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The Siberian moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetverikov, is one of the most destructive conifer pests in Northern Asia, causing severe ecological and economic losses. In Russia, its range overlaps with that of the closely related pine-tree lappet Dendrolimus pini (L.), and this raises the potential for hybridization and complicates accurate identification, particularly in the context of the potential westward expansion of D. sibiricus. Here, we present the first comprehensive morphometric analysis of male genitalia aimed at distinguishing these two major forest pests and their hybrids. The study was based on D. sibiricus and D. pini specimens collected during the last 130 years (1894-2024) across Europe and Asia, including their hybrids reared indoors by crossing D. pini females with D. sibiricus males in 1956 and preserved in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia). Overall, 70 permanent genitalia slides were prepared (33 D. sibiricus, 33 D. pini, and 4 hybrids), and the following genital structures were measured: valva and harpe length, aedeagus width and length, and cornuti length. Dendrolimus sibiricus had significantly larger genital structures compared to D. pini: 74% longer harpe, 32% longer valva, and a 28% wider and longer aedeagus. In contrast, in D. sibiricus cornuti were 21% shorter than in D. pini. Hybrids displayed intermediate values for valva, harpe, and aedeagus lengths, and for these parameters, they significantly differed from both parental species. The following diagnostic indices were suggested to distinguish between the two species and their hybrids: Harpe Length/Valva Length Index (HL/VL) and Cornuti Length/Aedeagus Length Index (CL/AL). Decision-tree analysis identified HL/VL as the strongest predictor for separating the parental species and the Combined Genital Proportion Index (CGPI), which integrates harpe, valva, aedeagus, and cornuti lengths, as the strongest predictor for identifying hybrids. The morphometric criteria developed here have practical applications for monitoring programs and quarantine diagnostics, particularly in sympatric zones and regions at risk of D. sibiricus expansion.

The genus Moniezia comprises globally distributed parasitic cestodes that cause significant economic losses in domestic ruminants, yet its molecular characterization in wildlife remains limited. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of M. expansa in zoo animals in Taiwan. Specimens were obtained from a captive-born common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) and a domestic goat (Capra hircus); those from the eland underwent morphological examination of gravid proglottids, while all samples were analyzed genetically. Using the 18S ribosomal RNA, 28S ribosomal RNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) gene regions, we found identical strains of M. expansa in both the common eland and domestic goat in Taiwan, suggesting a local infection event. Notably, the eland-derived sequences clustered within lineages predominantly reported from Caprinae hosts, providing preliminary evidence of a potential spillover event, which aligns with the known broad host specificity of M. expansa. Haplotype network analysis further identified a novel nad1 haplotype within our sampled dataset and revealed high genetic diversity, which may support the hypothesis of complex expansion history of M. expansa. These findings underscore the value of molecular tools in clarifying parasite ecology in mixed wildlife-livestock settings and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance in zoological institutions.

The limitations of biohybrid and mechanical robots, including insufficient control accuracy, limited flexibility, long-term stability, and endurance, have spurred considerable research interest in cyborg animals, which leverage the innate locomotion capabilities, physiological systems, and natural intelligence of organisms to perform tasks with high adaptability, superior performance, and extended endurance. This study provides a comprehensive overview of cyborg animals within the framework of animal taxonomy, summarizing the current state of research from a zoological perspective. Subsequently, the effect of different control techniques on the locomotion performance of cyborg animals was examined, with a special emphasis on 2 prominent research areas: brain-computer interfaces and muscle-receptor electrical stimulation. In addition, the role of advances in electronic backpack design and navigation control algorithms in enabling closed-loop control and applications, including swarm robotics, environmental exploration, and human-machine interaction, is also introduced, offering valuable insights for developing cyborg animals. This study highlights 4 critical aspects essential for the future advancement of cyborg animals by synthesizing recent progress and clarifying technical distinctions: adaptation between control strategies and animals, biocompatibility and stability of electronic backpacks, construction of interactive hybrid robotic systems, and ethical and welfare considerations related to the experimental animals, with the hope of facilitating the optimization and application of cyborg animal systems.

