Non-selective hunting of waterbirds poses a significant challenge in biodiversity-rich areas such as Important Bird Areas (IBAs), where protected and game species congregate. Here, we present evidence from three conse...Non-selective hunting of waterbirds poses a significant challenge in biodiversity-rich areas such as Important Bird Areas (IBAs), where protected and game species congregate. Here, we present evidence from three consecutive hunting seasons spanning autumn 2021 to spring 2024 at a Natura 2000 site in western Poland, based on analyses of hunting bag photographs, local hunting records, and standardized bird monitoring data. We recorded 1331 hunted individuals from 14 species, 43% of which are protected under national or EU legislation. Among these was the Vulnerable Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), listed on the IUCN Red List. For nearly all species, harvest rates exceeded the sustainable thresholds defined by BirdLife International. Statistical comparisons between species' environmental abundance and their representation in hunting bags indicated no selectivity in shooting, pointing to indiscriminate hunting practices. Simultaneous waterbird monitoring (2018–2024) revealed steep declines in the local waterbird community and a marked decrease in Common Crane (Grus grus) numbers, with average autumn roost counts dropping from over 2000 individuals prior to hunting to 320 during hunting seasons. Although causality cannot be directly confirmed, these patterns suggest substantial disturbance effects. Our findings demonstrate the impracticality of selective hunting in species-rich wetland refuges and highlight the systematic killing of protected species. We recommend banning waterbird hunting in IBAs and implementing mandatory bird identification training and certification for hunters to reduce unintended impacts on vulnerable species.展开更多
The English“T” is widely held as a well-behaved Kaplanian indexical that has a directly-referential content and a character which imples immunity to self misidentification.In this paper I present uses of“T”outside...The English“T” is widely held as a well-behaved Kaplanian indexical that has a directly-referential content and a character which imples immunity to self misidentification.In this paper I present uses of“T”outside attitudal contexts that are not directly referential yet exhibit immunity to self misidentification.They include uses of“I”for simulation and for counterfactual self portrait.I argue that they(i)challenge the non-shiftability and the rigidity arguments for the direct reference view,and(1)require a revision of the character of“T”to reflect the sensitivity of its content to the perspective from which the speaker identifies herself.展开更多
Despite continuous progress made on the taxonomy of the genus Tropidophorus, the Lao Water Skink, T. laotus, is only known from brief descriptions of its syntypes in historical literature. Here we designate a lectotyp...Despite continuous progress made on the taxonomy of the genus Tropidophorus, the Lao Water Skink, T. laotus, is only known from brief descriptions of its syntypes in historical literature. Here we designate a lectotype and paralectotype of the species, redescribe the species based on the type series and newly collected topotypes, provide the first colored photographs of taxonomically-verified individuals, and estimate its phylogenetic position using mitochondrial DNA data for the first time.Using these comparable data, we confirm that the previously identified “T. berdmorei” population from southern Yunnan Province, China, represents a distinct new species that is closely related and morphologically similar to T. laotus, but differs from true T. laotus by having considerable genetic divergence(4.7%–4.8% for 12S, 3.2%–4.2% for 16S)and distinct morphological characters(e.g., undivided frontonasal scales and a distinct color pattern of the throat). The southern Yunnan population is therefore described as a new species. With the above newly acquired data, we update the checklist and the provincial-level distribution of the genus Tropidophorus in China and compile an updated key to all recognized species of the genus from China and Indochina.展开更多
While considerable progress has been made in the taxonomic studies of the genus Lycodon in Asia,questions remain to be clarified regarding the taxonomy of certain groups,particularly those containing species in China....While considerable progress has been made in the taxonomic studies of the genus Lycodon in Asia,questions remain to be clarified regarding the taxonomy of certain groups,particularly those containing species in China.Not only do many regions in China remain overlooked by herpetologists,resulting in the possibility of undiscovered new species,but the surveyed areas also have suspicious records of recognized congeners that require taxonomic confirmations.Combining both morphological and genetic data,we tackle these outstanding issues in the taxonomy of Lycodon in China.In particular,we discover two new species of Lycodon:one from the previously neglected hot-dry valley in the northern Hengduan Mountain Region close to Tibet,and another recluse and cryptic species from the L.fasciatus complex in the downtown park of a major city in southern Sichuan Province.Additionally,we clarify the distribution of L.septentrionalis in China and resurrect and elevate its junior synonym subspecies,Dinodon septentrionale chapaense,as a full,valid species,and we synonymize the recently described L.namdongensis to the resurrected L.chapaensis comb.nov..Lycodon chapaensis comb.nov.thus represents a new national record of reptilian fauna of China.Lastly,based on literature review,we also correct some of the erroneous records of L.fasciatus and L.ruhstrati in China,point out remaining taxonomic issues of the genus for future research,and update the dichotomous key and distribution of the 20 species of Lycodon currently recorded from China.展开更多
