DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e203531

Authors: Axel Arango, Chaitanya S. Gokhale

Abstract: The New World blackbirds (Icteridae) are a widely distributed, ecologically diverse avian family whose biogeographic history remains poorly understood. Competing hypotheses have proposed Neotropical or Nearctic origins, and the relative roles of dispersal, in situ speciation, and range evolution as diversification drivers remain unresolved. Here, we reconstruct the historical biogeography of Icteridae by integrating phylogenetic bioregionalization, probabilistic ancestral range estimation, biogeographic stochastic mapping (BSM), and Geographic Hidden State Speciation and Extinction (GeoHiSSE) modelling. We identified six phylogenetically distinct biogeographic regions and compared 18 models of range evolution across three dispersal hypotheses. The best-supported model strongly supported a Nearctic origin, with subsequent stepwise southward colonization beginning with Mesoamerica (~7.99 Ma), followed by the Isthmus-Andes (~6.36 Ma), Amazonas (~5.95 Ma), Southern South America (~4.93 Ma), and finally Patagonia (~2.79 Ma). The earliest dispersal from North to South America predates the closure of the Isthmus of Panama, coinciding instead with a documented dispersal wave of the Great American Biotic Interchange and Andean-driven open habitat expansion in northern South America. Dispersal was the dominant mode of range evolution, while in situ speciation was the primary cladogenetic process. The best-fit GeoHiSSE model revealed that geographic range alone does not fully explain diversification rate heterogeneity, with observed geographic states and unmeasured hidden rate classes jointly shaping macroevolutionary dynamics. Model-averaged speciation rates were broadly comparable across regions. Together, these results support a Nearctic origin and stepwise southward colonization of the Americas by Icteridae, while demonstrating that lineage splitting is governed primarily by unmeasured biological factors within bioregions rather than geography per se.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e202973

Authors: Ben Thuy, Nils Schlüter, John Jagt, Andreas Kroh, Viola Winkler

Abstract: Amongs the most extraordinary extinct ophiuroids is the genus Astrosombra from the Upper Cretaceous of Germany. Initially known from isolated ossicles only, the extremely expanded lateral arm plates suggested an aberrant body shape comparable to that seen in the extraordinary astrophiurid genus Astrophiura. Here, we describe the first articulated specimen of Astrosombra rammsteinensis, the type and only known species of the genus, from the type locality of the taxon, showing the highly modified lateral arm plates in their anatomical context and providing insights into the general skeletal morphology. The new specimen confirms the presence of extremely widened arms, formed by the aberrantly expanded lateral arm plates articulating with unusually wide vertebrae and covered dorsally by multiple rows of dorsal arm plates. The width of the arms is further increased by large, flat, feather-like arm spines. MicroCT images of the articulated disc revealed morphological details, in particular high oral plates with wing-like expansions, suggesting transfer of Astrosombra from the Amphilimnidae to the Ophiopsilidae. In analogy with Astrophiura, the extremely widened arms, the fringe of flat arm spines, the large tentacle pores and the overall flat body shape suggest that Astrosombra inhabited the small, patchy hard substrates formed by the skeletal remains of other organisms.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e203217

Authors: Maurane Rakotoarisoa, Sylvain Schmitt, Pieter van `t Hof, Gonzalo Rivas-Torres, Niklas Tysklind, Myriam Heuertz, Olivier Lepais

Abstract: Background and aims – The Eschweilera Mart. ex DC. genus (Lecythidaceae) is the most abundant tree genus in Amazonia, but its species identification is difficult due to sampling constraints and morphological variability. Microsatellites have been identified as promising tools for species delimitation but are prone to allele size homoplasy. Our aim was to develop a sequence-based microsatellite genotyping approach to improve Eschweilera species delimitation, compare genetically delimited species with a priori botanical determination and compare leaf functional traits of delimited species.Material and methods – SSR markers were developed, amplified and sequenced in fourteen botanical species of Eschweilera sampled in French Guiana and Ecuador. Genetic clusters were inferred using the STRUCTURE software and their genetic distance was evaluated using a principal component analysis. Genetic diversity and differentiation were assessed using the SPAGeDi software. Variation in leaf morphological traits was evaluated using ANOVA tests.Key results – Sequencing of six good quality microsatellite markers allowed to identify twice alleles than only considering length, i.e. the information traditionally observed by electrophoresis. Ten genetic clusters were identified, seven of which were assigned to a priori botanical species. Specific diversity differed from French Guiana to Ecuador, and French Guianan species (E. decolorans and E. sagotiana) showed lower heterozygosity and allelic richness. Species seemed highly differentiated using FST, with greater differentiation between E. decolorans and E. sagotiana. Differences in leaf functional traits were only significant for leaf thickness, but available data was too limited to make further interpretations.Conclusion – Microsatellite genotyping improved species delimitation within Eschweilera but as numerous candidate markers had low quality due to probable locus paralogy, developing markers outside duplicated genomic regions could increase the number of exploitable loci. Our study revealed notable allelic richness and heterozygosity differences between French Guianan and Ecuadorian species, suggesting differences in evolutionary processes.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e203203

Authors: Patricio De los Ríos-Escalante, Pedro Jara-Seguel, Angel Contreras, Erich Rudolph, Exequiel González Balbontín, Francisco Correa-Araneda, Carlos Esse, Jorge Farias

Abstract: We present a georeferenced dataset of freshwater Malacostraca occurrences across continental Chile, compiled from published literature, technical reports, and field studies. The dataset includes 625 occurrence records from 38 species across 4 families, covering a wide latitudinal gradient (~18°S to ~56°S). Freshwater Malacostraca play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, yet their distribution in Chile remains fragmented across diverse sources. This dataset consolidates available records into a standardized and curated format, enabling improved accessibility and reuse. All records were taxonomically validated using authoritative databases and georeferenced to a common coordinate system (WGS84). The dataset is publicly available through an open-access repository and provides a baseline for biodiversity, biogeographic, and ecological research in Chilean inland waters.This dataset represents one of the first consolidated compilations of freshwater Malacostraca occurrences across Chile. It provides a baseline for biodiversity and biogeographic studies across a strong latitudinal gradient. The dataset is useful for ecological modeling, conservation planning, and species distribution analyses. It enables integration with broader biodiversity databases and supports reproducible research.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e203339

Authors: Anita Franco, Katie Smyth, Michael Elliott

Abstract: Marine biodiversity is adversely affected by many human activities and their pressures. As such, there is the need for a cause-consequence-response method to objectively address the risks associated with those adverse changes. Such a method is the ISO-accredited Bow-tie technique as an objective and structured approach giving the causes, preventative control measures, mitigation and compensation measures and consequences of changes to biodiversity. Here, the Bow-tie method underpinned by the cause-consequence-response DAPSI(W)R(M) framework was used and adapted to help managers map out risks to biodiversity requiring management of the human activities and their relevant pressures, in specific case study areas (termed Broad Belt Transects, BBTs). Instead of using restrictive proprietary software, a more-flexible template framework was developed in Microsoft PowerPoint to allow a broad user base. This employed standardised lists of elements (and further adapted during the application process) allowing the development of unique, but standardised and directly comparable Bow-ties for all BBTs. The methods of developing the template and standardised lists are described together with the techniques used to help quantify this usually qualitative approach. The successful application of the Bow-tie method in case studies from the European seas shows the adaptability of this approach in ways wider than the original policy-driven risk-assessment use. Although designed for European seas, the approach and standardised lists are sufficiently generic for adoption in wider areas worldwide.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e203160

Authors: Miguel Angel Quispe Puma, César R. Luque-Fernández

Abstract: Plant-hummingbird interactions are key components of Neotropical ecosystems, yet they remain poorly documented in arid inter-Andean valleys of southern Peru, where floral resources are strongly seasonal. We evaluated the structure, temporal dynamics, and central species of a plant-hummingbird interaction network in the Sogay valley, Arequipa. From March to August 2025, feeding, perching, and competitive interactions were recorded through direct observation surveys. The feeding network comprised 10 plant species, four hummingbird species, and 21 observed links. It showed moderately high connectance (0.525), intermediate specialization (H2’ = 0.550), moderate modularity (Q = 0.386), and presence-absence-based nestedness (NODF = 65.23). Visits were concentrated on Tecoma fulva (47.5%), Ligaria cuneifolia (25.1%), and Nicotiana glauca (10.3%), whereas Rhodopis vesper was the most central hummingbird species. Activity peaked in May and June, which also showed the highest temporal similarity. Nectar concentration was not associated with visitation frequency (ρ = 0.018; p = 0.969), and floral length showed only a non-significant positive trend. These results suggest a temporally dynamic network structured by core floral resources and by the complementary use of plants as perches and sites of agonistic interaction. Overall, this study highlights the ecological importance of floral and structural resources in sustaining hummingbird assemblages in arid Andean landscapes.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e202551

Authors: Pilar Marin, Naomie Kayitesi, Natascha Wahlberg Wahlberg

Abstract: Nature restoration is becoming a central priority in global and European environmental agendas, including the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Target 2), and the Nature Restoration Regulation and the Green Deal of the European Union, which together set ambitious objectives to restore ecosystems by 2030. Coastal areas, as highly dynamic land-sea interfaces, are among the most vulnerable environments, having experienced significant long-term degradation. As a result, large-scale restoration is emerging as a key strategy for climate change adaptation, biodiversity recovery, and risk reduction. In this context, large scale restoration initiatives and projects, such as REST-COAST (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity), are becoming increasingly relevant, demonstrating how Nature-based Solutions can support coastal resilience, ecosystem recovery and climate adaptation, and are expected to play a key role in shaping future coastal management efforts. Ensuring that restoration actions are effective, sustainable, and beneficial for both nature and society, requires alignment with Nature-based Solutions approaches. The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based SolutionsTM provides a robust and practical framework to guide the design, assessment and improvement of such interventions, supporting better decision-making, managing trade-offs, and enabling scaling up and replication. This report presents the application of the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions across the nine Pilot Sites of the REST-COAST project. Using a structured and comparable methodology, the assessment evaluates the alignment of restoration interventions with the criteria and indicators of the NbS Standard, identifying strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement. Overall, the results show strong performance in the identification of societal challenges and in ecological design and monitoring. However, recurring challenges remain across Pilot Sites, particularly in ensuring long-term financial sustainability, strengthening inclusive and empowering governance, and systematically addressing trade-offs and risk management. These findings highlight the need to move beyond technically sound pilot interventions towards more institutionalised, scalable, and durable restoration approaches. The lessons derived from REST-COAST provide a valuable evidence base to inform future coastal restoration initiatives and strengthen the application of Nature-based Solutions in complex socio-ecological systems.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e202715

Authors: Qiang Wang, Peter Bowler, Wen Xiong, Yuyao Zhao, Ming Meng

Abstract: The Taihu Lake Basin, in the Yangtze River Delta, is one of China’s most densely populated freshwater landscapes and a major centre of aquaculture, trade and restoration. These conditions create strong opportunities for the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic species, yet basin-wide information has remained fragmented. We compiled field records, published literature, government and technical reports and other candidate records to update the inventory of established non-native aquatic species through 2024. We recorded 147 species in 53 orders, 77 families and 107 genera. Fishes (56 species) and aquatic plants (45) dominated the inventory, followed by reptiles (19) and algae (13). Records accumulated slowly before the 1980s but accelerated with economic development: 130 species (88.4%) were first recorded from the 1980s onward. Aquaculture (61 species) and ornamental or aquarium trade (57) were the leading introduction pathways. At least 101 species (68.7%) were associated with negative ecological or socio-economic impacts, and 28 species were identified as management priorities. This basin-wide inventory fills a major data gap for Taihu and provides a baseline for risk assessment, pathway regulation and coordinated biosecurity in the Yangtze River Delta.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201924

Authors: Lorenzo Emanuele Morra

Abstract: Osteostracans are a Silurian-Devonian clade of jawless stem gnathostomes, and, as the putative sister group to jawed vertebrates, play a fundamental role in the study of the origin of jaws. Despite this, the timing and modality of their early diversification are poorly studied and understood. Here, their early evolutionary radiation is reconstructed using Bayesian tip dating methods. Using a revised and expanded phylogenetic dataset, I estimate that osteostracans originated between 450 and 443 million years ago, in the Late Ordovician. The emergence of Osteostraci is succeeded by a peak in rates of morphological evolution between 443 and 440 million years ago, after the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Following this early burst, major lineages appeared in a relatively rapid time frame, with a particularly rapid radiation taking place between 433 and 429 million years ago, after the Ireviken Biogeochemical event. Results presented in this study show how the Silurian and Devonian morphological diversity of osteostracans was the result of successive and diverse adaptive responses to climate change and extinctions of competing taxa. Further, the condensed pattern of divergences recovered among internal branches possibly explains low support and the different phylogenetic results retrieved in this study compared with previous analyses.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201983

Authors: Shahd Al Wahaibi, Al-Thuraiya Al Shidhani, Gilha Yoon

Abstract: Killifish inhabit shallow freshwaters where they tolerate varied salinity regimes, resist low oxygen, and are known for their ability to control mosquito larvae populations. Environmental conditions strongly influence parasite transmission. There is a lack of studies on pathogenic killifish infections in Oman, despite their consumption by local populations. This study highlights the significance of understanding parasitic infections in killifish due to their potential impact on ecosystem health, water quality, and risks to other organisms and human health. The aim of this research is to investigate the infection prevalence of metacercariae Clinostomum in Omani killifish, Aphaniops stoliczkanus and A. kruppi, along salinity gradients and other water parameters. Furthermore, the infection intensity and incidence in relation to fish size, gender, and fish organs will be studied. Five sites were sampled using trap nets from the Al Amerat region to the mangrove area in Al Qurum. Infection prevalence decreased progressively toward the sea: 75%, 56%, 10%, 0%, and 0% at sites A through E, respectively. Water analysis revealed higher total dissolved solids and turbidity at sites A, B, C, and D. Larger killifish and females showed greater susceptibility to Clinostomum spp. infection, with the trunk region being the most commonly infected body part (36% of parasites). These findings contribute valuable baseline data for future monitoring efforts in Omani freshwater ecosystems and underscore the importance of considering environmental parameters in fish health assessments and potential biological control applications. Further research incorporating seasonal variation, intermediate host distribution, and molecular characterization of parasites would strengthen our understanding of this ecologically important host-parasite system.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201981

Authors: Nermeen R. Amer, Maria J Golab, Robby Stoks, Guillaume Wos, Szymon Śniegula

Abstract: Invasive alien (IA) predators can disrupt predator-prey interactions and alter prey phenotypes, yet how their effects differ from those of native predators and to what extent this depends on environmental factors such as warming and seasonal time constraints remain poorly understood. To address these gaps, we performed two complementary experiments testing the effects of predator chemical cues (control, native noble crayfish, and IA spinycheek crayfish) in combination with (Experiment 1) temperature (ambient vs. warming) and exposure duration to predator cues (acute vs. chronic), or (Experiment 2) seasonal time constraints manipulated by photoperiod (early vs. late season). In both experiments, we quantified effects on life history (survival and growth rate), physiological (investments in immune function measured as phenoloxidase (PO) activity and in energy storage measured as fat content), and behavioural (boldness and feeding rate) traits in the damselfly Ischnura elegans.In Experiment 1, responses to IA spinycheek crayfish cues often differed from those induced by native noble crayfish cues across behavioural, physiological, and life-history traits, and these differences depended strongly on temperature, sex, and exposure duration. Under ambient temperature, IA spinycheek crayfish cues reduced boldness and increased PO activity more strongly than native predator cues, whereas under warming IA predator cues increased boldness. In contrast, chronic exposure to native noble crayfish cues produced the strongest reduction in female growth rate under warming.In Experiment 2, behavioural differences between native and IA predator cues were more pronounced under early photoperiod but weakened under late photoperiod, suggesting that strong seasonal time constraints constrained predator-specific antipredator responses. Together, our results broadly support the naïve prey hypothesis, while demonstrating that abiotic conditions and exposure duration strongly shape how prey respond to native and IA predators. These findings highlight the importance of considering interactions between predator novelty and environmental context when predicting invasion impacts under climate change.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201962