The taxonomy of East Asian Scincella has been confused. Although the taxonomic status of some East Asian species was once synonymized Chinese S. modesta by Ouboter, this revision is no longer supported on the basis of morphological characteristics. However, molecular studies have not been conducted well, and the phylogenetic relationships of these East Asian species are not well understood. In this study, we tentatively labeled the nine species once synonymized with S. modesta as the "S. modesta group," and used nuclear and mitochondrial DNA data from six of these species to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. Within the S. modesta group, each species showed distinct lineages and four subclades were recognized in our study: (I) S. vandenburghi in Korea to Tsushima Island, Japan and S. modesta from central China, near the Changjiang River; (II) Scincella species of southern Ryukyus and Taiwan, S. boettgeri, and S. formosensis, etc.; (III) S. modesta from Ningbo (= Ningpo), Zhejiang, and Hong Kong; and (IV) Southwest Chinese Scincella, S. potanini, S. monticola, etc. This phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. modesta contained two distinct lineages at the species level. The estimated divergence dates imply that speciation of the S. modesta group began around the Early Miocene, with subclade IV diverging first, followed by III, and I and II diverged around the Late Miocene. Then, it is considered that this group diversified during the Pliocene. In addition, we propose a taxonomic suggestion for subspecies of S. modesta.

Symbioses between mites and beetles are ubiquitous, but the relationships among mites and leaf-feeding, free-living beetle species have not been well studied. To clarify the relationships between a phoretic mite, Coleolaelaps longisetatus, and leaf-feeding, free-living Polyphylla beetle species in Japan, we determined phoretic rates of mites and clarified the patterns of genetic diversification of the mite in relation to the host beetle species. Totals of 252 P. albolineata, 31 P. laticollis, and 44 P. schoenfeldti were collected from 55, 14, and 10 sites, respectively. Coleolaelaps longisetatus was found on 224 P. albolineata (89%), 28 P. laticollis (90%), and 42 P. schoenfeldti (95%). No geographic pattern was observed in phoretic rates of mites. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the C. longisetatus collected from each host beetle species formed monophyletic groups, suggesting that the diversification process of the host beetles affected the divergence of the phoretic mites. Haplotype network analyses showed that there was a roughly geographic pattern in genetic diversity within the mite clades, which may reflect the dispersal abilities of the host beetles.

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Cooperation is the cornerstone of human societies, and its emergence is firmly linked to enhanced tolerance and egalitarianism. However, evidence of profuse cooperation in less tolerant and despotic societies challenges this predominant view. The overarching interdependency hypothesis may resolve the conundrum. It posits that group-level interdependencies, like strength in numbers in colonially nesting species or allomaternal care in cooperatively breeding species, promote indiscriminate cooperation through enhanced tolerance. Crucially, this hypothesis also predicts that dyadic interdependence like friendships, nepotistic biases, or coalitions, selectively enhance tolerance, fostering discriminate cooperation in despotic species. Species belonging to Macaca, which have a similar social organization, yet remarkable variation in tolerance, hierarchy steepness, nepotistic biases, and coalitionary tendencies, provide an opportunity for testing the interdependency hypothesis. In social group settings, we experimentally study cooperation, prosociality, and tolerance in six macaque species spanning a tolerance gradient. Our findings reveal high dyadic cooperation in despotic societies, yet this cooperation is restricted to a few partners. Dyadic prosociality, kinship, and tolerance positively predict cooperation. Further, our agent-based models demonstrate that despotic societies have fewer but more stable bonds and, thus, higher dyadic interdependencies than in egalitarian societies. Our results suggest that interdependencies facilitate the emergence and maintenance of cooperation.