In this study, six fish species of five families are reported for the first time from Yunnan Province, China. The nemacheilid Schistura arnplizona Kottelat, 2000 is reported from the Luosuojiang River and Nanlahe Rive...In this study, six fish species of five families are reported for the first time from Yunnan Province, China. The nemacheilid Schistura arnplizona Kottelat, 2000 is reported from the Luosuojiang River and Nanlahe River subbasins, Mekong basin; the prochilodontid Prochilodus lineatus （Valenciennes, 1837）, the balitorid Vanmanenia serrilineata Kottelat, 2000, and the tetraodontid Monotrete turgidus Kottelat, 2000, from Nanlahe River subbasin, Mekong basin; the balitorid Beaz^fortia daon （Mai, 1978）, and the belonid Xenentodon canciloides （Bleeker, 1854）, both, from Black River subbasin, Red River basin. The freshwater puffer M. turgidus and the needlefish ,E canciloides have been previously misidentified as Tettraodon leiurus （Bleeker, 1950） and Tylosurus strongylurus （van Hasselt, 1823）, respectively.展开更多
Background:Different parts of Artemisia vulgaris L.(A.vulgaris)are ethno-medicinally used as an emmenagogue and for the treatment of ailments such as malaria fever,ulcers,and cancer.However,anecdotal evidence shows th...Background:Different parts of Artemisia vulgaris L.(A.vulgaris)are ethno-medicinally used as an emmenagogue and for the treatment of ailments such as malaria fever,ulcers,and cancer.However,anecdotal evidence shows that the plant is often substituted for Artemisia annua L.(A.annua)by herbalists in Western Uganda due to similarities in their morphology.Misidentification of medicinal plants and mislabelling of herbal products have been incriminated in toxicity and adverse health outcomes in traditional medicine practise.Because safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies,it becomes imperative therefore that medicinal plants should be correctly identified.Methods:This study focused on investigating the macroscopic,microscopic,physicochemical characteristics and phytochemical composition of A.vulgaris leaves compared to A.annua to ease its correct identification.Results:The results showed that there are some colour differences between the leaves of the two species,with a close arrangement of microscopic features but different leaf constants.The leaves of the two Artemisia species had similar tastes,but their shapes and colours(greenish-yellow for A.annua and dark green for A.vulgaris)can be used by the local community to distinguish between them.The artemisinin content was higher in A.vulgaris leaves(1.72%)than in A.annua(1.43%),but the reverse was observed for the total flavonoid content.Conclusion:This observation could justify the change in the use of A.vulgaris by the indigenous community in western Uganda.Further studies should consider the pharmacognostic comparison of A.annua with other species in the genus Artemisia and the use of molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding.展开更多
Aims Vegetation sampling employing observers is prone to both inter-observer and intra-observer error.Three types of errors are common:(i)overlooking error(i.e.not observing species actually present),(ii)misidentifica...Aims Vegetation sampling employing observers is prone to both inter-observer and intra-observer error.Three types of errors are common:(i)overlooking error(i.e.not observing species actually present),(ii)misidentification error(i.e.not correctly identifying species)and(iii)estimation error(i.e.not accurately estimating abundance).I conducted a literature review of 59 articles that provided quantitative estimates or statistical inferences regarding observer error in vegetation studies.Important FindingsAlmost all studies(92%)that tested for a statistically significant effect of observer error found at least one significant comparison.In surveys of species composition,mean pseudoturnover(the percentage of species overlooked by one observer but not another)was 10-30%.Species misidentification rates were on the order of 5-10%.The mean coefficient of variation(CV)among observers in surveys of vegetation cover was often several hundred%for species with low cover,although CVs of 25-50%were more representative of species with mean covers of>50%.A variety of metrics and indices(including commonly used diversity indices)and multivariate data analysis techniques(including ordinations and classifications)were found to be sensitive to observer error.Sources of error commonly include both characteristics of the vegetation(e.g.small size of populations,rarity,morphology,phenology)and attributes of the observers(e.g.mental fatigue,personal biases,differences in experience,physical stress).The use of multiple observers,additional training including active feedback approaches,and continual evaluation and calibration among observers are recommended as strategies to reduce observer error in vegetation surveys.展开更多
Aims Observer error is an unavoidable aspect of vegetation surveys involving human observers.We quantified four components of interobserver error associated with long-term monitoring of prairie vegetation:overlooking ...Aims Observer error is an unavoidable aspect of vegetation surveys involving human observers.We quantified four components of interobserver error associated with long-term monitoring of prairie vegetation:overlooking error,misidentification error,cautious error and estimation error.We also evaluated the association of plot size with pseudoturnover due to observer error,and how documented pseudochanges in species composition and abundance compared with recorded changes in the vegetation over a 4-year interval.Methods This study was conducted at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve,Kansas.Monitoring sites contained 10 plots;each plot consisted of a series of four nested