Authors: Dmytro Leontyev, Martin Schnittler, Oleg Shchepin

Abstract: This study evaluates the effectiveness of Illumina-based genome skimming for barcoding myxomycete herbarium collections ranging from 29 to 91 years in age. Despite significant DNA fragmentation, we successfully recovered partial sequences of the standard barcode marker (nucSSU) in all cases. For some collections, additional markers were recovered, including EF1a, COI, and mtSSU, contributing to a total of 28 recognized genes. In a 33-year-old specimen of Lindbladia tubulina, the assembly reached an N50 of 4.19 kb, enabling the recovery of extended functional loci. It was found that within the 29–91-year timeframe, specimen age does not strictly correlate with genomic informativeness, thus allowing us to conclude that even older collections can be successfully barcoded. The input genomic DNA quantity emerges as the primary determinant of sequencing success. Samples with high DNA yields provide representative amounts of contigs coming certainly (matching sequences in the NCBI nucleotide database) or presumably (no matches) from myxomycetes, regardless of specimen age. The taxonomic interpretation of the non-target fraction of contigs revealed distinct signals of both anthropogenic contamination (human DNA and skin microflora) and natural substrate inhabitants, including oribatid mites and bacteria from dead wood, soil, and grass litter. The results demonstrate that short-read genome skimming can provide a bridge to integrate historical type material of myxomycetes into contemporary phylogenetic research. This method can effectively overcome the length-dependent limitations of traditional Sanger sequencing, thus providing a roadmap for the future of museomics in myxomycetology.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201287

Authors: Andriy Novikov, Viktor Nachychko, Oleksandr Zinenko

Abstract: Galium transcarpaticum was described in 1979 as a stenoendemic occurring exclusively in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Since then, little has been contributed to its taxonomy and distribution, and only a few specimens have been collected. We successfully isolated DNA and amplified nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnH-psbA, atpB-rbcL, trnL (c-d), and trnL (e-f)) markers from G. transcarpaticum isotype specimens deposited at the LWS herbarium. The obtained results do not allow delimiting G. transcarpaticum as an independent species, but rather place it within G. mollugo. Hence, the new combination Galium mollugo subsp. transcarpaticum (Stojko & Tasenk.) A.V.Novikov, Nachychko & Zinenko.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201191

Authors: Taniel Danelian, Lusine Harutyunyan, Rémi Habert, Laurenz Schröer, Veerle Cnudde

Abstract: Micro-computed tomography is increasingly important for the taxonomic analysis of early Palaeozoic radiolarians as it provides the opportunity to conduct detailed observations of the most internal parts of radiolarian skeletons in a non-destructive way. Our observations on 3D models of the species Protoentactinia gracilispinosa from lower Tremadocian strata of Newfoundland (Canada) indicate that during the first two stages of growth the skeleton develops symmetrically with respect to the median bar. However, subsequently, progressive reduction of the number of rays placed proximally, combined with full growth of rays distally, results in the formation of an external subglobular shape during stages 6 to 8. Although our results confirm the previously assumed growth pattern of the skeleton, they reveal for the first time the number and pattern of branched spicule iterations. More importantly, we establish that some of the stages of skeleton growth are in a preferential direction, highlighting a clear heteropolarity to skeleton development, although the end product is a subspherical spicular test.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e201349

Authors: Claudia Barrera Garzon, Karin Pritsch, Fabian Weikl

Abstract: Evaluating the diversity of soil fungal communities is critical to understanding their role in plant adaptation and ecology. Improving the resolution of fungal identification using new sequencing techniques, such as Oxford Nanopore, which yield long read lengths, is therefore highly desirable. Yet, the implementation of this sequencing technology for fungi and other eukaryotes has just begun.In this study, we evaluated different primer combinations that cover the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and include fragments of the small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) regions. We designed a pipeline to recover most of the fungal diversity, compared two classifiers and two databases, and added a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) to inhibit the co-amplification of plant ITS.Our results showed that including the LSU did not improve the resolution of individual-strain classification, and that non-degenerate forward primers were more effective for ITS sequence extraction, recovering up to 91% of strains in a mock community with an accuracy of 0.97. Moreover, results with rhizosphere samples showed that adding PNA effectively removed host contamination across most primer combinations, thereby improving read retention during data processing. Additionally, host decontamination and ITS extraction steps enhanced the recovery of fungal groups, mainly in the Ascomycota phylum.Altogether, our study provides strategies for handling samples with high plant tissue concentrations, from primer selection to fungal species classification, and presents a modular pipeline to facilitate data processing tailored to the user's needs.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e200812

Authors: Elizaveta Mironova, Yuliya Dolzhenkova

Abstract: This article analyzes the distribution of unpaid labor in Russian households based on 2024 data from the Federal State Statistics Service and a survey conducted by the authors. This article describes the age dynamics of the gender gap, compares the actual distribution of family responsibilities with the normative ideal, and assesses the prospects for using digital technologies in this area. It was found that the largest gender gap in time spent on unpaid labor is observed in the age group of respondents corresponding to the peak of parental workload. A discrepancy between the actual and ideal structure of the distribution of responsibilities was revealed, with high mental workload predominantly on one partner. The use of digital technologies to reduce gender asymmetry is generally perceived positively; however, predictive analytics and optimization of routine tasks are more actively supported than the role of AI as a mediator, assigner of responsibility, or family psychologist. The authors propose a conceptual digital model for reducing gender asymmetry in unpaid labor, encompassing the individual, corporate, state, and axiological levels.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e200563

Authors: W. Daniel Kissling, France Gerard, Pierre Bonnet

Abstract: This deliverable (D5.3) reports on the technical training activities conducted within the MAMBO project to support the uptake and application of remote sensing-based habitat monitoring tools and workflows developed in Work Package 4. Instead of a single technical workshop as originally planned, two complementary training events were organised to address different user needs and levels of expertise.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e199731

Authors: Priscila Gil

Abstract: Individuals with high myopia face not only visual challenges but also aesthetic and structural limitations in the optical solutions currently available. Even high-index lenses (up to n = 1.76) still exhibit considerable peripheral edge thickness at strong refractive powers, resulting in visual distortions, ocular minification effects, and aesthetic discomfort. This study proposes a biomimetic hybrid optical lens with a multifasic structure, composed of a very-high-index core (≥1.9) encapsulated by layers inspired by the lamellar microarchitecture of nacre. Theoretical comparisons of edge thickness between conventional materials and the proposed structure are presented, with simulations at high myopic powers (e.g., −14.00 D) indicating peripheral thickness reductions of approximately 27–35% (depending on the reference material) and improved optical stability. The approach relies on materials already used in the precision-optics industry, such as optical zirconia and specialty high-index glasses, which favor scalable implementation. Beyond its ophthalmic application, the hybrid structure proves versatile for emerging photonic systems such as high-resolution digital sensors, LiDAR technology, artificial retinas, and optical microprocessors—fields in which beam-directional stability, lightweight design, and thermal robustness are critical. The proposed lens thus represents not only a concrete alternative for users with high myopia but also a multifunctional platform in applied optics, combining immediate clinical impact with long-range technological potential.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e200193

Authors: Christopher John Topping, Johan Axelman, James Henty Williams

Abstract: EU pesticide regulation assesses substances and their agronomic uses individually. Yet environmental impacts arise from the combined pressure of multiple substances across entire landscapes over time. EU environmental law, including the Water Framework Directive, Nature Restoration Law, and Natura 2000 obligations, requires ecological outcomes at the landscape scale. The current regulatory method cannot deliver these outcomes.Each ecological region (aligned with WFD river basin districts) receives an annual toxic-unit (TU) budget. Each pesticide carries a TU value based on its ecotoxicological profile, application rate, and persistence. Farmers register intended applications digitally through CAP land parcel systems. If budget remains, the application is confirmed. This manages cumulative pesticide pressure against a defined ecological carrying capacity.Denmark already operates the necessary infrastructure: mandatory digital pesticide reporting, high-resolution parcel data, and catchment-level groundwater monitoring. No new systems are required; the regulatory logic is extended, not replaced.Systemic regulatory budget setting is new in chemical legislation but is a proven concept to operationalise regulation and incentivise business transformation to meet sustainability goals e.g. reduce CO2-emissions.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e200192

Authors: Christopher John Topping, Johan Axelman, James Henty Williams

Abstract: Current EU pesticide regulation assesses substances individually, but environmental impacts arise cumulatively across landscapes. A regional budget system, assigning each ecological region an annual capacity of permitted pesticide pressure, can align regulation with EU environmental law, simplify approvals, incentivise lower-impact products, and support resistance management. A well-designed access framework ensures that budget capacity is distributed equitably, with no operator able to monopolise a shared regional resource.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e200143

Authors: Sabitra Pradhan, Michael Thomas

Abstract: A study was undertaken including systematic field surveys and specimen-based documentation of macrofungi across Bhutan to address longstanding inventory gaps in national fungal knowledge. Despite Bhutan’s position within the biologically rich Himalayan region, fungal diversity has remained underrepresented in both regional checklists and global biodiversity databases. To establish a reliable baseline, surveys were conducted across diverse habitats and elevational gradients, including temperate broadleaf forests, coniferous forests, alpine zones, and subtropical regions. Standardized collection protocols were followed to ensure high-quality voucher specimens, detailed field metadata, and accurate georeferencing.All specimens were curated, identified using current taxonomic literature, and deposited in national mushroom centre Fungarium collection. Throughout the project, particular emphasis was placed on verifying nomenclature, updating synonymy, and documenting precise locality data to enhance long-term research value. This sustained effort has resulted in one of the most comprehensive specimen-based datasets of Bhutanese macrofungi assembled to date.To promote transparency, accessibility, and global collaboration, the complete specimen dataset is now being published through an openly accessible biodiversity data portal. The dataset follows internationally recognized biodiversity informatics standards to ensure interoperability with global repositories. By mobilizing these occurrence records, we aim to provide a robust foundation for future taxonomic, ecological, conservation, and biogeographic studies, while supporting national biodiversity assessment and long-term monitoring initiatives in the Himalayan region.The dataset of the Bhutan National Fungarium comprises 2,500 macrofungal specimen records, of which 100% are georeferenced, providing strong spatial resolution for distributional analysis. Taxonomic coverage includes 104 families, 270 genera, and 816 species, with 1,990 records (80%) identified to species level. In total, the dataset documents 824 taxa, including subspecies and varieties, representing the most comprehensive specimen-based fungal datasets available for Bhutan.District-level (Dzongkhag) sampling reveals a strong concentration of collections in Thimphu (1,454 records), followed by Tsirang (273) and Punakha (225). Moderate sampling has occurred in Bumthang (149), Sarpang (116), and Paro (105). Several districts remain minimally sampled, including Chukha (83), Haa (81), Trashiyangtse (7), Trongsa (3), Gasa (2), and Samtse (2).Notably, the following eight districts have not yet been sampled: Dagana, Lhuentse, Mongar, Pema Gatshel, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang, Wangdue Phodrang, and Zhemgang. These geographic gaps highlight priority areas for future macrofungal surveys to improve national coverage and better represent Bhutan’s fungal diversity across the Himalayan landscape.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e199501

Authors: R. Graham Reynolds

Abstract: The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), an archipelago of more than 200 islands and islets at the southeastern terminus of the Lucayan Archipelago, support a native terrestrial reptile fauna of 11 species representing eight families. Of these, eight species are endemic to the TCI, and two additional non-endemic species are each represented by endemic subspecies; four further subspecies are recognized among the endemic species. Seven reptiles are of significant conservation concern, particularly the Critically Endangered Spondylurus turksae (likely now restricted to a single population) and the Endangered Cyclura carinata. Here, I present the first annotated checklist and illustrated species accounts for all native terrestrial reptiles of the TCI, synthesizing published literature through 2026 with original field data collected across the Turks and Caicos Banks between 2006 and 2025. Each account provides information on taxonomy, type specimen data, description, distribution within the archipelago, habitat use, natural history, and IUCN conservation status. Species accounts are accompanied by original photographs, including the first published photographs of Tropidophis g. greenwayi, and the first genetic sequence data and published photographs for the blindsnake Antillotyphlops platycephalus from the TCI are also included. This will provide a current reference for researchers, conservation practitioners, and natural historians working in the TCI and the broader Caribbean region.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e199421

Authors: Maria Capa, Maël Grosse, Daniel Martin, Enrique Arboleda, Joan Pons

Abstract: Accurate biodiversity assessment of marine benthic communities depends strongly on species identification methodologies, yet both traditional morphology-based taxonomy and molecular approaches present inherent limitations. In this study, we investigate the complementarity of morphological identification, DNA barcoding, and metabarcoding to evaluate annelid diversity across western Mediterranean environments with contrasting degrees of anthropogenic influence. Samples were collected from the Bay of Palma (Mallorca), a human-impacted area, and compared with metabarcoding data from the protected Cabrera Archipelago. Morphological examination identified 203 annelid “morphospecies”, while Sanger-based cox1 barcoding successfully generated sequences for 114 of these taxa. High-throughput metabarcoding of pooled samples, combined with phylogenetic species delimitation methods (GMYC and mPTP), revealed substantially higher diversity and uncovered extensive cryptic variation, resulting in up to 359 “molecular species” when datasets were integrated. Nearly half of the metabarcoding units could only be assigned to higher taxonomic ranks, underscoring persistent gaps in reference databases. Comparative analyses showed marked differences in species composition between impacted and protected sites, with a higher incidence of non-indigenous and cryptogenic taxa in Mallorca. Our results demonstrate that neither morphological nor molecular approaches alone can fully characterize annelid biodiversity. Instead, integrative strategies that combine voucher-based taxonomy with metabarcoding provide a more robust framework for biodiversity assessments, enhance reference databases, and improve the reliability of ecological monitoring and conservation outcomes.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e198936

Authors: Bayram Kayantaş, Muhammet Kerem Güneş, Mücahit Çayin

Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the determinants of fertility dynamics in Türkiye by analyzing the main economic, social, and health indicators affecting the fertility rate within a holistic and comprehensive framework. The study analyzes annual data for the period 1993-2024 using the Augmented ARDL (A-ARDL) approach in detail. The results of the bounds test, conducted under the optimal lag structure determined according to the Schwarz Information Criterion, reveal the existence of a long-run cointegration relationship among the variables considered. The findings indicate that, in the long run, maternal mortality (MMR) and inflation (INF) have statistically significant and negative effects on fertility, whereas female employment (FE) and per capita income level (GDP) exert positive and significant effects on fertility. The results regarding the error correction mechanism also show that short-run disequilibria consistently converge to the long-run equilibrium path. The importance of the study lies in addressing the phenomenon of fertility in Türkiye not only as a demographic process, but also together with health, employment, and macroeconomic stability factors in an integrated manner. In terms of its contribution to the literature, the analysis of the multidimensional determinants of fertility using the A-ARDL approach with up-to-date annual data provides new, comprehensive, and policy-relevant empirical findings specific to Türkiye.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e198827

Authors: James Henty Williams

Abstract: This deliverable is a review of ethical and security implications of activities and research undertaken as part of the PollinERA project. This ESP is a ‘living document’ and will be updated if additional ethical and security issues are identified and detail actions needed to ensure compliance with EU and national regulations.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e198327

Authors: Helena Johansson, Suv Ponnikas, Jenni Harmoinen, Mikael Åkesson, Øystein Flagstad, Alina Niskanen, Ilpo Kojola, Katja Holmala, Samuli Heikkinen, Laura Kvist, Jouni Aspi, Mia Valtonen

