Fossil Record celebrates 25 years with a special issue exploring the vertebrate conquest of land

This collection brings together articles exploring the fish-to-tetrapod transition. 

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Museum für Naturkunde publication Fossil Record, the open-access journal has launched a new special issue centred on a seismic event in vertebrate evolution: the fish-to-tetrapod transition and the conquest of land. 

This special issue brings together a collection of articles exploring the rise of early land vertebrates and the evolutionary innovations that paved the way for terrestrial ecosystems. 

The issue includes a welcoming address by Prof Dr Johannes Vogel, Director General of Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, as well as an editorial celebrating Fossil Record’s 25th anniversary authored by Editor-in-Chief Dr Florian Witzmann and colleagues. 

Finally, the journal’s founder, Prof Hans-Peter Schultze, pens his reflections on the challenges and vision that shaped Fossil Record in its formative years.  

The fish-to-tetrapod transition  

The evolutionary transition of vertebrates from water to land is a major chapter in animal evolution. Around 370 million years ago, vertebrates conquered the land, giving rise to a remarkable diversity of body proportions, feeding behaviours, locomotory, and sensory adaptations. 

Tetrapods (vertebrates with four limbs) are of great interest to the scientific community because they can illuminate the rise of modern terrestrial ecosystems and the deep roots of much of today’s terrestrial vertebrate diversity. Indeed, research on early tetrapods is also the study of our own remote ancestry.

Drawing from Michel Laurin’s article on the habitat of early stegocephalians. Credit: Ruben Koops, Rafael Albo, Jacek Major and Amin Khaleghparast.

The special issue explores this transformation, featuring eight original articles authored by researchers from around the world. Topics range from the palaeoecology of the fish-tetrapod transition to the biomechanics of early tetrapod skulls. 

Building a legacy in palaeontology  

Since its inception in 1998 as Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde, Geowissenschaftliche Reihe, Fossil Record has evolved into a modern, internationally recognised journal. Under its rebranded title in 2006, the journal embraced a global audience with articles published in English. 

The transition to open access in 2014 further cemented its role as a leader in palaeontological publishing, allowing unrestricted access to its content while eliminating fees for authors. The journal celebrated 10 years of open access last year along with fellow  Museum für Naturkunde journals Zoosystematics and Evolution and Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift.

Celebrating 25 years  

“Fossil Record has come a long way in the past quarter of a century. The journal has become very visible in the scientific community and is now firmly established in the top quartile of palaeontological journals worldwide.”  

Prof Dr Johannes Vogel, Director General of the Museum für Naturkunde.

“25 years after its foundation, we are celebrating the success of the Fossil Record, which has become a modern, international open access journal and continues to attract authors from all over the world. Such an achievement is always a team effort, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone involved – my colleagues on the Editorial Board and their tireless commitment to maintaining high standards of article quality; the Coordination Office of the MfN for its steadfast commitment to promoting Open Access at the museum, and the Directorate General for generously covering the author page charges. Last but not least, I would also like to express my special thanks for the smooth and trusting cooperation with Pensoft Publishers!”

Dr Florian Witzman, Editor-in-Chief

As the journal celebrates this milestone, the special issue reflects its commitment to advancing palaeontological research via global collaboration. From documenting early land vertebrates to unveiling the complexities of evolutionary history, Fossil Record continues to illuminate the past while inspiring future discoveries.  

Check out the articles featured in the special issue below:

Here’s to 25 years of Fossil Record and many more to come! 

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Don’t forget to follow Fossil Record on X and Facebook, and subscribe to its newsletter from the journal’s website!

The Dark Side of the ocean: New giant sea bug species named after Darth Vader

The 32.5 cm-long sea bug, known as a “supergiant” was found off the coast of Vietnam.

Giant isopods of the genus Bathynomus, which can reach more than 30 cm in length, are known as bọ biển or “sea bugs” in Vietnam. For the first time, one such species was described from Vietnamese waters and named Bathynomus vaderi. The name “vaderi” is inspired by the appearance of its head, which closely resembles the distinctive and iconic helmet of Darth Vader, the most famous Sith Lord of Star Wars.

The head of Bathynomus vaderi. Image by Nguyen Thanh Son

Bathynomus vaderi belongs to a group known as “supergiants,” reaching lengths of 32.5 cm and weighing over a kilogram. So far, this new species has only been found near the Spratly Islands in Vietnam, but further research will probably confirm its presence in other parts of the South China Sea.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son holding a giant specimen of another species of giant isopod found in Vietnam (B. jamesi) that weighed 2.62 kg from a seafood market in Hanoi, October 2024.  Photo by Peter Ng

Giant isopods like Bathynomus vaderi have become an expensive delicacy in Vietnam. Until 2017, local fishermen only sold them as a bycatch product for low prices, but in recent years the media has drawn public attention to this unusual seafood. Some go as far as claiming it’s more delicious than lobster, the “king of seafood”.