Rapid global changes in climate and habitats lead to shifts in species' geographic ranges. Range contractions experienced by numerous species may result in local extinctions and connectivity disruptions. In some species, range expansions have been observed instead, suggesting the enlargement of suitable habitats and/or adaptations to changing environments. Despite its importance for wildlife management, our understanding of the factors influencing species' spatial responses to rapidly changing environments remains limited. The golden jackal serves as an excellent model to address this knowledge gap, given its ongoing rapid range expansion. In this study, we investigated environmental factors contributing to genetic connectivity and local adaptation across the expanding range of the golden jackal, based on a comprehensive sampling scheme across Eurasia (n = 363), a high-quality set of genomic markers (19,746 SNPs), and a landscape genomics framework. At the continental scale, geographic distance emerged as the predominant factor. At finer spatial scales, genetic connectivity was best explained by climatic predictors, specifically high annual and seasonal variations in precipitation and temperature, which can shape the species' spatial genetic structure by constraining gene flow. Our connectivity models for current and future climatic conditions show that the species' northward expansion is facilitated by changes in these variables in central and northern Europe promoting high connectivity. Precipitation and temperature were also responsible for most local adaptation signals. Given the potential role of hybridization with domestic dogs in shaping range expansion patterns, we investigated the association between environmental conditions and dog admixture proportions. We found no significant trends, indicating a limited effect of dog admixture on habitat choice. Collectively, our findings suggest that the golden jackal has the potential to continue its expansion across Eurasia in response to ongoing global climate change, providing an example of a species that rapidly tracks the expansion of its suitable habitats.

Genetic diversity plays a crucial role in influencing evolution and adaptation. The order Primates is distinguished by advanced social structures, ecological adaptability, and extensive geographic distribution. These factors suggest that genetic variation within primate species is formed by both natural selection and historical population changes. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) occupy a broad range across India. Their extensive genomic variation reveals significant intra-specific differences among populations. We sequenced and analyzed approximately 565 bases of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region from 236 fecal samples of wild Indian rhesus macaques, collected from 25 locations across 12 Indian states. We identified 66 haplotypes with overall haplotype and nucleotide diversity of 0.833 ± 0.023 and 0.0174 ± 0.0031, respectively. Among states, West Bengal_Sundarban showed the highest haplotype diversity (1.000 ± 0.126), while Delhi showed the lowest (0.182 ± 0.144). Phylogenetic analysis revealed two divergent clades. Clade 1 comprised North Indian cluster, including those from the Himalayan foothills, and Clade 2 comprised East Indian cluster. Genetic difference (Fst) of 80.05% observed between the two clades, indicating the presence of two deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages, suggesting the possible presence of two subspecies of rhesus macaques in India. However, this inference should be further validated using additional nuclear markers to confirm the taxonomic status. PCA plot and Median-joining (MJ) network analysis further revealed two haplogroups: Haplogroup I was primarily associated with North Indian cluster, while Haplogroup II from East Indian cluster. Interestingly, some individuals from the South Indian cluster, Telangana appeared in both Clade suggesting possible southward dispersal. Telangana, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal_Sundarban, and Odisha populations showed signatures of geographical and historical isolation. Demographic analyses indicated historical population contraction. The pronounced genetic structure and mtDNA divergence, when compared with rhesus macaques from other countries, further support the existence of two subspecies that can be confirmed with nuclear markers for robust taxonomic inference. Our study contributes to understanding genetic connectivity, population structure and migration patterns, which will aid in the long-term monitoring of Indian rhesus macaques.