Abstract: Effective management of the wolf (Canis lupus) population in Finland requires defining a genetics-based minimum viable population (MVP) to support the national Favourable Reference Population (FRP) reporting under the EU Habitats Directive. An analysis of long-term and contemporary genetic data from Finnish wolves, together with samples from Scandinavia and Russian Karelia, was carried out to quantify trends in individual heterozygosity, contemporary and historical effective population sizes (Ne), genetic substructure, and gene flow across regions. Temporal analysis confirmed a persistent decline in genetic diversity and increasing inbreeding levels in Finland over the last two decades. Contemporary data show that the Finnish population consists of two genetically distinct subpopulations; Western Finland and Eastern Finland/Russia, which are connected by low migration rates. These subpopulations are further connected to the Scandinavian and Russian Karelian wolf populations, again with similarly low effective migration rates. Under current demographic conditions and migration rates, neither the Finnish population nor the broader Fennoscandian metapopulation were predicted to reach genetically sustainable long‑term effective population sizes. Applying established short‑term conservation thresholds (the 100/1000 rule) to the two Finnish subpopulations would require a combined MVP of 628 wolves over the next five generations to avoid rising inbreeding levels. Overall, the results demonstrate continuing genetic deterioration in the Finnish wolf population and emphasise that long‑term viability cannot be achieved within Finland alone. Long‑term thresholds (Ne ≥ 1000), corresponding to census sizes >3000 wolves, are not ecologically feasible within Finland. It is therefore vital to ensure connectivity within Fennoscandia, particularly across the Finnish-Russian border. This is essential for preventing inbreeding depression and loss of long-term evolutionary adaptability in a changing environment.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e197963

Authors: Yin Yalei, Buyu Wu, Zixian Sui, Junwei Xing, Qi Zhao, Shuai Shao, Xing Xu

Abstract: Psittacosaurus is known as the genus with the greatest number of species, among non-avian dinosaurs, with hundreds to thousands of specimens discovered throughout Asia. Nevertheless, the anatomical characteristics of Psittacosaurus teeth have not been thoroughly examined in previous research, limiting our understanding of its taxonomy. This study employs high-resolution computed tomography data to reconstruct and analyse the morphology of a left dentary tooth of Psittacosaurus discovered from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Longcheng, Chaoyang, western Liaoning, China, which represents a new fossil site for psittacosaurs within the Jehol Biota. The reconstruction has revealed varied features of Psittacosaurus dentary teeth. These features include a distally angled bulbous primary ridge, secondary ridges present on the primary ridge of the crown, a median labial depression extending to the base of the crown, and a cingulum restricted on the distal lobe. Importantly, the reconstruction provides the first high-fidelity, three-dimensional visualization of a ceratopsian pulp cavity, which is characterized by a chisel-shaped pulp chamber and a columnar pulp canal. Our findings highlight the potential of non-destructive, high-resolution tomographic methods to uncover hidden anatomical complexity in well-studied fossil groups.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e197961

Authors: Kudakwashe Mutasa

Abstract: Natural history collections underpin botanical research, conservation planning and global biodiversity assessments. Digitisation is transforming historically analogue herbarium collections into accessible biodiversity knowledge infrastructures that support research, conservation threat assessments and policy reporting. However, the pace and scale of digitisation remain uneven globally, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions of the Global South. Zimbabwe provides an illustrative case study of both the opportunities and challenges associated with digitising national plant collections. The National Herbarium and Botanic Garden of Zimbabwe houses more than 500,000 vascular plant specimens, including approximately 3,000 type specimens, representing one of the largest herbarium collections in southern Africa. Until recently, access to these collections was largely restricted to physical consultation. Over the past two decades, several initiatives, including the African Plants Initiative, projects supported by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and targeted digitisation of crop wild relatives, have facilitated the mobilisation of specimen images and data. These initiatives have improved global accessibility of Zimbabwean plant records while contributing to biodiversity research and knowledge synthesis. However, the case also highlights persistent structural challenges including project-based funding, limited infrastructure, human capacity constraints and issues surrounding data governance and ownership. Zimbabwe’s experience demonstrates that strategic prioritisation, sustained capacity building and international collaboration are critical for enabling effective digitisation under resource-limited conditions. Strengthening national data mobilisation efforts will be essential for ensuring equitable participation in global biodiversity knowledge systems and safeguarding biodiversity information originating from the Global South.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e197459

Authors: Jon Mosar, Anina Ursprung

Abstract: This study focuses on a new geological cross-section and forward model of the Mont Tendre and Mont Risoux anticlines within the Internal Jura of the Jura fold-and-thrust belt. The results are based on fieldwork, remote sensing, data compilation of previous studies and geological maps.We propose a refined understanding of the wedge geometry, especially the near top basement surface. We identify a large-scale structural unit with an important along-strike continuity, formed by the main regional Vallée de la Saine thrust. This thrust has a 15 km long flat in the Cretaceous units and accommodates a displacement of 17 km, which lead to the formation of the Mont Risoux nappe. The importance of major thrusting in the clay-rich Middle Cretaceous series is recognised as a corollary of the structural modelling. The interpretation of the Risoux-1 deep well has led to the determination of the significant secondary décollement levels in the clay-rich Lower to Middle Jurassic series that lead to the formation of important flats, fishtail and pop-up geometries in structurally higher levels. The activation of the Vallée de Joux frontal thrust resulted in the formation of the Mont Tendre anticline, which lead to the dissection of the Mont Risoux nappe into a sub-unit in the SE, the Mont Tendre nappe. The formation of the Vallée de Joux thrust was followed by a backstepping sequence and a locally oscillating thrust sequence. This detailed interpretation of the sequential development, highlighting the importance of top to the south thrusting (backthrusting), confirms the mechanics of a low-tapered wedge with the décollement in the weak evaporites promoting backthrusting. Moreover, the tectonic nappes demonstrate the lateral structural subdivision by primary thrusts, which have a NE-SW orientation, and by the primary strike-slip faults, which have a NNW-SSE and ESE-WNW orientation. We propose a kinematically viable solution for the activation of the Vallée de la Saine thrust and the formation of the Mont Tendre anticline, which were active between 14 Ma and 4 Ma and accommodated a shortening of some 20 km.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e197166

Authors: Martin Jung, Maximilian Wolschlager, Louise O'Connor, Matea Osti, Carla Freund, Kyle J Brumm, Piero Visconti

Abstract: Ambitious commitments under the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, including protecting at least 30% of land area and restoring 20% of ecosystems, are an opportunity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Achieving these objectives would benefit from coordinated, integrated and biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning approaches to identify where conservation and restoration actions will be most effective and resilient. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) provides such a framework, but its outputs are often complex and need to be translated into actionable and interpretable information for decision makers.Here in the context of the NaturaConnect project, we developed stand-alone policy support tools designed to bridge this gap between science, policy and practice, specifically tailored to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy in the terrestrial realm. Specifically, we developed two interactive platforms, described in this deliverable: NaturaConnector and PriorityCheck. Both tools are web-based and enable to visualise spatially explicit prioritisation outputs generated using the prioritizr R-package. We produced multiple spatial scenarios reflecting different objectives and planning assumptions, allowing exploration of trade-offs and synergies across different scenarios.NaturaConnector provides a web-based interface that enables users to explore our prioritisation outputs interactively and to better understand the implications of alternative planning strategies. It allows users to compare different scenarios, adjust planning criteria, and visualise how priorities shift under different objectives, assumptions, and implications in terms of performance across a range of ecological, geographic and socio-economic indicators. To facilitate uptake and dissemination, the platform also includes a link to downloadable infosheets for 39 countries and 10 biogeographic regions. The infosheets showcase consensus prioritization outputs as well as an assessment of the performance of the spatial planning solutions with some key takeaways specific to each country or geographic region.PriorityCheck is an online tool that enables users (stakeholders, practitioners, and experts) to engage directly with the prioritisation outputs, including querying the species and habitats composition at each site, and provide spatially explicit feedback to the research team on selected priority areas, regarding their implementation challenges, feasibility, and local relevance and value for conservation or restoration. Based on this spatially-explicit feedback entered by stakeholders and regional experts on PriorityCheck, we then further refined and improved the spatial prioritisation outputs.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e196971

Authors: André Menegotto, Cristina Ronquillo, Joaquín Hortal, Thomas Webb

Abstract: Standardising taxonomic names is an essential step in biodiversity studies to ensure robust data aggregation and up-to-date, valid species nomenclature. Fuzzy (inexact) matching is widely used in this process to detect correspondences between scientific names that differ due to typographical errors. Such an approach assumes that species names are sufficiently distinct such that names differing in just a few characters in fact refer to the same taxon, but this has rarely been evaluated. Across c. 230,000 marine species names, we show that name similarity is common: 28.37% of specific epithets differ by three or fewer edits from another epithet within the same genus. Shared epithets are also widespread within and across phyla, occurring in 73% of all marine species; in 7.35% of these cases, the associated genera differ by three or fewer edits. This level of similarity increases the risk of incorrect matches, limiting the reliability of automated text-string tools in biodiversity big data analyses and highlighting the importance of considering systematic and authorship information into taxonomic workflows to support name resolution beyond orthographic similarity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e197291

Authors: Valentina Di Gennaro, Gaetano Grilli, Silvia Ferrini, Robert Turner

Abstract: Fisheries rely on important renewable marine resources. Understanding the status of fish stocks and their role in food provisioning ecosystem services can help improve the management of the marine environment. While fish stock assessment is well established, research on the monetary valuation of fisheries provisioning ecosystem services remains limited, particularly at the level of individual species. To further contribute to the preservation of the marine environment for future generations, there is a strong need to develop and implement appropriate techniques for the valuation of fisheries resources. This study develops and demonstrates a method to estimate the economic value of (commercial) fisheries provisioning services at the level of individual species and fishing areas. The proposed technique fills this gap and is tested by using an Italian case study. Results provide the economic value of several commercial fisheries and move beyond data limitations to produce results for fisheries management and policy makers. We conclude by calling attention for further expansion to other countries and improvements to link economic valuation, habitat mapping and ecological research in policy analysis discussion.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e196454

Authors: Hiroki Akimoto, Masaki Hoso

Abstract: Although the odor of cloacal secretions in snakes is obvious, their function remains unclear. We tested whether these secretions are involved in sexual communication and evaluated the seasonality of their effects. Using T-maze assays across breeding and non-breeding seasons, we found that choices were biased away from the scented arm in the breeding season, whereas choices were random in the non-breeding season. However, no clear sex-specific responses were observed. Our findings emphasize that behavioral responses to cloacal secretions are modulated by seasonality. Future studies are needed to decouple changes in signal chemistry from shifts in receiver sensitivity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e196149

Authors: Wondifraw Zelelew, Tadesse Habtamu, Anagaw Atickem, Dietmar Zinner

Abstract: Elevational gradients are fundamental drivers of biodiversity, yet their influence on anuran communities in many of Ethiopia’s protected areas remains poorly understood. This study investigated the altitudinal distribution, species richness, and abundance of anurans in Chebera Churchura National Park (CCNP), southwestern Ethiopia. Using a combination of standardised visual encounter surveys (VES) and pitfall traps, we sampled along an elevational gradient from 865 m to 2400 m, which corresponds to three major transitions in temperature, vegetation structure, and moisture regimes. Surveys were conducted during both wet and dry seasons. We recorded 2,175 individuals representing 16 species from eight families. Species richness and abundance followed unimodal (hump-shaped) distributions, peaking at mid-elevations (~1,200 m). Quadratic regression confirmed that intermediate altitudes provide an ecological optimum for anuran communities, while diversity declines towards lower and higher elevations. These results highlight the importance of mid-altitude habitats as local centres of high anuran diversity within CCNP. However, the occurrence of elevation-restricted species and the observed variation in diversity along the altitudinal gradient indicate that different elevational zones support distinct anuran communities. This underscores the importance of conserving habitats across the full altitudinal range of CCNP, particularly mid-elevation areas with high diversity as well as habitats supporting range-restricted species. Protection of indigenous forests and permanent aquatic habitats, including rivers, streams, and wetlands, is therefore critical for sustaining anuran diversity within the park.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195998

Authors: Salvatore Urso, Giuseppe Martino, Eugenio Muscianese, Manuela Policastrese, Mario Pucci, Maurizio Vena, Pierpaolo Storino

Abstract: Information on the avifauna of Calabria is still incomplete, with much of it contained in isolated studies, local reports, and unpublished observations. More than thirty years have passed since the publication of the first regional checklist. The last ten years have seen an increase in fieldwork and collaboration among local ornithologists, now coordinated by the Stazione Ornitologica Calabrese (StOrCal).We provide an updated checklist of the birds of Calabria, revised through 31 December 2025, representing an increase of 43 species compared to the historical checklist (320 species). The total number of taxa is 363 species and 9 subspecies divided as follows: 336 AERC category A, 12 B, 7 C, 5 AC and 3 E. General status codes were assigned to 258 regular species, 20 irregular species, 64 accidental/vagrant species and 21 historical species. Breeding status was assigned to 143 regularly breeding species, 8 irregular, 3 occasional and 4 former breeding species. 125 species are included in Annex I of Directive 2009/147/EC. National IUCN categories are known for 230 species, including 9 Critically Endangered, 21 Endangered and 32 Vulnerable species. Taxonomy and status coding are from the national CISO–COI checklist.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195849

Authors: Yin Yalei, Wu Buyu, Pei Rui, Zhang Honggang, Zhang Xin, Shen Fengbin, Xing Xu

Abstract: The anatomical characteristics of troodontid teeth have remained largely unexplored. This study employs high-resolution computed tomography data to reconstruct and describe the morphology of a new troodontid tooth from the Upper Cretaceous Yuliangzi Formation, located in the Sunwu-Jiayin Basin of Jiayin, Heilongjiang, Northeast China. The reconstruction reveals previously unrecognized anatomical features and presents the first three-dimensional visualization of the pulp cavity of troodontid teeth. Notably, the ratio of enamel thickness at the base of the crown to the crown height is 1.9%. The enamel thickness on the labial side exceeds that on the lingual side in the distal denticles, a phenomenon observed in theropod teeth for the first time. The pulp cavity is distinctly narrow in the labiolingual dimension, tapering sharply towards the apex, and exhibiting a distal curvature, and displays nine distinct projections along basal half of its distal margin. Additionally, the presence of a wear facet supports the hypothesis of tooth-to-tooth occlusion in troodontids, similar to that observed in tyrannosaurids. Comparative morphological analysis identifies the specimen as a Troodon-morphotype tooth, thereby providing further evidence for faunal exchange between North America and Asia via Cretaceous Beringia. Moreover, the only theropods that have been definitively identified from the Yuliangzi Formation are tyrannosaurids and troodontids. In addition, the comparison of various dinosaur faunal assemblages within Maastrichtian deposits in China indicates that all of them contain tyrannosaurids.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195788

Authors: Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Florian Leese, Cathryn Abbott, Hitoshi Araki, Donald Baird, Pedro Beja, Kristy Deiner, Hideyuki Doi, Nicole Fahner, Kelly D. Goodwin, Margaret E. Hunter, Ryan Kelly, Katy Klymus, Michio Kondoh, Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, Toshifumi Minamoto, Xavier Pochon, Teresita M. Porter, Susanna Theroux, Alejandro Trujillo-Gonzalez, Alison Watts, Hiroki Yamanaka, Xiaowei Zhang, John Darling, Kristian Meissner

Abstract: Thid preprint has been retracted at the request of its authors.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195169

Authors: Zhang Qianqi, Lele Xu

Abstract: The early morphology and evolution of Naibiomorpha, an extinct infraorder of Sternorrhyncha, remain poorly understood due to scarce fossil material. Herein, we report the oldest known representative of this infraorder: a new specimen of Dracaphis angustata from the Tongchuan Formation (Ladinian, Middle Triassic) in Shaanxi Province, NW China, which preserves complete forewing venation. Detailed morphological comparison allows us to refine the diagnostic characters of Naibiomorpha and corroborate its phylogenetic placement. This specimen not only provides a key diagnostic benchmark, but lends support to the “forewing miniaturization hypothesis” within the clade. Integrating our findings with palaeobiogeographic data, we infer a Northern Hemisphere origin for Sternorrhyncha in the Permian, followed by a Triassic diversification that gave rise to both extant lineages (e.g., aphids, whiteflies, and psyllids) and extinct groups such as Naibiomorpha.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195471

Authors: Franck Patherson Meyo Okono, Patrick Akono Ntonga, Amanda Lee Grunwald, Terrence C. Demos, Laurent Essome Nguesse, Edward Risto Hurme, Bruce D. Patterson, Bakwo Fils Eric Moise

