, focusing in particular on the preferences, concerns and knowledge of local residents. The paper compares professional and community perspectives on the preferred scheme design and potential benefits of daylighting, drawing out differences and tensions between them, temporarily ‘unblackboxing’ the brook. It is ventured that daylighting can unleash the social ‘stickiness’ of water, its proclivity to draw and bind together, to revitalize the park, enhancing connection to wildness, attachment to place and sense of community. This is particularly crucial in the face of decreased local authority funding and related crises in park management.

Phytosogological significance of emerald network objects of dnipro ecological corridor within the boundaries of the forest–steppe of Ukraine

The Emerald Network of Ukraine provides the preservation of the most valuable and typical components of landscape and biotic diversity, including the habitats of rare and endangered species of plants. In order to ensure the effective protection of biodiversity, within the boundaries of natural or anthropogenically modified territories, the necessary condition for their flora diversity should be its study. One of the territories that is the central link in the structure of the ecological network of Ukraine is the Dnipro Ecological Corridor. Within the Dnipro ecological corridor of the forest–steppe of Ukraine are located 11 objects of the Emerald network, which is 4% of their total number in Ukraine, which are characterized by specific biotope–ecotope characteristics and which consist of a significant number of populations of endangered and rare plant species. As a result of the analysis the objects of the Emerald network, 33 habitats from Resolution No. 4 of the Bern Convention were identified (C1.222, C1.223, C1.224, C1.225, C1.226, C1.25, C1.32, C1.33, C1.3411, C1.3413, C1.67, C2.33, C2.34, C3.4, C3.51 (but excluding C3.5131), D5.2, E1.2, E1.9, E2.2, E3.4, E5.4, E6.2, F3.247, F9.1, G1.11, G1.21, G1.22, G1.3, G1.7, G1.8, G1.A1, G3.4232, X35) and 69 species of vascular plants, that belong to such protective lists : Annex I of the Bern Convention – 12, Resolution No. 6 of the Emerald Network – 11, the Red Book of Ukraine – 56 and the European Red List – 8 species. In Emerald objects, they are distributed in this way: Kanivskyi Nature Reserve – 40 species and 25 habitats, Holosiivskyi National Nature Park – 29 and 23, Nyzhnovorsklianskyi Regional Landscape Park – 26 and 21, Nyzhniosulskyi National Nature Park – 27 and 28, Kremenchutski Plavni Regional Landscape Park – 5 and 19, Kremenchutske Reservoir – 17 and 28, Kanivske Reservoir – 16 and 27, Dniprodzerzhynske Reservoir – 5 and 21, Ponyzia Stuhny – 8 and 10, Cherkaskyi Bir – 17 and 17, Mykhailivskyi – 10 and 22, respectively. Preservation and reproduction of rare species is one of the main tasks of creation the protected areas and ecological networks. An overview of the specific features of these objects and the existing conditions for conservation of biodiversity in general suggests that the considered areas, despite their very significant anthropogenic transformation, can be considered as important aspect of preservation and reproduction of rare vegetation diversity in the scale of the plains of Ukraine.

Phylogenomics indicates Amazonia as the major source of Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp diversity

The Neotropical realm harbours unparalleled species richness and hence has challenged biologists to explain the cause of its high biotic diversity. Empirical studies to shed light on the processes underlying biological diversification in the Neotropics are focused mainly on vertebrates and plants, with little attention to the hyperdiverse insect fauna. Here, we use phylogenomic data from ultraconserved element (UCE) loci to reconstruct for the first time the evolutionary history of Neotropical swarm-founding social wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini). Using maximum likelihood, Bayesian, and species tree approaches we recovered a highly resolved phylogeny for epiponine wasps. Additionally, we estimated divergence dates, diversification rates, and the biogeographic history for these insects in order to test whether the group followed a ‘museum’ (speciation events occurred gradually over many millions of years) or ‘cradle’ (lineages evolved rapidly over a short time period) model of diversification. The origin of many genera and all sampled extant Epiponini species occurred during the Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene. Moreover, we detected no major shifts in the estimated diversification rate during the evolutionary history of Epiponini, suggesting a relatively gradual accumulation of lineages with low extinction rates. Several lines of evidence suggest that the Amazonian region played a major role in the evolution of Epiponini wasps. This spatio-temporal diversification pattern, most likely concurrent with climatic and landscape changes in the Neotropics during the Miocene and Pliocene, establishes the Amazonian region as the major source of Neotropical swarm-founding social wasp diversity.

The Role of Partnerships in the Development of the Short Chains of Organic Honey Distribution

The bees were declared the most important living beings on the planet. They act as natural indicators of the state of the environment, protect and maintain ecosystems and contribute to genetic and biotic diversity. Due to its socio-economic and scientific role, beekeeping is an activity that contributes to the development of the rural area. In the analysis we have chosen Hunedoara County, considering its national position and prospects for the development of organic beekeeping. The elaboration of the PESTEL analysis ensures a long-term perspective of the apiculture strategy in Hunedoara County. In order to dispose of bee products (honey, organic honey, pollen, propolis, etc.) in optimal conditions to be marketed both through stores and online, we propose the creation of short chains between a specialized micro-enterprise, tourist pensions that provides food services, restaurants or bars that are located in areas with commercial ford and local beekeeping producers in HNV areas, of which at least one holds certification for organic honey. Beekeeping entrepreneurship can be developed through the actions of beekeepers in the field of promotion, by efficiently selecting possible distribution channels in the country and abroad.

Impact assessment of anthropogenic interpositions on hydrological regimes of Godavari and Krishna River Basins, India

<p>The rivers around the world have been transformed due to various anthropogenic activities and have led to the altered natural flow regime, which is crucial for controlling the essential environmental conditions within the river which in turn forms the biotic diversity. This study quantifies the adverse impacts due to the construction of dams on the hydrology of the Godavari and Krishna River Basins over the last half a century. The quantification of hydrologic alteration at five representative gauging stations of both the rivers has undertaken using Indicator of Hydrological Alteration (IHA) and the Flow Health (FH) methods based on the Range of Variability approach. To evaluate the alterations of flow regime due to the impact of dams (anthropogenic) only, the data for wet and dry years were excluded from the analysis as these represent the impact of climate variability. The IHA results reveal that the average monthly flow (especially from June to September), annual extreme streamflow indices (1-, 3-, and 7-day maxima flow), and rise and fall rates were among the most affected ones when compared to the pre-impacted period. The improved overall hydrologic alteration values for the Dhalegaon, Nowrangpur, K. Agraharam, and Vijayawada stations were found approximately 75.5%, 73.2%, 76.9 %, and 67.9 % respectively, suggesting a significant impact on the overall riverine ecosystem. The flow health (FH) analysis scores for high flow (HF) (K.Agraharam and Yadgir) highest monthly (HM) (Dhalegaon, K.Agraharam, and Yadgir), Low Flow (LF) (Dhalegaon) and flood flow intervals (FFI) (Dhalegaon and Vijayawada) during the test period were in the very high alteration range and these all hydrological indicator represents important ecological functions in both the rivers. The results showed in this study may guide in strategizing the multi-step process needed to improve the riverine ecosystems of Godavari and Krishna Basins and their ecological functioning.</p><p>Keywords: Hydrological alteration; Krishna River; Godavari River; Ecosystem</p>