frames(0.01,0.1,1 and 10 m^(2)).The herbaceous species present were recorded in each of the nested frames,and foliar cover was visually estimated within seven cover categories at the 10 m^(2)spatial scale only.Three hundred total plots(30 sites)were surveyed,and 28 plots selected at random were resurveyed to assess observer error.Four surveyors worked in teams of two.Important Findings At the 10 m^(2)spatial scale,pseudoturnover resulting from overlooking error averaged 18.6%,compared with 1.4%resulting from misidentification error and 0.6%resulting from cautious error.Pseudoturnover resulting from overlooking error increased as plot size decreased,although relocation error likely played a role.Recorded change in species composition over a 4-year interval(excluding potential misidentification error and cautious error)was 30.7%,which encompassed both pseudoturnover due to overlooking error and actual change.Given a documented overlooking error rate of 18.6%,this suggests the actual change for the 4-year period was only 12.1%.For estimation error,26.2%of the time a different cover class was recorded.Over the 4-year interval,46.9%of all records revealed different cover classes,suggesting that 56%of the records of change in cover between the two time periods were due to observer error.展开更多
文摘Non-selective hunting of waterbirds poses a significant challenge in biodiversity-rich areas such as Important Bird Areas (IBAs), where protected and game species congregate. Here, we present evidence from three consecutive hunting seasons spanning autumn 2021 to spring 2024 at a Natura 2000 site in western Poland, based on analyses of hunting bag photographs, local hunting records, and standardized bird monitoring data. We recorded 1331 hunted individuals from 14 species, 43% of which are protected under national or EU legislation. Among these was the Vulnerable Common Pochard (Aythya ferina), listed on the IUCN Red List. For nearly all species, harvest rates exceeded the sustainable thresholds defined by BirdLife International. Statistical comparisons between species' environmental abundance and their representation in hunting bags indicated no selectivity in shooting, pointing to indiscriminate hunting practices. Simultaneous waterbird monitoring (2018–2024) revealed steep declines in the local waterbird community and a marked decrease in Common Crane (Grus grus) numbers, with average autumn roost counts dropping from over 2000 individuals prior to hunting to 320 during hunting seasons. Although causality cannot be directly confirmed, these patterns suggest substantial disturbance effects. Our findings demonstrate the impracticality of selective hunting in species-rich wetland refuges and highlight the systematic killing of protected species. We recommend banning waterbird hunting in IBAs and implementing mandatory bird identification training and certification for hunters to reduce unintended impacts on vulnerable species.
基金funded by the MOE Project of Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Universities(22JJD720021)。
文摘The English“T” is widely held as a well-behaved Kaplanian indexical that has a directly-referential content and a character which imples immunity to self misidentification.In this paper I present uses of“T”outside attitudal contexts that are not directly referential yet exhibit immunity to self misidentification.They include uses of“I”for simulation and for counterfactual self portrait.I argue that they(i)challenge the non-shiftability and the rigidity arguments for the direct reference view,and(1)require a revision of the character of“T”to reflect the sensitivity of its content to the perspective from which the speaker identifies herself.
基金support by the National Science Foundation of China (32130015)Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program Yunling Scholar Project+7 种基金the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Chinese Academy of Sciences (the Large Research Infrastructure Funding) to Jing CHE,Biological Resources Programme, Chinese Academy of SciencesYunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program Young Talent ProjectCAS Special Research Assistant (SRA) ProgramProgram of Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Administration (2022GF258D-10)Small Grant Program for New Records and Rediscoveries of Rare Species by Tencent FoundationShanshui Conservation Center to Kai WANGU.S. National Science Foundation (grant DEB1145922)the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Science program (grant PGA-2000003545), which is a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. National Science Foundation to Bryan L. STUART。
文摘Despite continuous progress made on the taxonomy of the genus Tropidophorus, the Lao Water Skink, T. laotus, is only known from brief descriptions of its syntypes in historical literature. Here we designate a lectotype and paralectotype of the species, redescribe the species based on the type series and newly collected topotypes, provide the first colored photographs of taxonomically-verified individuals, and estimate its phylogenetic position using mitochondrial DNA data for the first time.Using these comparable data, we confirm that the previously identified “T. berdmorei” population from southern Yunnan Province, China, represents a distinct new species that is closely related and morphologically similar to T. laotus, but differs from true T. laotus by having considerable genetic divergence(4.7%–4.8% for 12S, 3.2%–4.2% for 16S)and distinct morphological characters(e.g., undivided frontonasal scales and a distinct color pattern of the throat). The southern Yunnan population is therefore described as a new species. With the above newly acquired data, we update the checklist and the provincial-level distribution of the genus Tropidophorus in China and compile an updated key to all recognized species of the genus from China and Indochina.