Abstract: Located in a remote area in south Cameroon within the Guineo-Congolian Rainforest biodiversity hotspot, Campo-Ma’an National Park (CMNP) and its surroundings face intense anthropogenic pressures yet harbor a diverse bat assemblage essential for ecosystem services, including pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. We conducted the first systematic bat inventory in CMNP, southern Cameroon, integrating capture-based surveys, acoustic monitoring, and mitochondrial DNA sequencing across 4 habitat types and 4 climatic seasons from August 2023 to February 2025. Over 73 successful sampling nights (5,256 mist net-hours, 876 harp trap-hours), we captured 625 bats representing 32 species across 20 genera and 6 families (~27% of Cameroon's chiropteran fauna). Notable records include the IUCN Data Deficient Casinycteris campomaanensis and Myotis dieteri, and the Endangered Pseudoromicia roseveari. First country records include Rhinolophus denti (genetically confirmed) and Myotis dieteri, the latter also representing the first documented occurrence of this species within a protected area globally. Potential additional first country records, pending further genetic confirmation, include R. cf. blasii, R. cf. acrotis, and Glauconycteris cf. humeralis. Primary forests supported highest species richness (23 species, H' = 2.24), including several rare species captured exclusively in this habitat (M. dieteri, Nycteris arge, Kerivoula phalaena), while farms exhibited the highest abundance (31.2% of total captures), dominated by frugivorous generalists. The Great Rainy Season yielded the greatest diversity (22 species), whereas the Great Dry Season yielded peak abundance (34.72%). Multivariate analyses revealed significant habitat-season effects on assemblage structure. Acoustic characterization of 22 species established the first regional call reference library, with high peak frequency variability in Hipposideros cf. ruber (SD = ±41.25 kHz) suggesting cryptic diversity. Cytochrome-b sequencing corrected ~10% of our morphological identifications, confirming Ps. roseveari and R. denti, while high genetic and acoustic variability in Hipposideros cf. ruber suggests unresolved cryptic diversity. These results emphasize CMNP’s importance for bat conservation, including threatened and data-deficient species amid threats from escalating anthropogenic pressures such as deforestation and agro-industrial expansion. We recommend incorporating bat-friendly practices, such as preserving primary forests, maintaining habitat corridors, and promoting fruit tree agroforestry into management plans. Future efforts should expand genetic sampling and apply species distribution modeling to better resolve taxonomic uncertainties and predict habitat suitability.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195119

Authors: Rufiat Olashile Ajibowu-yekini, Bosede Olanike Awoyemi, John Kehinde Akomolafe

Abstract: The rate of economic growth has declined in many countries, and this has been partly attributed to poor human capital development and these challenges are more pronounced in developing economies where human capital remains relatively low. This study analyses the effect of human capital development in selected developed and developing countries. Pre-estimation tests was conducted and Feasible generalised least squares within the periods of 2000-2024 was used for the variables, panel data that covered 15 and 18 randomly selected developed and developing countries. According to the findings human capital development exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth in both developed and developing countries. In developed economies, the coefficients are 4.508 (CCEMG, p < 0.05) and 12.317 (FGLS, p < 0.01), while developing countries record 1.692 and 5.795 (p < 0.01). Descriptive evidence shows large structural gaps, with mean GDP per capita of 38,562.40 in developed countries compared to 574.57 in developing economies, and average human capital indices of 0.885 and 0.65, respectively. Based on the findings, this study concluded that that improvements in human capital significantly enhance GDP per capita. As a result, for developed countries governments must strengthen investments in human capital and health systems to sustain high productivity and long-term economic growth while developing countries, priority should be given to improving both the quantity and quality of investments in education and healthcare, while enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending through stronger institutions and governance.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e195118

Authors: Oghenerukevwe Love Okpako, Bosede Olanike Awoyemi, Opeyemi Oladapo Babalola

Abstract: AbstractThis study aimed to examine the effects of health outcomes on economic growth in selected developed and developing countries. The study utilized annual panel secondary data on life expectancy at birth, adult mortality rate, consumer expenditure, and population growth rate across 15 developed and 18 developing countries, sourced from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank World Development Indicators database. To ensure robust empirical analysis, the study employed dynamic panel data techniques, including descriptive statistics, unit root test, feasible generalized least square (FGLS), correlation analysis, co-integration test, and cross-sectional dependence test, while diagnostic tests such as serial correlation, homoscedasticity, heteroscedasticity, and normality tests were conducted to validate the model. The findings revealed that life expectancy at birth exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on economic growth, while adult mortality rate has a negative and significant impact across both developed and developing countries. Household consumption expenditure showed a strong positive and significant influence on real GDP per capita, whereas population growth rate exhibited mixed effects. The results further confirmed that health outcomes significantly influence economic growth, with stronger effects observed under the FGLS estimation. Health outcomes play a fundamental role in shaping economic growth in both developed and developing countries. The study concludes that improving population health enhances labour productivity, strengthens human capital, and supports sustained economic growth. It recommends that governments should sustain investment in healthcare systems, improve service delivery, promote disease prevention programs, and ensure equitable access to healthcare in order to enhance economic performance and long-term stability.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194582

Authors: Ivan Nekhaev, Amina Omarova, Anel Ishayeva

Abstract: The freshwater fauna of Central Asia is largely composed of widespread Eurasian taxa and shares little overlap with the highly endemic assemblages of Southeast Asia. Here, we report the first record of the Southeast Asian Pond snail Radix plicatula (W. H. Benson, 1842) in Central Asia (northern Tien Shan, Kazakhstan), extending its known range by approximately 2,200 km. To assess the origin of this population, we combined morphological data, genetic analysis, and species distribution modelling. Phylogenetic analyses place the Tien Shan specimens within the main Radix plicatula lineage, while haplotype data reveal unexpectedly high genetic diversity within a geographically restricted area. This pattern is inconsistent with a recent anthropogenic introduction and instead suggests long-term persistence. Species distribution models produced contrasting results depending on background selection. Models with unrestricted background predicted a range largely confined to Southeast Asia, whereas models with spatially constrained background and land-cover variables indicated substantially broader suitability, including Central Asia. This discrepancy suggests that the present-day distribution of Radix plicatula is not solely determined by climate. Palaeoclimatic projections indicate that suitable habitats were more widespread in the past, forming a belt north of major Asian mountain systems. Together with molecular evidence, this suggests a scenario of Pleistocene dispersal between Southeast and Central Asia.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194533

Authors: Haim Biale, Marcel Maymon, Daniel Bensimon, Shahar Samra, Nitsan Birnbaum, Omer Golan, Stanley Freeman, Dana Ment, Zvi Mendel

Abstract: The black twig borer (BTB) Xylosandrus compactus is a highly invasive ambrosia beetle that infests a wide range of living woody hosts. It was first detected in Israel in 2020, and since has caused substantial damage, particularly to ornamental trees in the Western Galilee. This study examined its distribution, host range, seasonal activity, reproductive success, and potential control measures. Field surveys conducted during 2022–2025 across Western and Upper Galilee documented infestation symptoms and confirmed reproduction through the presence of developmental stages within galleries. An observation plot including seven susceptible tree species was monitored from September 2023 to November 2025. Control strategies included canopy applications of Beauveria bassiana – based formulation and trunk injections of emamectin benzoate. Additionally, 21 commercial fungicides were evaluated in vitro against the beetle’s symbiotic fungi (Ambrosiella xylebori, Thyridium lauri, and Fusarium solani suspected as such). Results indicate that BTB likely entered Israel from southern Lebanon around 2019 and spread ~30 km southward by 2023, followed by a marked population decline in 2024–2025. Infestation peaked during late summer and autumn, with minimal activity in winter. Among 22 recorded host species, approximately two-thirds were native Mediterranean shrubs and small trees. About 37% of the overall sampled twigs contained viable brood, whereas Cercis siliquastrum exhibited the highest infestation levels. Neither of the tested formulations demonstrated clear efficacy in managing BTB symptoms under field conditions at two locations. Only a few fungicides showed strong inhibitory effects on symbiotic fungi at low concentrations. The observed population decline could not be explained by host resistance, natural enemies, or abiotic factors. We propose that disruption of fungal symbionts by competing microorganisms may impair larval development, while dispersal of uncontaminated females may enable renewed outbreaks. These findings highlight the complexity of BTB population dynamics and the limited effectiveness of current control measures.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194246

Authors: Carla Stoyanova, Teodor Metodiev

Abstract: This document is a deliverable for the PollinERA project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe (HE) Research and Innovation Action under grant agreement No. 101135005. The purpose of this document is to present a detailed Plan for the Exploitation and Dissemination of Results (PEDR) of the PollinERA project, along with a communication strategy (CS), based on the preliminary plans in Section 2.2 of the PollinERA proposal.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194500

Authors: Michael Calonje, Mario Coiro, James Clugston

Abstract: Here we present a time-calibrated phylogeny of 346 cycad accessions, covering ≈86% of the 380 accepted species, across all 10 extant genera, inferred from 1,409 single-copy nuclear loci (411,345 amino acid sites) derived from transcriptome and genome data. The maximum likelihood phylogeny was inferred using a partitioned analysis, with branch support assessed via ultrafast bootstrap (UFBoot2), and concordance evaluated using gene concordance factors (gCF) and site concordance factors (sCF), representing gene- and site-level support, respectively. Divergence times were estimated using penalized likelihood (TreePL) with 12 calibration constraints, and 95% confidence intervals were derived from 100 gene-wise bootstrap replicates. Bootstrap support is high (70% of nodes ≥95%), but gene concordance factors are low (median gCF = 3.2%), a pattern consistent with limited phylogenetic signal per locus rather than strong support for alternative topologies. We provide the phylogram, timetree, all 1,409 gene trees, the concatenated alignment with

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194245

Authors: Michael Rubinigg

Abstract: This Data Management Plan (DMP), prepared as part of the deliverables of the EC REA (Grant Agreement 10135005) funded project “Understanding pesticide-pollinator interactions to support EU environmental risk assessment and policy” (PollinERA), represents a plan for data management agreed upon by the PollinERA consortium. This plan is in line with the policies of the consortium partner’s organisations, as defined by the organisation’s data management policies, and with the requirements of the sponsor, as defined in the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194231

Authors: Carla Stoyanova, Teodor Metodiev, Denitsa Peneva, Kremena Kaleva

Abstract: This document is a deliverable for the PollinERA project, funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action under grant agreement No. 101135005. The aim of this document is to present the PollinERA branding, visual identity and website as key tools in the project’s communication and dissemination activities.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194210

Authors: Ljudevit Luka Boštjančić, Jean-Yves Georges, Kathrin Theissinger

Abstract: Freshwater crayfish are ecosystem engineers, yet native populations across Europe are severely threatened by the introduction of invasive species and the crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci. Reliable detection of crayfish and associated pathogens is therefore essential for conservation and management. Monitoring with passive eDNA sampling recently emerged as a promising alternative approach to traditional field surveillance or to the more labour-intensive active filtration eDNA-based monitoring. However, systematic evaluations of the passive eDNA sampling for monitoring crayfish remain limited. Here, we experimentally compared active water filtration (with glass microfiber filters) and passive eDNA sampling for detecting the European noble crayfish (Astacus astacus), the America-originated invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), and the crayfish plague pathogen (Aphanomyces astaci) in controlled indoor tanks and outdoor ponds. Passive samplers included glass microfiber, cellulose nitrate, and coffee filter paper substrates deployed for 12 hours. DNA concentration and detection probability were assessed using species-specific quantitative PCR assays. Active filtration generally yielded higher DNA concentrations in tanks, whereas passive samplers, particularly coffee filter paper, achieved comparable DNA concentrations in ponds. Detection accuracy in tanks was higher for active filtration compared to passive approaches (90%, versus 69–83%, respectively). Statistical modelling revealed that species detection success was not significantly differ between eDNA sampling approaches, whereas it was significantly influenced by qPCR assay type and crayfish density or species composition. Our results demonstrate that passive eDNA sampling can provide reliable detection of freshwater crayfish and their pathogen under controlled and open-air conditions. Given its low cost, minimal equipment requirements, replicates potential and logistical flexibility, passive sampling represents a valuable homologous tool to active filtration, particularly for large-scale, remote, or resource-limited monitoring programs.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193297

Authors: Nicolas Wagner, Johannes Horn, Johannes von Kleist, Quentin Martinez, Gabriel S. Ferreira, Eli Amson

Abstract: Pachyostosis, the increase in volume of bones, has been documented in a myriad of tetrapods that secondarily adapted to the aquatic environment. However, this convergent trait has hitherto only been quantified in complete ribs and long bones. Here we present a methodology designed to quantify the degree of pachyostosis in ribs and vertebrae, both for complete and fragmentary skeletal elements. Using surface models, we measured volumes of costal and vertebral regions and standardized them using size proxies to devise a pachyostosis index. Sirenians are used as a case study, given the disparity of pachyostosis degrees that have already been documented in the clade, especially in their ribs. The new methodology can detect this disparity and further demonstrates that pachyostosis also affects their vertebrae. Milder cases of pachyostosis, such as in the extant Dugong dugon, are likely secondary specializations to a specific lifestyle. The craniocaudal distribution of the pachyostosis index values is also potentially helpful to further distinguish finer lifestyle differences. This new method has the potential to clarify the causes of the disparity in pachyostosis degrees observed in the fossil record of sirenians, and it may also prove valuable in broader, non-mammalian contexts.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194021

Authors: Tingya Wang, Yali Duan, Yuting Liu, Mu Li

Abstract: Monascus spp., a food fermentation microorganism, produced valuable secondary metabolites including Monascus pigments (MPs) which served as natural food colorants. However, rational metabolic engineering to enhance MPs production remained limited by the lack of regulatory targets that govern metabolic branching. Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, particularly the STE20-STE11-STE7 core module, regulated fungal growth and metabolism, but their roles in MPs biosynthesis remain unexplored. In this study, we functionally characterized MpSte11A, the first STE11 homolog identified in Monascus ruber M7, through bioinformatic analysis and genetic manipulation. Most importantly, deletion of mpSte11A triggered a profound metabolic shift, which resulted in a 22-fold increase in MPs production. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that MpSte11A functioned as a metabolic gatekeeper where its deletion redirected carbon flux from primary metabolism to MP biosynthesis by controlling the TCA cycle. These findings not only elucidated the signaling role of the MAPK cascade in Monascus ruber M7 specialized metabolism but also provided a robust strategy for re-engineering carbon partitioning to maximize the output of high-value secondary metabolites in filamentous fungal cell factories.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e194019

Authors: Mukhtar Muhammed Yahaya, Sabrina Kumschick, Sandra MacFadyen, Pietro Landi, Cang Hui

Abstract: The negative impact of alien species is recognised as a major threat to biodiversity. However, there is a lack of evidence-based impact indicators that adhere to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) Data Principles and employ standardised workflows. As a result, the impacts of alien species cannot be systematically estimated over time, posing a major hurdle for policymaking. We introduce an open-source workflow for computing impact indicators of alien species, combining occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with assessments of Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT). To operationalise the workflow, we developed an R package, impIndicator, which allows users to compute and visualise impact indicators for individual species and sites, as well as derive a regional estimate of alien species impacts. This tool can support ecological research and management by providing timely, accurate insights into where alien species pose the greatest threats and whether current interventions are effectively reducing them. Such information is directly relevant to policy frameworks, including Target 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals. We demonstrate the workflow using Acacia species in the Iberian Peninsula, South Africa and California, showcasing the spatiotemporal dynamics of their impacts and highlighting sites with higher impact risk. The results were sensitive to variation in sampling effort in the underlying occurrence data, indicating that impact indicators depend strongly on data completeness. This highlights the importance of well-sampled and systematically curated occurrence datasets for computing robust impact indicators.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193815

Authors: Ibrokhimjon Ergashov, Farkhodjon Mingboev, Dilfuza Akhmedova, Mohidabonu Masodiqova, Murodjon Holikulov, Giyos Buxorov, Elyor Ortikov, Malika Shavkatjonova, Ziyoviddin Yusupov