Limbs are the principal locomotory structures in vertebrate body, closely related to the habitat use and locomotion strategies of the species. Sea turtles rely almost entirely on their fore flippers for aquatic locomotion. The humerus is the most crucial bone structure connecting the scapulocoracoid and flipper, and studies thereof are used to understand turtles' locomotion mechanisms and swimming strategies. To define the morphological traits of the humerus of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles and analyze interspecific differences, sea turtle carcasses were sampled from strandings and bycatch in Korean waters within their northern range limit. The length and width of the carapace, plastron, and 15 parts of the left humerus from the carcasses were measured and analyzed. The humerus length and width were positively linearly correlated with the straight carapace length of both sea turtle species, indicating that the carapace size of sea turtles can be reasonably estimated based on the size of the humerus. Additionally, significant interspecific differences were identified in 12 humeral segments, with loggerhead turtles having a humerus that was longer overall but thinner toward the shoulder than green turtles. These differences may be related to their migration patterns, as loggerhead turtles, which migrate long distances, have elongated humeri that are wider toward the tip, which may reflect their efficient use of ocean currents for swimming instead of relying on flapping. In contrast, the green turtle, which is a more vigorous swimmer, has a short but thick humerus that can withstand the stress on the shoulder caused by flapping. These findings demonstrate that bone structure and function differ among even closely related species, depending on their habitat and the environmental exploitation strategies employed.

Myxobolus nagaraensis, a parasitic cnidarian, was first isolated from a freshwater goby of the genus Rhinogobius collected from the Nagara River system in central Japan and was described as a new species in 2007. This study investigated the changes in parasitism of Rhinogobius species by M. nagaraensis in the Nagara River Basin. Rhinogobius specimens, collected between 1967 and 2020 and stored at the Lake Biwa Museum and Gifu Prefectural Museum, were visually examined for the presence or absence of swelling of the abdomen or caudal peduncle specific to M. nagaraensis infestation. No swelling was identified among the 45,018 specimens collected from the main stream; however, one R. flumineus specimen collected from the Itaya River in 2011 exhibited a swelling among 1274 specimens collected from the tributaries. The myxospores extracted from the abdominal swelling were identified as M. nagaraensis through microscopic observation. Interviews with 26 individuals yielded four sightings of parasitized specimens, all of which occurred after 2007. Thus, there have been almost no cases of Rhinogobius species parasitism in the main stream from 2007 to the present, suggesting that parasitism may have predominantly spread to tributaries after 2007. Reasons for the changes in parasitism rates over time were discussed, including the possibility that parasitism rates in the main stream may have been underestimated due to biases caused by the sampling methods.

Ranger patrols are a cornerstone of wildlife protection efforts around the world and occur across all ecological governance systems. Evidence that patrols reduce threats to wildlife and enable their recovery has not been systematically examined previously. Without evidence of patrol effectiveness in varying contexts, protected area managers risk wasting limited conservation resources and lack information required to improve the effectiveness of patrols. We conducted a meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of terrestrial patrols for conserving African, Asian, and Latin American wildlife directly threatened by exploitation. After filtering 57 studies, we calculated effect sizes from each of the remaining 15 studies that included a comparator and measurement of wildlife abundance and calculated standardised mean difference and % change in wildlife species abundance. Results suggest tentative support that areas implementing patrols (alongside other interventions) were associated with higher wildlife abundance levels compared to time periods or locations without patrols. We were unable to confirm causality between patrols and changes in wildlife population abundance because studies were inadequately designed to evaluate and report on effectiveness. Studies commonly lacked a comparator or counterfactual event, temporal or spatial replication, and consistent and/or long-term monitoring of population abundance, and had study designs that confounded conservation actions. Further, of the 15 included studies linking wildlife abundance to patrol efforts, five also reported a reduction in a poaching threat, but only three of these used a comparator in the threat reduction evaluation. Without monitoring threat trends alongside wildlife abundance, it is difficult to be confident that patrols resulted in increases in wildlife abundance. To help evaluate patrol interventions (i.e. not only whether they work but where and under what conditions they work), we identify opportunities to improve future patrol effectiveness research and provide recommendations on how to improve the evidence base.