Prof. Peter Ng examining giant isopods from a seafood market in Hanoi, October 2024.  Photo by Nguyen Thanh Son

These animals have been commercially fished by trawlers operating in various deep-water parts of Biển Đông ( East Sea, Vietnamese part of the South China Sea) and offshore of provinces in south-central coastal of Vietnam. Over the last five years, it has become common to see themsold alive in some seafood markets in Hanoi, Hồ Chí Minh City, and Đà Nẵng City. Some outlets and restaurants even advertise the saleof these “sea bugs” online on various social media platforms, including how best to cook them!

Dr. Conni Sidabalok examining individuals of Bathynomus vaderi at Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Singapore.  Photo by Rene Ong

In March 2022, staff from Hanoi University purchased four giant isopod individuals from Quy Nhơn City and sent two of them to Peter Ng from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in the National University of Singapore for identification. Peter Ng has a very active crustacean laboratory in Singapore and has worked on the deep-sea fauna from many parts of Asia. He subsequently co-opted Conni M. Sidabalok from the National Research and Innovation Agency Indonesia, who had described Bathynomus from southern Java with him. Together with Nguyen Thanh Son from the Vietnam National University, who is the resident crustacean researcher there, they studied the specimens. In early 2023, they realised they had specimens of a so far undescribed species. Now, they have published their findings in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

The discovery of a species as strange as Bathynomus vaderi in Vietnam highlights just how poorly we understand the deep-sea environment. That a species as large as this could have stayed hidden for so long reminds us just how much work we still need to do to find out what lives in Southeast Asian waters.

There is an urgent need to better understand our deep-sea biodiversity as humans increasingly endeavour to exploit this habitat for fisheries, oil and gas, and even minerals. The sustainable fishery of giant isopods just adds to the many challenges we face. And the first step is to know what lives there.

Research article:

Ng PKL, Sidabalok CM, Nguyen TS (2025) A new species of supergiant Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from Vietnam, with notes on the taxonomy of Bathynomus jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017. ZooKeys 1223: 289–310. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1223.139335

Unpacking the possibilities of Intellectual Properties for Open Science: Pensoft joins the IP4OS project

As part of the Horizon Europe consortium IP4OS, Pensoft will contribute with services and know-how in scholarly publishing and project branding.

As part of the Horizon Europe consortium, Pensoft will contribute with services and know-how in scholarly publishing and project branding.

Pensoft takes on an integral part in the newly launched EU-funded project: Intellectual Properties for Open Science: Pensoft (IP4OS) as a leader of the Work Package 5: Knowledge transfer: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of project results and Sustainability

IP4OS focuses on the integration of Intellectual Property and Open Science to empower professionals across Europe in making research outputs more accessible and impactful.

The IP4OS project officially started with a kick-off symposium on 8-9 January 2025, in Kiel, Germany.

Over 50 participants from diverse fields came together for the first day of the event, which featured talks and discussions focused on the intersection between Intellectual Property and Open Science. The second day saw presentations of the work packages that mapped out the project’s activities over the next two years through a collaborative exchange of ideas.

Members of the IP4OS consortium at the project kick-off in early January 2025 (Kiel, Germany).

The Project

IP4OS aims to promote a practical connection between Intellectual Property management and Open Science principles. 

The project has outlined several objectives to reach this goal, including:

  1. Best-practice manual: IP4OS is to release a guide with actionable steps for integrating Intellectual Property and Open Science principles effectively.
  2. Raise awareness: the consortium is to inform about the use of Intellectual Property tools in the context of Open Science practices among key professional groups.
  3. Professional training: the project is to deliver educational programs to a broad audience and equip participants with practical knowledge and skills.
  4. Collaborative community: IP4OS is to engage professionals across Europe to create a network of individuals and organisations focused on the improvement of knowledge-sharing practices.

These goals are aligned with the European Commission’s vision to strengthen knowledge-sharing practices for societal and economic advancement.

Pensoft’s role in IP4OS

As the leader of Work Package 5, Pensoft is responsible for amplifying the visibility and long-term impact of the IP4OS project. 

Key activities under this work package include:
  1. Distinctive brand identity: Pensoft will create a project logo, branding guidelines, promotional content, and a website to serve as a hub for project content and updates.
  2. Communication and dissemination strategy: Pensoft will prepare a detailed plan for sharing project results amongst key stakeholders and audiences. The plan will be implemented during the early stages of the project.
  3. Project outcomes visibility: Pensoft will produce key informational materials, including the best-practice manual and educational resources. These will be shared through platforms like the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and Knowledge Valorisation Platform to extend the project’s reach.
  4. Stakeholder engagement: Pensoft will deliver content such as videos, press releases and newsletters to communicate the project’s progress and results to a wide audience.