Abstract: Background and aims – Dracocephalum nuratavicum, D. komarovii, and D. seravschanicum are narrowly distributed species from Uzbekistan that have not previously been included in plastome-based phylogenetic studies of Dracocephalum. This study aimed to assemble and compare their complete chloroplast genomes and to test the placement of Hyssopus within Dracocephalum.Material and methods – Complete chloroplast genomes were generated for three Uzbek species using high-throughput sequencing. Comparative plastome analyses were carried out using accessions representing Dracocephalum and related taxa, and phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed from complete chloroplast genome sequences with maximum likelihood analyses.Key results – The plastomes ranged from 149,819 to 151,181 base pairs and showed the typical quadripartite structure with 133 genes. Overall genome structure and gene content were highly conserved across the sampled taxa. Several highly variable regions were detected, especially in the intervals psbD–rps16 and trnR-ACG–rrn16. Phylogenetic analyses placed D. nuratavicum, D. komarovii, and D. seravschanicum within well-supported Dracocephalum lineages. Hyssopus officinalis and H. cuspidatus were nested within the Dracocephalum clade.Conclusion – The newly generated plastomes provide the first genomic evidence for the phylogenetic placement of three poorly studied Uzbek species and further support the inclusion of Hyssopus within Dracocephalum. These results improve the taxonomic framework of the group and provide useful genomic resources for future systematic and conservation studies.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193866

Authors: Bruno Almón, Jacinto Perez, Juan Trigo, Miquel Pontes, Manuel Ballesteros

Abstract: Among the limited number of species currently included in the nudibranch genus Madrella Alder & Hancock, 1864, only one has been documented from European waters. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the distribution and biology of this species remains limited, largely due to the paucity of observations, which are confined to a small number of records from the Mediterranean and the north-east Atlantic. During a series of sampling dives conducted in Galicia to catalogue benthic fauna, a single specimen of Madrella aurantiaca Vayssière, 1902 was discovered. Given the scarcity of records for this species, the specimen was photographed and collected for further study. Additional specimens captured in the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean) during the FAUNA III oceanographic campaign were also examined in order to compare and update the available information on the species. As a result, new data on morphology and biology are presented, including a description of the egg masses. Historical records of the species are also reviewed, providing an overview of its current status and an updated distribution. The addition of new records for such a rarely reported species is of considerable value for improving our understanding of its distribution and biology, and ultimately for refining our knowledge of global diversity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193865

Authors: Guillermo Leandro Guzman, Walter Sielfeld, Carlos Gonzalez-Silva, Alexis Gacitua, Karolina Rivera-Osorio, Nikolaos Schizas, Daniel Carrizo, Javier Sanchez_España, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Isabel Herreros, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Antonio Molina, Andrew Palmer, Mara Laguna-Castro, Miguel Arribas, Victoria Baca, Amber Wu, Katlyn Chubric, Muriel Rivera, Cristian Vargas, Jacek Wierzchos, Armando Azua-Bustos

Abstract: The deep-sea fauna of the southeastern Pacific remains vastly understudied, particularly along the northern coast of Chile, a transitional zone influenced by both Peruvian and subtropical ecosystems. During the Schmidt Ocean Institute's FKT240425 expedition aboard the R/V Falkor (too), conducted systematic deep-sea ROV surveys between 1816 and 4504 m depth off the Peninsula de Mejillones, Chile. The study reports new in situ records and significant range extensions for about one hundred species. A total of 79 macroinvertebrate samples were collected using the ROV SuBastian. The preliminary analysis of groups such as Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Decapoda, Mollusca, and Porifera indicates the potential presence of at least 35 new species. The preliminary conclusions of the observed and collected material are presented here, with comments about the taxonomic status of each one.Thus, this research cruise has contributed the most up-to-date records to the biodiversity of the Atacama Trench.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193229

Authors: Letícia Alves, Janeide Padilha, Phillip Haubrock, Amanda Subalusky, Ronaldo Sousa

Abstract: Non-native species are recognized as one of the major drivers of biodiversity change globally, having profound impacts on ecosystem functioning and affecting the provision of key ecosystem services. Despite the high number of studies on non-native species produced, mainly in the last two decades, one often overlooked aspect is their role as mediators of resource subsidies (i.e. cross-boundary movement of energy, nutrients, or materials). This topic may have theoretical and empirical applications since non-native species may play a major role in the connectivity of habitats transporting (or interrupting the transport of) energy and organic matter. Therefore, the main aims of this review were to (1) recognise main spatial, temporal, and taxonomic patterns and gaps in knowledge, (2) better understand how non-native species influence resource subsidies and their possible implications for ecosystem dynamics, and (3) identify future research avenues. Our review retrieved a total of 143 publications that matched our keyword search, resulting in a total of 212 case studies. These studies collectively show that non-native species can both disrupt and facilitate resource flows across ecosystem boundaries, with implications for ecosystem dynamics and connectivity. While terrestrial and freshwater connectivity accounted for the majority of published case studies (54%), many ecosystem linkages remain underexplored. A significant geographical bias was found, with Africa being severely understudied (2.8% of all publications), followed by Asia (7.7% of all publications). Taxonomic representation was also skewed, with the majority of studies focusing on non-native fish (25.5% of case studies) and mammals (21.7% of case studies), while important organisms such as fungi (0.9%) and bacteria (2.4%) were largely neglected, despite their fundamental role in decomposition processes. We identify key priorities for advancing this field, including long-term monitoring, the application of emerging molecular and analytical tools (e.g. telemetry, eDNA, metabarcoding, isotopic tracers), and the integration of artificial intelligence to synthesize large datasets. Our findings provide the first quantitative synthesis of resource subsidies mediated by non-native species, this information being crucial for biodiversity conservation and the effective management of ecosystems and their connectivity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e192871

Authors: Camille Venier-Cambron, Nuno Garcia, Anandi Sarita Namasivayam, Niek Scherpenhuijzen, Alex Levering, Peter Verburg, Marta Cimatti, Moreno Di Marco

Abstract: D5.2 Spatial data for land-use and climate scenarios including TEN-N options and constraints

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193199

Authors: Song-Ming Tang, Jie Chen, Santhiti Vadthanarat, Jun He, Zong-Long Luo, Shu Hong Li

Abstract: The genus Termitomyces is economically and ecologically important. It is naturally cultivated by termites in the family Termitidae, subfamily Macrotermitinae and is widely distributed in Africa and Asia. However, there is a limited understanding of Termitomyces species owing to insufficient morphological descriptions and a lack of DNA sequence data. Moreover, the misuse of Termitomyces names has contributed to confusion regarding the taxonomy of the Termitomyces species. In this study, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on a total of 147 samples of Termitomyces. Specifically, 95 fresh collections were obtained from China and Thailand. Additionally, 52 dried specimens were sourced from the herbarium, representing a wide geographical range including Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Gabon, India, Ivory Coast, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, and Sri Lanka. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis was performed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mrSSU), partial nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU), partial second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), and minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (mcm7). A total of 461 sequences were used in the phylogenetic analysis, of which 363 were generated in this study. Three new section, T. sect. Termitomyces, T. sect. Bulborhizum, T. sect. Mammiforms, 11 species of Termitomyces are newly described, namely T. brunneocarpus, T. longicystidiatus, T. longipes, T. microcarpoides, T. miniatoumbonatus, T. niveus, T. pseudobulborhizus, T. rubripes, T. stramineus, T. torosus and T. umbrosus, one new combination T. carnosus has been confirmed; with additional updating of 50 known species. All known Termitomyces species, their molecular phylogenies, descriptions, and illustrations are provided.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193318

Authors: Donghao Wang, Lida Xing, Bruce M. Rothschild, Chunlei Du, Kexiang Wen, Jin Lin, Mengling Kang, Jiayin Su

Abstract: This study presents the first documented case of chronic osteomyelitis with a draining sinus tract in the centrosaurine ceratopsid Medusaceratops lokii, based on a pathological seventh caudal vertebra from the Upper Cretaceous Judith River Formation of Montana. Integrated macroscopic and computed tomography analyses reveal pathognomonic features of chronic osteomyelitis secondary to trauma, including extensive hyperostosis with ‘cauliflower-shaped’ bone overgrowths, moth-eaten osteolysis, sclerosis, a definitive sinus tract, and occult fractures associated with the destruction of bilateral transverse processes. The development of a substantial involucrum confirms prolonged post-traumatic survival, attesting to robust immunological resilience in ceratopsid dinosaurs. Statistical analysis of 68 reported dinosaurian infection cases further reveals a highly significant correlation between ecological niche and trauma mechanism, with infections secondary to stress fractures found exclusively in herbivorous dinosaurs. Stress fractures across Ceratopsia, Sauropoda, and Theropoda exhibit markedly different infectious outcomes between ecological guilds, a disparity attributable to the combined effects of obligate quadrupedal weight-bearing, gregarious behaviour, and differential survival capacity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193027

Authors: Gioele Pecin, Victor Gonzalez-Menendez, Jesus Martin Serrano, Frederick Annang, Thomas Andrew Mackenzie, Fernando Reyes, Olga Genilloud

Abstract: The biosynthetic potential of the fungal epiphyte Stanjemonium spectabile, isolated from the endemic plant Bupleurum gibraltaricum (Granada, Spain), was investigated combining OSMAC (One Strain, Many Compounds) and metabolomic approaches. A total of 78 cultivation conditions were evaluated using different media formulations based on substrate utilization profiles obtained from Biolog FF microplates™. Chemical dereplication and MS/MS-based molecular networking revealed the production of a broad array of mycotoxins and bioactive compounds, including a novel cyclic lipodepsipeptide with a molecular formula of C₂₈H₄₈N₄O₇, spectabilide A.Spectabilide A, composed of three amino acids and a hydroxylated aliphatic side chain, displayed potent cytotoxic activity against five human cancer cell lines, particularly against breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 (ED₅₀ = 0.11 µM). Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses further supported the reassignment of S. spectabile to the Trichothecium clade. These findings highlight the potential of underexplored fungal taxa and cultivation strategies for the discovery of novel bioactive scaffolds and provide new insights into the chemical ecology and taxonomy of Stanjemonium spectabile.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e193155

Authors: Stephan Kühbandner, Fabian Deister, Axel Hausmann, Michael Raupach, Ben Price, Torbjørn Ekrem, Elisabeth Stur, Brent Emerson, Peter Hollingsworth, Rutger Vos, Leonardo Dapporto, Adele Bordoni, Claudia Bruschini, Sónia Ferreira

Abstract: We present a browser-based curation tool developed to support expert validation of taxonomic records derived from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). This tool forms a critical component of a two-step approach designed within the EU Horizon Europe project Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE) to build a high-quality, curated DNA barcode reference library for European species. The upstream component—a bioinformatics pipeline described in a companion publication—automatically filters, cleans, and ranks BOLD records based on metadata completeness, sequence quality, and taxonomic consistency. However, certain complex cases, such as misidentifications, nomenclatorial problems (e.g. synonymy), BIN-sharing (multiple species sharing one BIN) or BIN-splitting (a single species associated with multiple BINs), cannot be fully resolved by automated methods and require expert judgment.Our curation tool enables taxonomic experts to interactively inspect, validate, or exclude individual records, update species names, assign curation statuses, and provide curator notes. The tool supports real-time statistics for BIN conflicts and dynamically updates curation metrics as the expert interacts with the data. Its user interface is designed to simplify the review of large datasets while ensuring consistency, traceability, and minimal risk of structural errors common in spreadsheet-based curation workflows.The curated output from this tool, combined with the automated pipeline, forms the foundation of a reference library suitable for accurate DNA-based species identification in biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies. By integrating expert knowledge into a standardized and scalable interface, the tool supports the creation of FAIR, version-controlled reference libraries essential in the era of accelerating biodiversity loss and declining taxonomic capacity.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e192870

Authors: Martina Viti, Henrique Miguel Pereira

Abstract: The implementation of the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) requires a robust monitoring framework capable of tracking biodiversity trends across its extension and evaluating the effectiveness of protection and management actions that the network entails. This report contributes to this objective by identifying optimal strategies for the spatial design of an EU-wide biodiversity monitoring network, evaluating alternative stratification frameworks, and assessing how existing monitoring infrastructures can be integrated into a TEN-N monitoring system.The report comprises three analytical components and a cross-cutting synthesis.Chapter 1 assesses how alternative spatial sampling designs and network sizes influence the performance of an ex novo EU-wide biodiversity monitoring. Results show that network size is the dominant determinant of monitoring performance, particularly for common species and habitats, with performance converging across sampling designs at very small and very large network sizes. However, stratified sampling consistently outperformed random and grid-based approaches at intermediate network sizes, offering higher efficiency by maximising representativeness for a given level of effort. The importance of spatial design increased markedly when focusing on rare species and habitats. In these cases, stratified sampling improved coverage by up to 10% compared to alternative designs, reflecting its ability to distribute sampling effort more evenly across environmental conditions where rare entities are more likely to occur. Even under high sampling effort, however, rare species remained substantially more difficult to capture than rare habitats, highlighting inherent limits of probabilistic designs for monitoring rare biodiversity. Beyond representativeness, Chapter 1 also shows that no sampling design fully captures the full range of interacting anthropogenic pressures relevant for trend attribution, although stratified designs perform best overall. Climate and land-use gradients were most readily represented, while pressures with highly localised patterns, such as biological invasions, were consistently underrepresented. Together, these findings indicate that a stratified core monitoring network provides the most efficient foundation for EU-wide monitoring, but should be complemented by targeted modules to adequately address rare entities and complex pressure gradients.Building on these results, Chapter 2 examines whether refining the definition of strata, rather than changing the allocation method, can further improve monitoring performance. Alternative stratification frameworks were tested, based on combinations of environmental conditions, land protection intensity and ecological connectivity. Results show that modifying the stratification framework does not substantially alter overall network performance, with environmental stratification remaining the best-performing option. However, integrating conservation-relevant layers into the stratification framework enables the monitoring system to more directly address TEN-N assessment needs, particularly by facilitating systematic comparisons across gradients of protection and ecological connectivity. The choice of stratification layers therefore represents a key design decision with important implications for TEN-N monitoring.Chapter 3 assesses how existing pan-European biodiversity monitoring schemes can support a future TEN-N monitoring network. While these schemes represent among the best extensive monitoring efforts across the European Union, spatial gaps remain, particularly in Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as strong representativeness gaps of rare habitats and species. The comparison of existing monitoring schemes with ex novo monitoring networks of sites distributed across environmental strata suggested that an ex novo network could achieve comparable results with substantially less monitoring effort and cost. However, strategic gap-filling and expansion of the existing network could address the monitoring needs of rare entities. These results reinforce the need for targeted monitoring modules to adequately address the monitoring needs of rare species.The synthesis presented in Chapter 4 integrates insights from across the research and outlines implications for TEN-N monitoring. Two key principles emerge as essential:Assessing TEN-N effectiveness requires monitoring across conservation efforts;Existing monitoring schemes provide a foundation but must be complemented by a core stratified network and targeted monitoring modules.Together, the results provide an evidence base for designing a representative TEN-N monitoring network. This report therefore offers practical guidance for the European Commission and Member States in developing an EU-wide biodiversity monitoring strategy that supports the implementation, evaluation, and long-term success of the Trans-European Nature Network.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e192044

Authors: Lucian Parvulescu

Abstract: Biodiversity databases have expanded rapidly over the past two decades, transforming scattered observations into massive digital repositories of species occurrence records. Yet increased data availability has not necessarily translated into improved accessibility of ecological knowledge. Most biodiversity platforms remain primarily data archives, requiring substantial analytical effort before meaningful biological insights can be extracted. Bridging this gap between stored data and usable knowledge represents a central challenge for biodiversity informatics. Here we present the design philosophy and functionality of the World of Crayfish® platform (https://world.crayfish.ro), a web-based system built around the user experience of transforming species occurrence data into accessible biodiversity knowledge. Through interactive spatial visualization, automated narrative synthesis, structured bibliographic outputs, and standardized data export tools, the platform enables users to move directly from species selection to interpretable biogeographic insight, without requiring specialized analytical expertise. Using freshwater crayfish as a model group, the platform illustrates how web design can function as a critical interface between complex biodiversity infrastructures and diverse user communities, including researchers, conservation practitioners, and decision makers. By prioritizing clarity, transparency, and reproducibility in how biodiversity information is presented, the World of Crayfish® platform demonstrates how user-centred web design can lower the barrier between complex biodiversity infrastructures and the diverse communities who need to use them.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e192024