The idea that atmospheric oxygen has dictated the maximum body size of insects across their evolutionary history is ingrained in popular and scientific literature1-3. In Nature 30 years ago, the hypothesis was put forward that a limitation on oxygen diffusion at the level of the tracheoles constrains the maximum body size of insects and that increased atmospheric oxygen concentration in the late Palaeozoic permitted insect gigantism4. Here we contest this hypothesis by showing that the relative space occupied by tracheoles in the flight muscle of insects (1) increases by only 1.8-fold over a 10,000-fold body mass range (1,320 micrographs, 44 species, 10 orders), (2) is typically 1% or less in most species, and (3) that this observation holds when we extend our relationship to the long-extinct gigantic dragonfly-like Meganeuropsis permiana (approximately 100 g). The small space requirement and the lack of a strong increase in tracheolar investment with body size, despite clear evolutionary potential to do so, provide convincing evidence that diffusive oxygen transport through the tracheolar-muscle system does not constrain the maximum body size of extant or gigantic prehistoric insects.

Na+/K+-ATPase (Nka) is essential for maintaining body fluid homeostasis in teleost osmoregulatory epithelia. In the present study, we identified six Nka α-subunit isoforms, including those previously reported in Mozambique tilapia. Among the Nka α-subunit isoforms, nkaa1a, nkaa1b, nkaa1c, and nkaa3b were highly expressed in the gills. In the gills of freshwater (FW)-acclimated fish, the expression levels of nkaa1c, were the highest, and those of nkaa1a and nkaa1b were moderately expressed, whereas in the gills of seawater (SW)-acclimated fish, nkaa1b expression was the highest, followed by nkaa3b. We also investigated the expressions of the four Nka α-subunit isoforms in the four types of ionocytes by means of triple fluorescence staining with whole-mount in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. The Nka α-subunit isoforms showed differential expression in functionally distinct types of ionocytes in Mozambique tilapia. Only nkaa1c was expressed in type I ionocytes, which are considered to be in the immature or resting phase. Nkaa1a is the major isoform in type II ionocytes that absorb Na+ and Cl- through apically-located Na+/Cl- cotransporter 2 (Ncc2) in FW. Type III ionocytes, which absorb Na+ in exchange for H+ through apical Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (Nhe3) in FW, mainly expressed nkaa1b, with moderate expression of nkaa1a and nkaa1c. Type IV ionocytes that secrete Na+ and Cl- in SW expressed mainly nkaa1b and, secondarily nkaa3b. It should be noted that nkaa1b is the major Nka α-subunit isoform in both type III and type IV ionocytes, which are substantially the same cell type with functional plasticity.

We describe a new species of pisionid annelid, Pisione mizuchi sp. nov., found from rivers on Sado Island, Japan. This species represents the second known member of the genus Pisione Grube, 1857 to inhabit freshwater environments. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the absence of elongated ventral cirri on segment 2 and dorsal cirri on segment 3, the absence of bilobed prechaetal lobes, the presence of four chaetae per parapodium, and a single pair of male copulatory organs associated with strongly modified parapodia. A phylogenetic tree of Pisioninae based on four molecular markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA) is also provided.

Large whale strandings along the east coast of the USA have increased in recent years, resulting in unusual mortality event (UME) declarations for several species. Endangered sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus have not been included in a UME; however, recent strandings have shown commonalities that warrant investigation. We analyzed 4 live-stranded sperm whales ('case' whales) in waters of the southeastern USA from 2020-2022 to determine if common factors contributed to death and to inform future management decisions. Thorough investigations were performed, including necropsy, histopathology, and infectious disease and biotoxin testing. Major findings were related to emaciation; there was no evidence of infectious disease or significant toxin exposure. Two of the whales had ingested fishing gear and other marine debris that may have contributed to emaciation. Prey identification and stable isotope analysis (SIA) of these whales combined with SIA of 4 additional sperm whales ('reference' whales) provided further life history data for this species. Prey consumed were primarily cephalopods from families consistent with known sperm whale diets in other parts of the world, and SIA suggested that case whales had similar foraging habitats and trophic levels compared to reference whales. The common finding of emaciation in case whales despite typical prey consumption emphasizes the need for continued research on factors that may influence foraging efficiency or prey availability and quality in this region. Furthermore, finding ingested fishing gear in 2 whales supports continued efforts to monitor and mitigate human impacts to support long-term survival and recovery of sperm whale populations.