基金This research is supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research(STEP)program(2019QZKK0501)Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment(2019HJ2096001006)+4 种基金China's Biodiversity Observation Network(Sino-BON),Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute,CAS(Y4ZK111B01:2017CASSEABRIQG002)the Animal Branch of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species,CAS(Large Research Infrastructure Funding)to J.C.and NSF GRFP 2017216966 to K.WWe thank Mr.Di-Hao Wu for providing locality information of the new speciesMr.Ben-Fu Miao,Mr.Hui-Ming Xu(Yunlong National Nature Reserve),and Mr.Wen-Jie Dong(KIZ)for their assistances in the fieldand Mr.Chao Wu,Mr.Wei-Liang Xie,Mr.Shao-Bing Hou(KIZ),Mr.Jin-Long Ren(CIB)and Mr.Franco Leung Ka Wah(CIB)for providing photos of Lycodon species.
文摘While considerable progress has been made in the taxonomic studies of the genus Lycodon in Asia,questions remain to be clarified regarding the taxonomy of certain groups,particularly those containing species in China.Not only do many regions in China remain overlooked by herpetologists,resulting in the possibility of undiscovered new species,but the surveyed areas also have suspicious records of recognized congeners that require taxonomic confirmations.Combining both morphological and genetic data,we tackle these outstanding issues in the taxonomy of Lycodon in China.In particular,we discover two new species of Lycodon:one from the previously neglected hot-dry valley in the northern Hengduan Mountain Region close to Tibet,and another recluse and cryptic species from the L.fasciatus complex in the downtown park of a major city in southern Sichuan Province.Additionally,we clarify the distribution of L.septentrionalis in China and resurrect and elevate its junior synonym subspecies,Dinodon septentrionale chapaense,as a full,valid species,and we synonymize the recently described L.namdongensis to the resurrected L.chapaensis comb.nov..Lycodon chapaensis comb.nov.thus represents a new national record of reptilian fauna of China.Lastly,based on literature review,we also correct some of the erroneous records of L.fasciatus and L.ruhstrati in China,point out remaining taxonomic issues of the genus for future research,and update the dichotomous key and distribution of the 20 species of Lycodon currently recorded from China.
基金I am thankful to Jun-Xing YANG, Xiao-Yong CHEN, Lan-Ping ZHENG and Li- Na DU of the Kunming Institute for Zoology （KIZ） and their team around for giving me access to literature and nearly unrestricted access to the collection room of KIZ. I also thankful to Ting-Yi ZHAO of KIZ, for locating, measuring, and photographing mlmerous lots in the KIZ collection room, to my travel companion Jing Wang for her help and support, to Mike Bisset for his valuable comments on the manuscript and help with the Bleeker （1850） paper, and to Maurice Kottelat, Richard Green, Nguyen Dinh Tao, and Bui The Anh for literature support.
文摘In this study, six fish species of five families are reported for the first time from Yunnan Province, China. The nemacheilid Schistura arnplizona Kottelat, 2000 is reported from the Luosuojiang River and Nanlahe River subbasins, Mekong basin; the prochilodontid Prochilodus lineatus （Valenciennes, 1837）, the balitorid Vanmanenia serrilineata Kottelat, 2000, and the tetraodontid Monotrete turgidus Kottelat, 2000, from Nanlahe River subbasin, Mekong basin; the balitorid Beaz^fortia daon （Mai, 1978）, and the belonid Xenentodon canciloides （Bleeker, 1854）, both, from Black River subbasin, Red River basin. The freshwater puffer M. turgidus and the needlefish ,E canciloides have been previously misidentified as Tettraodon leiurus （Bleeker, 1950） and Tylosurus strongylurus （van Hasselt, 1823）, respectively.