Authors: Neema Mtenga, Ng'winamila Kasongi, Jan Lehmann, Tillmann Buttschardt

Abstract: Invasive alien plant species pose significant ecological and socio-economic risks across East Africa, yet invasion risk assessments in Tanzania have largely relied on single-species and climate-only projections. Such approaches may overestimate invasion potential by neglecting land-use constraints and inter-model uncertainty. This study evaluates current and future habitat suitability of three invasive species, Chromolaena odorata and Lantana camara (terrestrial), and Eichhornia crassipes (aquatic) in the Mara–Simiyu region of northern Tanzania. Habitat suitability was modelled using MaxEnt and spatial block cross-validation. Projections were generated under three CMIP6 climate models (ACCESS-CM2, MIROC6, MRI-ESM2-0) and three emission pathways (SSP1–2.6, SSP3–7.0, SSP5–8.5). The suitable area was quantified using the 10th percentile training presence (P10) threshold, and ensemble predictions were derived by averaging across climate models. Climate-only projections indicate that terrestrial species retain moderate suitability under low-emission scenarios but experience increasing fragmentation and contraction of highly suitable areas under higher-emission pathways. Niche overlap between L. camara and C. odorata was moderate to high across scenarios (Schoener’s D = 0.45–0.81), suggesting substantial climatic similarity and potential spatial convergence under future warming. In contrast, E. crassipes maintained broad climatic suitability across scenarios. When land-use projections were incorporated, suitable habitat estimates were substantially reduced and exhibited greater spatial uncertainty. For C. odorata, suitable habitat covered approximately 55–65% of the region under SSP1–2.6, but this uncertainty increased under high-emission scenarios (coefficient of variation ≈ 65–75% by 2090). L. camara showed even stronger contractions, with uncertainty exceeding 85–90% under SSP5–8.5. These findings suggest that climate-only models may overestimate potential niche space by ignoring land-use constraints. Therefore, integrating multiple environmental drivers provides a more realistic assessment of invasion risk and supports climate-adaptive management strategies.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191996

Authors: Kablan Effossou, Philani Moyo

Abstract: Mountain ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa provide critical services such as water regulation, soil fertility, and biodiversity conservation, yet they face increasing vulnerability from climate variability and weak governance. This study examined how climate change, governance structures, and environmental justice intersect to shape community resilience in South Africa’s Amathole Mountains, focusing on the communities of Hopefield, Bold Point, and Hogsback. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with rural households and tourism stakeholders to capture diverse perspectives. Findings reveal that erratic rainfall, declining soil fertility and reduced water access are reshaping livelihood pathways and intensifying food and income insecurity. Governance shortcomings, including limited institutional capacity, weak extension support, and exclusion from adaptation planning, further constrain equitable access to ecosystem services, deepening environmental injustices. Despite these challenges, communities employ indigenous practices, informal knowledge-sharing, and small-scale conservation initiatives to sustain resilience. We argue that ecosystem-based, participatory governance rooted in local knowledge and attentive to differentiated livelihood pathways is essential for biodiversity conservation, rural well-being, and climate adaptation in mountain socio-ecological systems. Insights from this study contribute to broader debates on sustainable governance and environmental justice in climate-vulnerable highland regions across Africa.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191945

Authors: Rémi Santerre, Denis Michez, Ahmet Aytekin, Seçil Aytekin, Jordan Benrezkallah, Thomas Brau, Frédéric Carion, Fatih Dikmen, Achik Dorchin, Vahap Eldem, Simone Flaminio, Sebastian Hopfenmüller, Ece Kamalak, Anatole Maugendre, Çiğdem Özenirler, Pierre Rasmont, Blandine Rigaut, Michaël Terzo, Clément Tourbez, Guillaume Ghisbain

Abstract: Bees (Anthophila) are key pollinators, yet major gaps persist in the knowledge of their diversity and distribution, particularly across Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots. Türkiye, located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, hosts amongst richest bee faunas in the Western Palearctic, with more than 1,800 recorded species. Despite previous faunistic work, the national fauna remains incompletely documented, as shown by numerous recent species descriptions and new country records. Additional sampling is therefore required to improve taxonomic and distributional knowledge and to support biodiversity research and conservation in this highly diversified region.The dataset comprises 2,070 wild bee specimens collected in southern Türkiye, with 246 identified species. Among these, six species are recorded for the first time from Türkiye, and several additional noteworthy species of taxonomic, biogeographical or conservation interest are highlighted and illustrated. This dataset provides new, well-documented occurrence records contributing to an improved understanding of bee diversity in the region.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191826

Authors: Bernard Asanbe

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate how biological traits influence extinction risk among mammal species in Nigeria, and how these traits interact with specific anthropogenic threats such as agriculture, urbanization and climate change. Focusing on mammal species in Nigeria, we used phylogenetic logistic regression to test the influence of five biological traits: body mass, brain mass, generation time, current geographic range and historical range contraction, on extinction risk across 9 IUCN threat categories. Standardized models were used to compare trait sensitivity across threats. Brain mass emerged as the most consistent and influential predictor of extinction risk, particularly under threats such as agriculture, biological resource use and urban development. Species with larger brains, often primates and carnivores, were highly vulnerable. Geographic range size was a strong negative predictor of risk across most models, with range-restricted species more susceptible to habitat loss and fragmentation. Generation time was positively associated with risk under direct human pressures but inversely linked under climate threats. Body mass showed weak and inconsistent effects, which suggests its influence may be secondary to cognitive or spatial traits. The number of species affected was highest under human threats, compared to climate change or pollution. Extinction risk in Nigerian mammals is shaped by intrinsic traits that interact predictably with human pressures. Species with large brains, small ranges and slow reproduction are at greatest risk. Trait-based models can improve conservation planning by identifying vulnerable species before population declines become critical, especially in regions facing intensive land-use change.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191900

Authors: Victor De Brito

Abstract: Natural History Collections are invaluable sources of biological information for research, education, conservation, and public outreach but often lack the resources, programming expertise, and infrastructure needed to create custom digital tools for data accessibility. Large scale data aggregators facilitate data access but partially address common institutional needs. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly changed the way developers create, maintain, optimize, and test code, lowering the technical barrier to software creation. AI-assisted coding can accelerate the development of tools for digitization, data management and visualization, and public accessibility in Natural History Collections. Here I demonstrate the use of AI-assisted coding in the development of two custom web applications designed to address common institutional needs. Two web applications were built using GPT‑5.3‑Codex. Both were based on data exported from the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates database. The first tool is a specimen search portal enabling multi‑field filtering, data export, and mapping of localities. The second contains an interactive map to visualize the sampling of localities for four collections and a cumulative graph of specimen and lot sampled through time. Both applications performed the intended functions accurately, demonstrating that AI‑assisted coding can be used to generate operational, lightweight applications for Natural History Collections. The development of web application through AI‑assisted coding reduces technical barriers for collections, enabling the creation of tailored tools with minimal infrastructure. Careful prompt design, refinement, and attention to data security are essential for robust results and safe adoption of this technology.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191610

Authors: Priscila Gil

Abstract: This article proposes a screening tool based on the analysis of frustration as an integrative expression of emotional and neurofunctional dimensions. The matrix considers four main axes: early emotional experiences (wounded inner child), ADHD (executive and emotional dysregulation), giftedness (psychic intensity and internal demand), and autism spectrum traits (sensory structure and relational rigidity). The instrument uses common frustration scenarios with mapped responses for each profile, evaluated on a scale from 0 to 3. The tool enables the identification of the predominant origin of frustration and contributes to clinical listening, self-awareness, and therapeutic planning. The pilot application was conducted with an adult participant whose responses indicated a pattern compatible with traits of ADHD, giftedness, and significant emotional experiences in childhood. This is a qualitative and exploratory study, aimed at future empirical validation. The matrix is presented as a complementary contribution to clinical practice in therapeutic and educational contexts.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191414

Authors: Zoya Dudnik

Abstract: This dataset provides information for 3235 Brachiopoda specimens held within the Ocean Benthic Fauna collection (collection code: OBFc) in the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (IORAS). Collected from 1852 unique locations across the World Ocean, these specimens represent a 100-year record of Brachiopoda biodiversity, with sampling beginning in 1924.The IORAS Brachiopoda collection, due to its high species diversity, is a valuable resource for researchers. Broad taxonomic representation provides critical baseline data that fundamentally advance our understanding of brachiopod distribution patterns, ecological niches, and historical biogeography. The collection thus directly supports a wide range of disciplinary research, including taxonomy and phylogenetics, species identification and description, and the study of large-scale macroecological patterns in global marine ecosystems.A comprehensive revision and digitization of the complete Brachiopoda collection of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology has yielded a detailed dataset on specimen distribution across geographic, bathymetric, and taxonomic categories. The project prioritized the documentation and imaging of the type specimens. This new dataset is a significant scientific resource for taxonomy, biodiversity, and biogeography; this data enhances our understanding of marine biodiversity and the distribution patterns of Brachiopoda throughout various oceanic regions and depth zones.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191324

Authors: Febrina Artauli Siahaan, Dewi Lestari, Arrohmatus Syafaqoh Li'aini, Janis Damaiyani

Abstract: Background and aims - The pollination mechanism of Rafflesia remains a mystery due to its dioecious nature, as male and female flowers rarely bloom simultaneously in the same location. This study examined the reproductive biology of Rafflesia zollingeriana Koord., an endemic species of East Java, by analyzing flower morphology, phenology, and pollen viability, alongside field observations on microclimate conditions and pollinator visitation.Material and methods - Pollen samples were collected every six hours, stained with 1% TTC solution, and examined using a Dinolite microscope, while morphological analysis was performed using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Microclimate parameters, including temperature and humidity at different floral structures, were recorded using a thermo-hygrometer and a lux meter. Pollinator activity was monitored hourly from 08:00 to 16:00 throughout anthesis. The highest light intensity and temperature were recorded between 11:00 and 13:00, with the perigone exhibiting the highest temperature.Key results – The flower has brief blooming time only 5 days but the pollen can viable until 8 days. Four fly species from the families Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, and Calliphoridae were identified as primary pollinators, with Chrysomyia rufifacies being the most frequent visitor. The highest visitation occurred midday on days 1–2, followed by a decline on days 3–4. Pollinator visitation is influenced not only by biological traits and floral cues but is also significantly affected by environmental factors, particularly temperature and light intensity. Pollination is most likely to occur when female flowers bloom within one to seven days after male flowers, as pollen remains viable for up to eight days, allowing effective pollen transfer. However, the limited survival and lifespan of pollinators may contribute to the low reproductive success of this species.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e191104

Authors: Christos Gkenas, Nicholas Koutsikos, Katelyn Lawson, Filipe Ribeiro, Leonidas Vardakas

Abstract: Building on trait-based invasion theory, we developed a stage-structured profiling framework to evaluate both foreign introductions and extralimital species (within-country translocations beyond historical ranges) of non-native freshwater fishes in Greece, predicting establishment, spread and integration. We compiled a dataset of 63 species (36 foreign, 27 extralimital), and characterized each species with ecological, biogeographic, and anthropogenic attributes. Predictors were evaluated with cross-validated logistic/multiple regression and CART models including a taxonomy-based covariate to reduce bias from shared ancestry. Extralimital translocations were frequent and all 27 species established, emphasizing their disproportionate role in reshaping regional faunas. Establishment increased with physiological tolerance and proximity to the nearest native source, but declined with maximum body size, and propagule pressure showed only weak additional support. Spread across drainage basins was driven mainly by introduction effort and physiological tolerance. Integration increased with introduction effort, while CART identified distance from nearest native source as the primary discriminator of widespread and abundant outcomes, with trophic level further structuring outcomes among extralimital taxa. These results indicate that management frameworks focused solely on foreign non-native fish species may underrepresent risk. from within-country translocations. Incorporating both pathways into screening and surveillance can strengthen prevention and early detection, addressing a European policy gap where translocations remain more weakly regulated than foreign introductions. Our study provides a practical, trait- and pathway-informed screening tool that integrates organismal traits with invasion-history and biogeographic proxies to guide prevention, pathway management and targeted monitoring in Mediterranean river networks.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e190798

Authors: Khwanchol Hasayotin, Adul Supanut

Abstract: This qualitative research investigates the financial decision-making patterns and temporal discounting behaviors among Generation Z women employed in Bangkok's creative economy sectors. Drawing on behavioral economics frameworks and employing in-depth semi-structured interviews with twenty-five participants aged 24-28 years, this study explores how young professional women navigate the complex interplay between immediate financial needs, long-term planning objectives, and family formation decisions. The findings reveal that Generation Z women in creative industries exhibit distinct temporal discounting patterns characterized by heightened present bias due to income volatility, career uncertainty, and the prioritization of experiential investments over traditional savings mechanisms. Thematic analysis identified five major themes including financial autonomy conflicts, digital-native financial behaviors, career-family trade-offs, peer influence dynamics, and institutional distrust. Participants demonstrated sophisticated awareness of behavioral biases yet struggled to implement consistent long-term financial strategies due to structural constraints within the creative economy including irregular income streams, limited employer-provided benefits, and the gig economy's inherent precarity. The research contributes to understanding how cultural contexts, particularly in rapidly developing Asian metropolitan areas, shape financial decision-making among young women professionals. Implications for financial literacy programs, policy interventions, and workplace benefit structures are discussed alongside recommendations for future research examining generational differences in economic behavior within creative industries.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e190709

Authors: Yanjiao Lai, Zeqi Zheng, Mianrun Chen, Yehui Tan

Abstract: In the context of global biodiversity decline, the monitoring and assessment of marine biodiversity have gained increasing importance. Thaliaceans, a representative group of filter-feeding gelatinous zooplankton, play crucial roles in the carbon cycle and pelagic food webs, yet their diversity remains poorly documented due to challenges in sampling and identification. This knowledge gap is particularly evident in the South China Sea, a highly dynamic subtropical marginal sea. To achieve a comprehensive assessment of thaliacean diversity in the South China Sea, we conducted two cruises in the western South China Sea during the summers of 2020 and 2022. A total of 28 species were recorded, representing the highest species richness ever reported from a single study in the South China Sea. Among these, five species are newly recorded, all belonging to the family Doliolidae (order Doliolida): Dolioletta mirabilis Korotneff, 1891, Dolioletta tritonis Herdman, 1888, Doliolina (Doliolina) ikrohni Herdman, 1888, Doliolina (Doliolina) sigmoides Garstang, 1933, and Doliolina (Doliolina) indica Neumann, 1906. In addition, taxa of the suborder Doliopsidina are reported in the South China Sea for the first time. This study expands current knowledge of thaliacean diversity and distribution in the South China Sea, highlighting the need to reassess their diversity and distribution using integrated methodologies.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e190706

Authors: Dragana Vukov, Danijela Žunić, Nataša Prodanović, Vladimir Sabadoš

Abstract: Baseline biodiversity data collected prior to hydromorphological interventions are essential for understanding and evaluating ecological change following restoration or engineering measures. In large river floodplains, interventions such as side-arm reconnection are expected to alter hydrological regimes, habitat connectivity, and disturbance patterns, with cascading effects on both riparian and aquatic plant communities. However, without well-documented pre-intervention datasets, post-restoration assessments often lack a reliable reference against which observed changes can be interpreted.Along the right bank of the Danube River near the village of Draž (Croatia), planned hydro-technical measures aim to reconnect a cut-off side arm to the main channel. This reconnection is expected to modify local hydrological conditions and habitat structure in adjacent riparian forests and aquatic habitats, creating a clear need for baseline vegetation data collected prior to intervention.This data paper presents a baseline dataset of riparian forest and aquatic vegetation collected prior to side-arm reconnection. Riparian forest vegetation was surveyed on 20 May 2024 using three 10 × 10 m plots per site, with species cover estimated using the Domin cover-abundance scale and reported as plot means. Aquatic vegetation was surveyed on 30 July 2025 using three 10 m belt transects per site, with species cover recorded in five ordinal cover classes and reported as transect means.The dataset comprises 20 sampling events (10 forest and 10 aquatic), 251 taxon-by-event occurrence records, and 331 measurements, including species cover or abundance, establishment status (native, introduced, invasive), and event-level environmental descriptors such as canopy cover classes, water physicochemistry, water velocity class, and CORINE Land Cover categories. Taxonomic nomenclature was checked against Plants of the World Online (POWO). The sampling design and data structure allow the dataset to serve as the “before” component of a before–after monitoring framework, supporting future assessments of vegetation responses to hydrological reconnection.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e190520

Authors: W. Daniel Kissling, Jinhu Wang, Yifang Shi

Abstract: This deliverable, D4.10 – Demonstrator pipeline for habitat condition metric extraction and parallel and distributed computing in a cloud environment, is produced in the context of the project MAMBO (Modern Approaches to the Monitoring of BiOdiversity), funded by the European Commission through an EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (Grant Agreement No. 101060639).