Understanding whether a species' distribution results from recent and/or anthropogenic events or ancient vicariant factors is critical for conservation planning. The Endangered Sanje mangabey (Cercocebus sanjei), endemic to Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains, is currently divided into two populations located approximately 100 km apart. These represent distinct evolutionary lineages that diverged around 0.77 million years ago (MYA). We aimed to investigate i) the phylogeographic history and recent changes in size and range of the two Sanje mangabey populations, and ii) whether lack of suitable habitat between populations and consequent difficulty to disperse may have influenced the 0.77 MYA divergence time. We used 64 mitochondrial control region sequences obtained from non-invasive DNA. The probability of suitable habitat across Tanzania and the Udzungwa Mountains was modelled at three time points: Mid-Holocene (6,000 YA), Last Glacial Maximum (22,000 YA), and the Last Interglacial period (120,000-140,000 YA). We found six haplotypes, clustered into two haplogroups. Significant differentiation was estimated between populations, which show no evidence for recent range expansion or contraction. The ecological niche modelling revealed fluctuating extents of suitable habitat across southern Tanzania. Large genetic differentiation between populations may have been influenced by a general trend in aridification in East Africa across the last 40,000 years, resulting in a shift of montane forests to gradually higher elevations. Intermediate populations may have become extinct as suitable habitat retracted, leaving relict populations with relatively stable demographic histories ancestral to the present-day populations. This study supports their preliminary designation as separate evolutionary significant units, a conclusion with conservation management implications.