基金This study was financially supported by the Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre(PHARMBIOTRAC).We would like to thank and acknowledge Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre hosted at Mbarara University of Science and Technology for funding the study,Mrs.Venerandah Biryabarema Bushenyi and Africa Volunteer Association-Kamwenge for providing us with the study plants.The authors also thank Mr.Gershom Muganga who was a research assistant during the study.
文摘Background:Different parts of Artemisia vulgaris L.(A.vulgaris)are ethno-medicinally used as an emmenagogue and for the treatment of ailments such as malaria fever,ulcers,and cancer.However,anecdotal evidence shows that the plant is often substituted for Artemisia annua L.(A.annua)by herbalists in Western Uganda due to similarities in their morphology.Misidentification of medicinal plants and mislabelling of herbal products have been incriminated in toxicity and adverse health outcomes in traditional medicine practise.Because safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies,it becomes imperative therefore that medicinal plants should be correctly identified.Methods:This study focused on investigating the macroscopic,microscopic,physicochemical characteristics and phytochemical composition of A.vulgaris leaves compared to A.annua to ease its correct identification.Results:The results showed that there are some colour differences between the leaves of the two species,with a close arrangement of microscopic features but different leaf constants.The leaves of the two Artemisia species had similar tastes,but their shapes and colours(greenish-yellow for A.annua and dark green for A.vulgaris)can be used by the local community to distinguish between them.The artemisinin content was higher in A.vulgaris leaves(1.72%)than in A.annua(1.43%),but the reverse was observed for the total flavonoid content.Conclusion:This observation could justify the change in the use of A.vulgaris by the indigenous community in western Uganda.Further studies should consider the pharmacognostic comparison of A.annua with other species in the genus Artemisia and the use of molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding.
文摘Aims Vegetation sampling employing observers is prone to both inter-observer and intra-observer error.Three types of errors are common:(i)overlooking error(i.e.not observing species actually present),(ii)misidentification error(i.e.not correctly identifying species)and(iii)estimation error(i.e.not accurately estimating abundance).I conducted a literature review of 59 articles that provided quantitative estimates or statistical inferences regarding observer error in vegetation studies.Important FindingsAlmost all studies(92%)that tested for a statistically significant effect of observer error found at least one significant comparison.In surveys of species composition,mean pseudoturnover(the percentage of species overlooked by one observer but not another)was 10-30%.Species misidentification rates were on the order of 5-10%.The mean coefficient of variation(CV)among observers in surveys of vegetation cover was often several hundred%for species with low cover,although CVs of 25-50%were more representative of species with mean covers of>50%.A variety of metrics and indices(including commonly used diversity indices)and multivariate data analysis techniques(including ordinations and classifications)were found to be sensitive to observer error.Sources of error commonly include both characteristics of the vegetation(e.g.small size of populations,rarity,morphology,phenology)and attributes of the observers(e.g.mental fatigue,personal biases,differences in experience,physical stress).The use of multiple observers,additional training including active feedback approaches,and continual evaluation and calibration among observers are recommended as strategies to reduce observer error in vegetation surveys.
基金funded by the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program.
文摘Aims Observer error is an unavoidable aspect of vegetation surveys involving human observers.We quantified four components of interobserver error associated with long-term monitoring of prairie vegetation:overlooking error,misidentification error,cautious error and estimation error.We also evaluated the association of plot size with pseudoturnover due to observer error,and how documented pseudochanges in species composition and abundance compared with recorded changes in the vegetation over a 4-year interval.Methods This study was conducted at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve,Kansas.Monitoring sites contained 10 plots;each plot consisted of a series of four nested frames(0.01,0.1,1 and 10 m^(2)).The herbaceous species present were recorded in each of the nested frames,and foliar cover was visually estimated within seven cover categories at the 10 m^(2)spatial scale only.Three hundred total plots(30 sites)were surveyed,and 28 plots selected at random were resurveyed to assess observer error.Four surveyors worked in teams of two.Important Findings At the 10 m^(2)spatial scale,pseudoturnover resulting from overlooking error averaged 18.6%,compared with 1.4%resulting from misidentification error and 0.6%resulting from cautious error.Pseudoturnover resulting from overlooking error increased as plot size decreased,although relocation error likely played a role.Recorded change in species composition over a 4-year interval(excluding potential misidentification error and cautious error)was 30.7%,which encompassed both pseudoturnover due to overlooking error and actual change.Given a documented overlooking error rate of 18.6%,this suggests the actual change for the 4-year period was only 12.1%.For estimation error,26.2%of the time a different cover class was recorded.Over the 4-year interval,46.9%of all records revealed different cover classes,suggesting that 56%of the records of change in cover between the two time periods were due to observer error.