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189794

Authors: Médie Collet, Christophe Proisy, Stanislas Talaga, Amandine Guidez, Ioanna Vlandis, Adriana Keovongsack, Romuald Carinci, Pascal Gaborit, Damien Davy, Jean-Bernard Duchemin

Abstract: Understanding how mosquitoes are distributed in relation to changes in natural vegetation and human-made areas is crucial but challenging in the tropics. A dataset based on mangroves is presented and made available online through GBIF at https://doi.org/10.15468/k7ru2k to study the ecology of Neotropical mosquito assemblages (Arthropoda: Diptera: Culicidae) in French Guiana. A total of 334 collection events were carried out across a variety of coastal and estuarine mangrove habitats that differed in terms of their species composition, structure, age, and proximity to urban settlements. The dataset comprises a total of 21,765 mosquitoes, belonging to 14 genera and 62 species, and new collections can be added to it. The voucher specimens and their associated DNA are stored at the Institut Pasteur de la Guyane Medical Entomology Unit.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189735

Authors: Rafael Marquina Blasco, Plinio Montoya, Francisco Javier Ruiz-Sánchez, Vicente D. Crespo

Abstract: The Early Miocene is a key period in the evolution of modern reptile and amphibian faunas, particularly for snakes. However, there are very few studies focused on herpetofauna in Iberian sites of this chronology. In the present work, we studied the palaeoherpetofauna from 32 sites in the Ribesalbes-Alcora Basin, which has been dated to the Early Aragonian age (MN4, Early Miocene) based on its small mammal faunas. The studied remains from these sites have been attributed to 26 taxa, with a relatively consistent faunal composition throughout the sequence. Although the assemblages are composed of taxa typical of the Early Miocene, two taxa may indicate some peculiarities in the faunal composition. The described remains of Chalcides sp. lack expanded crown teeth, which may be related to a probable morphotype distinct from those recovered from localities in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. The possible presence of Pyrenasaurus in CBR1 is striking. This genus was previously known only from the Late Eocene, so its identification here suggests it survived the Grande Coupure and points to ecological stability in the region.Using the Habitat-Environment Gradient (HEG) method on the best-sampled localities, the estimated mean annual precipitation (MAP) values exceed current regional levels in all sites, except just one case. Our results point to fluctuations in humidity throughout the sequence, with alternating “humid” and “dry” phases. This cyclical pattern has been previously documented in palaeoenvironmental data derived from small mammal assemblages.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189278

Authors: Antonina Badalucco, Rocco Auriemma, Paolo Balistreri, Mariella Baratti, Andrea Bonifazi, Gioele Capillo, Roberta Cimmaruta, Isabella Coccia, Antonella D'Amore, Andrea Desiderato, Claudio D'Iglio, Daniele Grech, Davide Iaciofano, Loretta Lattanzi, Marco Lezzi, Monica Lionello, Eleonora Macaluso, Emanuele Mancini, Caterina Martino, Veronica Marusso, Maria Mercurio, Serena Mucciolo, Ermelinda Prato, Martina Pulieri, Patrizia Puthod, Maria Beatrice Scipione, Tommaso Scirocco, Benedetto Sirchia, Antonietta Specchiulli, Monica Targusi, Benedetta Trabucco, Andrea Vannucci, Ilaria Rosati, Sabrina Lo Brutto

Abstract: Species distribution data are essential for understanding biodiversity patterns, supporting conservation planning, and assessing the impacts of environmental change. Amphipods represent one of the most abundant and diverse groups of marine macroinvertebrates, encompassing over 10,900 species worldwide and exhibiting a wide range of trophic and ecological roles. Owing to their sensitivity to environmental changes, amphipods are widely used as bioindicators and are of considerable interest in both basic and applied research. However, incomplete or outdated information on species distributions has often led to misidentifications and inconsistencies in the literature, highlighting the need for updated and reliable checklists.This study presents an inventory of unpublished records comprising more than 300 species collected from the Italian maritime zones of the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian areas. The Tyrrhenian Sea exhibited the highest taxonomic richness, whereas the Adriatic Sea accounted for the greatest number of records, likely reflecting differences in sampling effort. Eleven non-indigenous species (NIS), representing 3.6% of the total, were recorded, primarily in ports, lagoons, and aquaculture facilities, while 6.6% of the species were classified as cryptogenic or of uncertain origin. Sandy and mixed substrates supported the highest species richness, consistent with their greater sampling effort. Overall, this study provides an updated overview of amphipod biodiversity and distribution in Italian seas and underscores the need for systematic and continuous monitoring. According to the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, the dataset was published on the GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) platform.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189270

Authors: Pavel Kishnin

Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive description of the «Cohort fertility database for regions of Russia and countries». The database provides a unique set of demographic indicators characterizing the fertility of female cohort born between 1935 and 2050. The primary objective of this dataset is to enable detailed analysis of long-term fertility trends at both the global level and the sub-national level within the Russian Federation. The database covers 278 countries and dependent territories based on data from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA-2025). A significant portion of the database focuses on 83 regions of the Russian Federation. For these regions, the database includes completed cohort fertility rates for annual cohorts (1935–2000) and five-year cohorts (1935–2050). The dataset contains indicators such as the mean age at birth, parity progression ratios, and the distribution of women by the number of children born. The calculation methodology integrates historical census data, vital statistics provided by Rosstat, and the latest projection models (SSP-2) from IIASA. This database serves as a valuable resource for demographers, sociologists, and policymakers interested in the spatial heterogeneity of the demographic transition and the reproductive behavior of birth cohort.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189260

Authors: David Martín Perea, Yong Wu, Clara Mielgo, Yongtao Quan, Chunxiao Li, Jiayun Du, Lihong Jin, Dingge Guo, Tao Deng, Shi-Qi Wang

Abstract: Hipparion Red Clay of northern China represents one of the most crucial terrestrial mammal records of the Eurasian Neogene. Despite their long-standing relevance to biostratigraphy and palaeoecology, the taphonomic processes governing the formation and preservation of these assemblages remain largely unexplored. Here, we present the first quantitative taphonomic analysis of two Late Miocene sites embedded within the Hipparion Red Clay of the Chinese Loess Plateau: Daidian and Dongmen. These sites are geographically separated (~100 km) and diachronous yet occur within the same regional stratigraphic unit. Large herbivores dominate both assemblages but differ markedly in taxonomic composition, with equids (Hipparion spp.) prevailing at Daidian and rhinocerotids (Chilotherium habereri) dominating Dongmen. Mortality profiles of the dominant taxa indicate attritional accumulation at both sites, characterised by juvenile-biased age structures and the absence of catastrophic mortality signatures. Skeletal representation and completeness patterns are broadly comparable, with a predominance of appendicular elements and consistent underrepresentation of axial and girdle bones. Bone surface modifications related to biostratinomic processes are rare, whereas extensive fragmentation coupled with high skeletal completeness indicates pervasive fossildiagenetic breakage. Statistical analyses reveal no significant differences in bone modification patterns between sites. These results support a depositional model in which vertebrate remains accumulated gradually on low-relief open landscapes through attritional mortality and were repeatedly incorporated into the sedimentary record by very low-energy aeolian dust deposition. The Hipparion Red Clay, therefore, emerges as a taphonomically consistent archive capable of preserving time-averaged vertebrate assemblages with high palaeontological fidelity across space and time.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189192

Authors: Szymon Święcicki, Natalia Chojnowska, Lukasz Kozub, Iwona Dembicz

Abstract: Invasive plants pose an ecological threat around the world. Their influence can also be observed in protected areas such as the European Ecological Network Natura 2000. Although invasional processes can endanger protected habitats, the specific impact of invasive species in such areas and the factors that determine their spread remain understudied. This study aimed to analyse the level of invasiveness and factors correlated with invasions in five selected habitat types protected under the EU Habitats Directive in Natura 2000 areas, based on State Monitoring of Natura 2000 data. A total of 2,096 sites with balanced distribution across the country were analysed, belonging to mesic broadleaf forests, riverine habitats, dry grasslands, mesic wet grasslands and mires. Our study confirmed the presence of 45 invasive species and two potentially invasive species. The most frequently observed species were Impatiens parviflora, Prunus serotina, Solidago gigantea, Erigeron canadensis, Solidago canadensis, and Bidens frondosa. We then analysed the correlation between the presence of invasive species in Natura 2000 sites and 38 variables relating to habitat type, land use, human pressure, climatic conditions, migration corridors, and the nature protection status of the surrounding area. The most important variables correlated with invasions were habitat type, temperature seasonality, mean monthly precipitation of the coldest quarter, mean daily minimum near-surface air temperature of the coldest month, distance from rivers and main roads, and mean population density within a 5 km radius. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the State Monitoring Programme in detecting invasive species and analysing invasional processes. It could be used to inform the planning of future invasion management and prevention strategies.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e189105

Authors: Jasper Ponstein, Hugues-Alexandre Blain, Hans Steur, Jonathan Wallaard

Abstract: The widespread frog family Ranidae first appears in the European fossil record during the early Oligocene. Here we describe MAB19654, a near-complete and articulated male ranid frog skeleton from the early Oligocene Marnes du Bois d’Asson of southeastern France. The assignment of Ranidae is based on the presence of elongate posterior apophyses, cylindrical sacral apophyses and non-imbricated vertebrae. The assignment of Pelophylax is based on the robust humerus bearing a low crista medialis that does not reach midshaft. Additionally, we take measurements of limb bone ratios and sacral angulation of various extant osteological and fossil Pelophylax specimens for comparisons, and document morphological variation in the apophysis of V4. Our sample includes 58 P. ridibundus, 59 P. lessonae, 89 P. perezi, and one fossil P. aquensis, supplemented with the literature. We find that MAB19654 most closely resembles P. ridibundus in terms of limb bone proportions and sacral angulation. The tarsus reduces relative to the femur in P. perezi, while P. lessonae evolves a more elongate femur and narrower sacral angulation with respect to MAB19654. Interestingly, we find simple parallel V4 apophyses in ridibundus+lessonae, while complex shapes, as in MAB19654, are prevalent in the early-branching P. perezi. This suggests V4 morphology was complex in early Pelophylax and tentatively proves useful for species determination.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188569

Authors: Yonglin Tan, Jinxin Chu, Hui Li, liangning Yin, Xinrui Sun, Dongyan Fu, Weiping Lin, Hai Hou

Abstract: The Sanghuangporus genus is a group of important traditionally used medicinal mushrooms with significant and valued medicinal properties. Although the taxonomy of Sanghuangporus sanghuang species and Sanghuangporus genus has been established, the issue of species classification of the genus still needs to be resolved, due to privious long-term confusion of the species delineation and taxonomy. In this study, a comprehensive phylogeny of all genera within the Hymenochaetaceae family was firstly established using ITS, nLSU, EF1α, RPB1 and RPB2. This facilitated further global screening of Sanghuangporus under the taxonomy framework of Hymenochaetaceae. Based on screenings using seven-gene sequences including ITS, nLSU, EF1α, RPB1, RPB2, nSSU and mtSSU, a global inventory of non-redundant 917 sequences related to 580 Sanghuangporus collections was presented, which is more than twice the size of previous study that relied solely on ITS used as the query sequence. According to the currently established taxonomy of Sanghuangporus, phylogenetic analyses using seven-gene sequences with Maximum Likelihood method were carried out, and specifically addressed the issue of mislabeling and worldwide distribution of Sanghuangporus species. Furthermore, a consise seven-gene-based classification system was supplied for future rapid and accurate species delieanation of Sanghuangporus varieties. This study provides a most comprehensive resouce database of Sanghuangporus collections with correct taxonomy and will significantly promote the standardization of fundamental researches, utilization and industrial develoment of Sanghuangporus varieties.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188550

Authors: Yuting Tai, Tom Bucx, Mindert de Vries, Sara Pino Cobacho, Richard Marijnissen, Iris van Dongen, Rutger van der Brugge, Åse Johannessen, Fabienne Horneman, Silvia Torresan, Elisa Furlan, Andrea Critto, Alice Stocco, Caterina Dabalà, Francesca Coccon, Paolo Comandini, Silvia Frias, Ferran Bertomeu, Carles Ibáñez, Laura Puértolas Domènech

Abstract: The REST-COAST Project (Large scale RESToration of COASTal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity) is an EU Horizon 2020 research project (Grant agreement No. 101037097) whose overall goal is to address with effective and innovative approaches and tools the key challenges faced by coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe. The approach chosen for this project will deliver a highly interdisciplinary contribution, with the demonstration of improved practices and techniques for hands-on ecosystem restoration across several pilot sites, supported by the co-design of innovative governance and financial arrangements, as well as an effective strategy for the dissemination of results. Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on the development of scalable adaptation-through-restoration plans (for each pilot of REST-COAST) based on adaptation pathways that incorporate ecosystem services (ESS) and biodiversity value (BDV) from NBS building blocks. It is envisaged that these plans will be suited for upscaling restoration in coastal systems worldwide, supported by the global scale analysis of coastal risks, costs and governance performed in WP 2/3/5. Deliverable 4.3 aims at providing guidelines for building adaptationthrough-restoration pathways, based on NBS and technical measures that deliver ESS and BDV gains, tested and validated at the Pilots. When using the adaptation pathway guidelines, it is important to apply them with flexibility to accommodate the specific needs and contexts of individual pilots. While it is recommended to follow the methodology in Chapter 2—‘Generic Stepwise Approach’—to develop pathways, pilots should view these methods as flexible rather than rigid, to fit their unique restoration goals, timelines, environmental and social conditions. Chapter 3—‘Restoration Pilots’—serves as a reference to provide insight from three pilots with pilot-specific approaches to build the pathways. The guidelines should be seen as a dynamic tool that can evolve based on feedback, local stakeholder input, or new scientific data, ensuring that each pilot tailors its pathway to address local uncertainties, opportunities, and challenges.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188882

Authors: Andriy Novikov

Abstract: The paper provides insight into the archiving of data retained during the digitisation of herbarium materials. It shares practical experience and guidance on best practices for long-term data storage, with particular discussion on storage media and backup strategies. It is aimed at small herbaria that have limited or no dedicated archiving infrastructure and a low budget.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188540

Authors: W. Daniel Kissling, Jinhu Wang

Abstract: This document is a data deliverable (D6.2) prepared for the Modern Approaches to the Monitoring of BiOdiversity (MAMBO) project, funded by the European Commission through an EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (Grant Agreement No. 101060639). The MAMBO project aims to support EU biodiversity policy and address key knowledge gaps by developing and applying innovative tools, workflows, and data products for biodiversity monitoring at multiple spatial and temporal scales.Deliverable D6.2 documents the geospatial research data products of vegetation structure metrics derived from airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point clouds that have been generated within the MAMBO project. The deliverable is of type ‘DATA’ and focuses on the actual datasets produced or collected during the project, rather than on the analysis or interpretation of scientific results. Its primary purpose is to support the principles of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) by providing a structured overview of the datasets, their scope, and the platforms through which they are made publicly available.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188526

Authors: Nicolás Echarren-Lucendo, Isabel Sanmartin Bastida, Ricarda Riina, Tamara Villaverde

Abstract: Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as castor bean, is a species of great economic and cultural importance. Native to the northeast region of Africa, its earliest uses by humans date back to the Late Pleistocene. Castor bean is currently distributed in temperate and tropical zones in both hemispheres and has become an invasive species in several areas of the world. However, there are still no detailed studies to confirm whether it exclusively occupies environments similar to its native range or whether it has expanded its climatic niche. The main objective of this study is to characterize and model the climatic ecological niche of castor bean in its native region (northeast Africa) and in an invaded area (Iberian Peninsula). We will determine the differences between the two niches to assess whether this species is expanding its niche and identify the potentially habitable regions for castor bean. To characterize and model the castor bean niche, we use occurrence data in both areas and 19 bioclimatic variables. Our results show that castor bean occupies areas with climates absent in its native range, indicating a wide ecological plasticity that could have facilitated its naturalization in the Iberian Peninsula and other areas worldwide.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188180

Authors: Travis Bayer, Maggie A. McGreal, A. Rafael Chacón D.