The use of conservation translocations to restore threatened species in the wild is dramatically increasing. Yet, failure of these conservation efforts is frequent and difficult to analyze because of the lack of a shared definition of translocation success, of standardized evaluation metrics, and of consistent durations of postrelease monitoring (PRM). This absence of consensuses hampers the analysis of temporal and taxonomic trends related to translocation planning. We reviewed 298 conservation translocation case studies published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to compose a thorough overview of the objectives, success metrics, and PRM time frames adopted across translocation projects. We then used a decision analysis framework to establish recommendations on translocation evaluations. We found that 63.7% of case studies were rated successful by their authors, 36% of translocations were monitored over the long term (>5 years), and over time historical taxonomic bias to translocate charismatic species decreased. Translocation success was evaluated using more than 200 different proxies, which we summarized into 17 metrics falling under three categories related to behavior, demography, and health. Certain metrics were differentially used across taxa or PRM time frames or were associated with more favorable evaluations. Each incorporation of a success metric from a different category was associated with a 3.4-fold increase in the odds of being rated as more successful. We recommend evaluating the combination of at least one behavioral, two demographic, and one health objective to assess translocation outcomes in a standardized yet flexible manner across species and projects. Our results highlighted the need for further enabling efforts to support translocations, notably through habitat quality enhancement, threat mitigation, and disease risk assessment. Our review furthers progress toward a much-needed standardized framework to evaluate and improve the outcomes of conservation translocations. Evaluación de los resultados de las translocaciones con fines de conservación mediante métricas estandarizadas basadas en estudios de casos de la UICN Resumen El uso de traslados con fines conservacionistas para restaurar especies amenazadas en su hábitat natural está aumentando drásticamente. Sin embargo, el fracaso de estos esfuerzos de conservación es frecuente y difícil de analizar debido a la falta de una definición común del éxito de la translocación, de métricas de evaluación estandarizadas y de duraciones coherentes del seguimiento posterior a la liberación (SPL). Esta ausencia de consenso dificulta el análisis de las tendencias temporales y taxonómicas relacionadas con la planificación de las translocaciones. Revisamos 298 estudios de casos de translocación con fines de conservación publicados por la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN) para elaborar una visión general exhaustiva de los objetivos, los parámetros de éxito y los plazos de SPL adoptados en los proyectos de translocación. Posteriormente, utilizamos un marco de análisis de decisiones para establecer recomendaciones sobre las evaluaciones de translocación. Descubrimos que el 63,7 % de los estudios de casos fueron calificados como exitosos por sus autores, el 36 % de las translocaciones se supervisaron a largo plazo (>5 años) y, con el tiempo, disminuyó el sesgo taxonómico histórico de translocar especies carismáticas. El éxito de la translocación se evaluó utilizando más de 200 indicadores diferentes, que resumimos en 17 métricas clasificadas en tres categorías relacionadas con el comportamiento, la demografía y la salud. Algunas métricas se utilizaron de forma diferente según los taxones o los plazos del SPL, o se asociaron con evaluaciones más favorables. Cada incorporación de una métrica de éxito de una categoría diferente se asoció con un aumento de 3,4 veces en las probabilidades de ser calificado como más exitoso. Recomendamos evaluar la combinación de al menos un objetivo conductual, dos demográficos y uno sanitario para valorar los resultados de la translocación de una manera estandarizada pero flexible en todas las especies y proyectos. Nuestros resultados pusieron de relieve la necesidad de seguir realizando esfuerzos para apoyar las translocaciones, en particular mediante la mejora de la calidad del hábitat, la mitigación de las amenazas y la evaluación del riesgo de enfermedades. Nuestra revisión contribuye al avance hacia un marco estandarizado muy necesario para evaluar y mejorar los resultados de las translocaciones con fines de conservación. 【摘要】 利用易地保护恢复野外受威胁物种的实践正在快速增加。然而, 由于对易地保护的成功与否尚缺乏基于标准化评估指标及放归后长期监测的统一定义, 相关的保护工作常以失败告终且难以分析。缺少共识还阻碍了对易地保护规划相关的时序分析与类群趋势分析。本研究回顾了国际自然保护联盟(IUCN)发布的298份易地保护案例研究, 全面综述了各个项目采用的目标设定、成功标准及放归后监测时间框架。接下来, 我们利用决策分析框架制定了易地保护评估建议。研究发现, 63.7%的案例被作者评定为成功;36%的易地保护项目实施了长期监测(>5年);随时间发展, 倾向易地保护明星物种的历史性类群偏好逐渐减弱。易地保护成功的标准包有超过200种不同的评价方式, 我们将其总结为行为、种群动态及健康这三大类的17项指标。特定指标在不同类群或放归后监测时间框架中的应用存在差异, 可能与更积极的评估结果相关。每增加一项不同类别的成功指标, 被评定为更成功案例的概率即可提升3.4倍。我们建议采用至少包含一项行为指标、两项种群动态指标及一项健康指标的综合评估体系, 从而实现跨物种、跨项目的标准化且灵活的易地保护成效评估。以上研究结果强调了需加强易地保护的支持措施, 重点包括提升栖息地质量、减缓威胁及开展疾病风险评估。本综述为建立亟需的标准化框架以评估和优化易地保护成效提供了重要进展。【翻译:胡怡思;审校:聂永刚】.

The scorpion genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908 is widely distributed across Africa and the Middle East, extending to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. The processes which resulted in their evolution and diversification across this vast area are poorly understood. The present study investigated the phylogeny and historical biogeography of the genus in the Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountains based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences from four African species, an Arabian species and eight species from the Middle East, most of which are endemic to Iran. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of all species included in the analysis and recovered a clade comprising Iranian and Afro-Arabian species. S-DIVA and BBM analyses demonstrated that the species of Hottentotta occurring in the Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountains originated from an African ancestor and then dispersed to their current geographical ranges. Further divergence coincided with the orogeny of the Zagros Mountains and climatic changes during the Miocene epoch. The results support the hypothesis that the Zagros Mountains formed a geographical barrier which promoted vicariance and diversification on the Iranian Plateau.