Abstract: Carnivores confined to islands often undergo rapid evolutionary divergence, resulting in dwarfism. However, many of these insular species remain poorly understood. Island carnivores are among the most threatened mammals globally, as environmental change disproportionately impacts islands and restricted ranges combined with small populations inherently heighten their vulnerability. Archaeological evidence indicates that a dwarf fox (Urocyon sp.) has inhabited the island of Cozumel, Mexico for thousands of years. However, this population has never been formally described and no observations have been reported since 2001. Here, we present the first photographic evidence of a dwarf gray fox on Cozumel and the first sighting of the species in over two decades. On 14 September 2023, a disoriented adult male was reported near the coastal highway on the island’s southeast coast to local park authorities. Following documentation, capture, and a health assessment, the fox was released into suitable habitat within the Laguna Colombia State Reserve. This record confirms the continued persistence of the Cozumel fox despite decades of uncertainty and provides the first documented image of the species. Considering the species’ rarity and the increasing environmental pressures on Cozumel, systematic surveys targeting the fox are urgently needed to assess its population and taxonomic status in order to inform effective conservation strategies.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e188103

Authors: Sui Zixian, Shao shuai, Yin Yalei

Abstract: The detailed dental anatomy of sauropod mamenchisaurids remains largely unexplored. Here, we describe a well-preserved isolated sauropod tooth from the Upper Jurassic Qigu Formation of the Turpan-Hami Basin, Xinjiang, using high-resolution Micro-CT and three-dimensional reconstruction to investigate its internal anatomy. This tooth exhibits a diagnostic feature of Mamenchisauridae, specifically the presence of marginal denticles restricted to the mesial margin. CT scan data provide novel insights into mamenchisaurid dental anatomy and present the first three-dimensional enamel distribution in sauropod teeth. The lingual ridge forms from thickened enamel and dentine, whereas the lingual boss arises solely from dentine expansion. A labiolingual enamel thickness asymmetry appears in the apical region, convergent with certain neosauropods. The pulp cavity shows a distinct volumetric transition, expanding basally into a bulbous root canal and appearing as a labiolingually compressed lamina structure in the crown. Taxonomic comparison indicates that this tooth represents a mamenchisaurid lineage distinct from the previously only known sauropod tooth from the Qigu Formation. Our study supports diverse sauropod assemblages in the Qigu Formation and provides new anatomical evidence for understanding sauropod dental evolution.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187633

Authors: Eeva Karjalainen, Maria Hällfors, Maria Söderholm, Nikola Ganchev, Sari Erkkilä, Satu Soini

Abstract: OBSGESSION project management guide summarises the central rules and practices agreed in Grant Agreement and Consortium Agreement. This document also describes day-to-day working practices, and thus is a living document that is updated regularly.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187632

Authors: Maria Söderholm, Maria Hällfors, Susana Baena, Claire Brown, Marcel Buchhorn, Jorrit Scholze

Abstract: The OBSGESSION project (Observation of Ecosystem Changes for Action, https://obsgession.eu/) aims to enhance terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity monitoring and policy by new approaches for integrating data and modelling, and by developing science-based solutions. This data management plan (DMP) provides details about the data to be collected, generated, and processed in OBSGESSION, as well as other outputs. It also outlines the key principles of data management practices, as required in the Horizon Europe Programme Guideline. The project is committed to following the policies of open science and research as the foundation for all activities, including data management. Data management in the project will adhere to the FAIR principles, ensuring that data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The plan also specifies that other outputs besides data will be managed in line with these principles whenever applicable.The project will utilise a variety of data and combine biodiversity data from multiple sources. The types of data included in the OBSGESSION project are experimental, observational, statistical, and qualitative data, such as interviews. The DMP outlines the overall data management practices for the duration of the data lifecycle within the framework of the FAIR principles and provides details on planned practices and data-specific considerations. This includes, among other things, producing metadata and other documentation related to the data. The plan also presents practices for ensuring data interoperability, reusability, and publication. Relevant metadata standards have been identified to make EO data interoperable. In addition, the DMP describes the In-Situ database, OpenEO platform and Data Cubes as tools and mechanisms for implementing interoperability and (re)usability of EO and in-situ data.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187631

Authors: Nikola Ganchev, Gabriela Popova

Abstract: Deliverable D6.2 presents a plan for shaping the dissemination, exploitation, and communication (DEC) activities of OBSGESSION. These activities are crucial for ensuring OBSGESSION’s impact and amplifying the project's influence. The Communication Plan (CP) and Plan for the Exploitation and Dissemination of Results (PEDR) is developed in M6 (June 2024) and will be updated in M24 (December 2025, D6.3) and in M40 (April 2027, D6.4) to reflect OBSGESSION's progress and maturity level, providing a targeted approach for each stage according to evolving DEC needs.Aside from defining the goals and scope of the project's communication, dissemination, and exploitation, the CP and PEDR also identify the primary stakeholder groups and key messages for each. These have been outlined based on a consortium-wide questionnaire. The plans also include the expected knowledge outputs of the project. Based on this information, D6.2 details the main communication, dissemination, and exploitation tools and evaluates their relevance to different target groups. Finally, a specific implementation plan is provided for the project's first stage of development, along with indicators for actively monitoring the effectiveness of these actions.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187630

Authors: Joaquim Estopinan, Anne Thomas, Pierre Gaüzère, Wilfried Thuiller

Abstract: Detecting and attributing biodiversity changes is a multifaceted and demanding task. The first key challenge is gathering data on biodiversity metrics and the likely drivers that is sufficiently structured and aligned in space and time, and wide enough to cover the dynamical range of the target latent processes at play, enabling statistical inference. Demonstrating that a measure of biodiversity has significantly changed relative to a reference state — a reference which is often difficult to define due to a lack of past data — constitutes a second challenge. A third key challenge is designing an identification strategy that can isolate the contribution of multiple potential causal factors with statistical confidence.The review comprising the deliverable D3.1 addresses these three key challenges in a coherent framework, meeting the task expectations. It is entitled "Advancing Causal Inference in Ecology: Pathways for Biodiversity Change Detection and Attribution" (Schrodt et al., Methods in Ecology and Evolution, under revision). This work was achieved in collaboration with the IMPACTS synthesis group of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB). This text provides conceptual and practical guidance on taking advantage of existing causal methods to detect and attribute changes in biodiversity. There is an emphasis on how remote sensing data can mitigate pressing issues related to confounding factors that occur across scales.By paying attention to the described challenges and relying on the suggested methods and workflow, the review introduces a solid basis to root biodiversity change studies in causal principles for better detection and attribution. The proposed manuscript is indeed highly interdisciplinary in its attempt to bring biodiversity studies closer to the science of attribution through causal inference from observational data. While this deliverable is fully autonomous, it is complemented by two perspective articles that are also under revision and a method decision tool that is under development. They cover related aspects of detection and attribution.As deliverable D3.1 format is a scientific manuscript, it is provided in its most recent version in Annex 1 below.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187629

Authors: Gabriela Popova, Nikola Ganchev, Slavena Peneva, Kremena Kaleva

Abstract: The communication efforts of OBSGESSION kicked-off as soon as the project launched. However, to ensure proper visibility, a set of dissemination and branding tools and materials have been designed within the first three months of the project duration, ensuring broad visibility from an early stage. A project logo, social media channels and a landing page were established in time for the OBSGESSION kick-off meeting in the end of January. These formed the backbone of the project branding and public recognition. Document templates were also developed and made available to the consortium, in order to facilitate the creation and internal uptake of the project corporate identity for dissemination and reporting activities such as deliverable, milestone and presentation. Social media accounts have been established in time for the launch of OBSGESSION on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn to ensure the widest possible uptake and outreach to stakeholders and other interested parties of project results, news and other announcements. The sustainability of project results and impact wil be secured through the development and maintenance of a public OBSGESSION website for a total of 9 years – 4 years of the project duration and additional 5 years after the project has ended.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187628

Authors: Ayesha Wijesekera, Zuhail Thatey, Claire Brown, Susana Baena, Joshua Barritt

Abstract: This report provides a review of the biodiversity policy landscape at the European Union (EU) level and identifies a set of priority Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) to support policy needs. Policy needs were determined based on the European 'Union's Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (EU BDS 2030), which serves as the overarching framework for biodiversity-related policies and legislation at the EU level in response to the requirement for countries to have a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The analysis focuses on the actions from the EU BDS 2030 as the key articulation of policy needs, and indicators to evaluate monitoring requirements. Actions were categorized based on their relevance to different stages of the policy process (e.g., planning, implementation, reporting or review), while indicators were categorized as relevant to policy reporting. Actions and indicators were also tagged by ecosystem realm (i.e., terrestrial, freshwater, marine) or as cross-cutting. The potential applicability of EBVs for broadly supporting the implementation of each of the 102 actions and sub-actions. Also, the monitoring of the 16 available indicators from the 'Strategy's dashboard, was assessed. The review found that EBVs could broadly be used to support the implementation of 37 actions and the monitoring of five indicators. These selected actions and indicators were then mapped to EBV classes and candidates based on the EBV framework by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). EBV candidates were ranked from high to low priority based on the total number of actions and indicators they were mapped to, both overall and within different ecosystem realms and stages of the policy process. Candidates linked to the greatest number of actions and indicators were considered the highest policy priority. Overall, the species abundance candidate ranked 1st in terms of policy priority, followed by species distributions (2nd), ecosystem distribution (3rd) and ecosystem vertical profile (4th), with markedly higher total scores than other candidates. These candidates were also consistently ranked among the top four candidates across different ecosystem realms and stages of the policy process. Taking into consideration the findings from the Europa Biodiversity Observation 'Network's (EuropaBON) User and Policy Needs Assessment, this review identified species abundances, species distributions and ecosystem distribution as priority EBVs for the development of remote sensing (RS) biodiversity products in the OBSGESSION project. The ecosystem vertical profile also ranked highly, but further assessment is recommended to determine its policy importance. While this review provides a priority set of EBV candidates based on policy needs, further prioritisation considering scientific gaps and technical feasibility for monitoring EBVs via RS will be continued under Task 1.2 as part of the Science Policy Traceability Matrix (SPTM), taking into consideration work already undertaken on RS-enabled EBVS.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187425

Authors: Meret Neske, Isabel Tanzberger, Asia Gabajdulina, Thomas Klefoth

Abstract: Asian weatherloaches have expanded their range across Europe, potentially increasing competitive pressure on the conservation-dependent native European weatherfish Misgurnus fossilis. Because interspecific interactions are potentially mediated by benthic habitat use, we quantified substrate choice of native European and invasive Asian weatherloaches in a replicated laboratory two-way choice experiment. Individual fish were tested in three sediment combinations (gravel/sand, gravel/mud, sand/mud) with four 60-min replicates per treatment and individual fish. Habitat use was quantified as the proportional time spent on each substrate and analysed using a linear mixed-effects model. Habitat use differed significantly between invasive and native loach species. Post-hoc comparisons and effect sizes (Hedges’ g) indicated a pronounced divergence for muddy substrate, with native Misgurnus fossilis showing substantially higher mud use than Asian weatherloaches, while differences in selection for gravel and sand were small. These findings support the adaptive flexibility hypothesis by indicating a more generalist substrate-use pattern in invasive Asian weatherloaches relative to the mud-specialised European weatherfish. From a management perspective, conserving and restoring structurally complex muddy floodplain habitats may provide a competitive refuge for European weatherfish and should be prioritised alongside targeted monitoring of Asian weatherloach spread and habitat overlap.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187420

Authors: Anastasia Gioti, Jon Bent Kristoffersen, Bekir Kaşlı, Georgia Tarifa, Carmen Rizzo, Thanos Dailianis

Abstract: This data paper describes bacterial and fungal communities associated with the sponge Chondrilla nucula collected from two Eastern Mediterranean populations (North and South Aegean Sea) and maintained under controlled common-garden conditions simulating present and projected climate scenarios over a period of 3 months. Microbial composition was characterized using two complementary ribosomal marker approaches: Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for Bacteria and Oxford Nanopore (MinION) sequencing of a long 18S-ITS-28S rRNA fragment for Fungi. A total of 24 sponge libraries (3 climate conditions x 2 populations x 4 biological replicates) along with 6 control libraries (water from 3 experimental tanks, extraction and PCR blanks) were constructed for each group of microsymbionts. The resulting reads were processed using custom and publicly available bioinformatic pipelines and databases on a local high-performance computing facility, followed by initial taxonomic assignment. This dataset represents the first fungal community associated with C. nucula and the first bacterial community for this species from the Aegean Sea.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187369

Authors: Matthew Wainhouse, Jassy Drakulic, Rich Wright, Lynne Boddy

Abstract: When non-native fungal species or non-native genotypes of a native species are introduced into a new region they can sometimes become invasive, altering the species and genetic composition, and the functioning of resident communities. There is an ever-increasing risk of escapees into the natural environment through human activity, including overlooked introduction pathways, intentional introductions as mycorrhizal inoculum or inoculation accidentally from an increase in cultivation of edible fungi in outside environments. In each case guidelines and regulation are absent or weak increasing the risk of invasion, which presents a biosecurity risk that governments need to address. There are lessons to be learned from plant and animal biology about invasive species where there has been a long history of invasion from imported exotic and cultivated plants in particular. Here we highlight some of the problems arising from the establishment of alien fungi as species and strains or genotypes in new regions, and call for urgent introduction of guidance and stronger regulation to protect native fungal biodiversity and their habitats from the harmful consequences of non-pathogenic fungal invasions. This is crucial to meet the ambition of Global Biodiversity Framework targets for reducing the impact of invasive species.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187329

Authors: Priscila Gil

Abstract: This article introduces a new hypothesis regarding the systemic origin of cancer, framing it not as a random accumulation of malignant mutations but as a dysregulated continuation of an initially adaptive regenerative process. It proposes that chronic or unresolved tissue distress, whether inflammatory, metabolic, or biochemical, activates a repair program mediated by cytokines, immune signals, and growth factors. When internal feedback mechanisms, such as neuroendocrine, immune, or cellular signaling systems, fail to indicate completion, this regenerative response persists abnormally. The result is the emergence of a proliferative state that escapes systemic modulation. This model suggests that tumors are not pathological anomalies, but maladaptive extensions of biological repair efforts that have lost regulatory coherence. It opens a novel conceptual path for interpreting oncogenesis as a process of systemic miscommunication and calls for therapeutic strategies focused on signal recalibration and physiological reintegration, rather than exclusive cytotoxic eradication.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e187326

Authors: Priscila Gil

Abstract: Aberrant cellular adaptation is a hallmark of various chronic diseases, including endometriosis, metaplasia, and fibrotic conditions. This paper proposes a novel hypothesis: that such pathological transformations result from a progressive loss of the original cellular reference pattern under sustained inflammatory and dysregulated conditions. Termed the Dominant Substitution Hypothesis, this model suggests that chronic microenvironmental disruption alters regenerative cues, gradually replacing healthy cell phenotypes with adaptive, yet functionally impaired, variants. Once a critical threshold is reached, the adaptive phenotype becomes dominant, perpetuating dysfunction and inhibiting restoration. The hypothesis integrates evidence from tissue plasticity, extracellular matrix disorganization, epigenetic modulation, microbiota-driven signaling, and immune-hormonal imbalance. Implications for diagnosis, prevention, and regenerative therapy are discussed, with a focus on early intervention to preserve cellular identity and interrupt the degenerative cycle.

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