These efforts, among others, aim to make the project results widely accessible and reusable by all relevant groups within and beyond the research community.

International Consortium

The project brings together nine international partners from eight countries operating in various sectors, ultimately contributing with diverse expertise:

Together, the consortium is committed to addressing the challenges of integrating Intellectual Property and Open Science practices.

Over the coming months, the IP4OS project will focus on developing resources to support professionals in advancing the use of Intellectual Property and Open Science practices. 

The IP4OS project website is coming soon!

In the meantime, make sure to follow the project’s progress by following our social media channels on BlueSky and LinkedIn.

Science Communication in Support of SDGs: Pensoft at the UN’s Science Summit 2024

Boris Barov, Project Manager at Pensoft, talked about open-science publishing and science communication as a stepping stone towards the fulfilment of biodiversity targets. 

Boris Barov (far right) and network partners at the UN Science Summit 2024 (New York, USA).

Last September saw a showcase by Pensoft at the Science Summit 2024 that took place in conjunction with the 79th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York.

This participation came about as a result of the collaboration within a network of European organisations from the domains of biodiversity, ecology and engineering.

The organisations at the core of the network held a workshop on the combined role of science and technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More precisely, the Kunmig-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF) was selected as a testbed, whose stipulations can guide innovation across sectors and disciplines on the road to the realisation of specific SDGs.

The day-long programme featured 30 presentations that covered a variety of themes related to research priorities and technological instruments servicing the KM GBF.  Experts and stakeholders at the political, academic and professional level were involved in the proceedings, solidifying the network’s status as a hub for innovators in biodiversity conservation efforts.

Among the speakers was Boris Barov, Project Manager at Pensoft, who introduced the audience to the importance of open-science publishing and science communication as a stepping stone towards the fulfilment of biodiversity targets. 

Barov elaborated on the key tenets and approaches ensuring that publishers like Pensoft are actively contributing to the preservation of the biosphere on a global level.

Those include:

  • disseminating conservation-centric research that uncovers findings and innovations critical to the effective implementation of the KM-GBF
  • supporting open access and knowledge sharing that guarantee the free availability of research outputs to any and all parties that need it
  • fostering an interface between science and policy that allows vital expertise to reach and inform decision-makers 
  • championing inclusivity and equality that give indigenous communities a seat at the table 

Additionally, Barov singled out Pensoft’s participation in the EU-funded research projects CO-OP4CBD, BioAgora and TRANSPATH as a testament to effective science communication that empowers stakeholder collaboration and engagement at the science-policy interface. 

It is the intention of the network of organisations to collect the stakeholder input submitted during the event in a future whitepaper designed to outline its approach to facilitating biodiversity governance through research and technology.

Moreover, this is meant to be followed by an open call rallying international support for the integration of biodiversity conservation priorities into the post-SDG agenda of the UN.

Read more about the Horizon Europe-funded CO-OP4CBD & BioAgora projects and Pensoft’s involvement on our blog. You can also follow updates from CO-OP4CBD on BluesSky, X and Linkedin. BioAgora is also on X and Linkedin.

Pensoft turns up ‘the voice’ of two strategic EU projects aiming to safeguard nature

In 2023, Pensoft also joined TRANSPATH as an expert in science communication, dissemination and exploitation. Find more on our blog and follow the Horizon Europe project on X and Linkedin.

Transformative changes for biodiversity and climate protection: Pensoft partners with EU project TRANSPATH

Pensoft Publishers and the Southern eDNA Society join forces to advance eDNA research

The partnership aims to accelerate the development and application of eDNA technology and increase the visibility and impact of eDNA research.

Pensoft Publishers, a leading open-access publisher of scientific journals, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern eDNA Society (SeDNAs) to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of environmental DNA (eDNA) research. By working together, the two organisations aim to accelerate the development and application of eDNA technology, ultimately contributing to a better understanding and conservation of our planet’s biodiversity.

The Southern eDNA Society is a recently established organisation of about 200 members that aims to facilitate communication, collaboration and knowledge transfer in the rapidly developing field of eDNA.

Pensoft is an innovative scholarly publisher of over 35 open-access, peer-reviewed journals across various disciplines, including the highly regarded Metabarcoding and Metagenomics (MBMG) journal. 

Featuring research on metabarcoding and metagenomics from both basic and applied perspectives, MBMG has a CiteScore of 5.4 and is indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. The journal is published on Pensoft’s end-to-end scholarly publishing platform ARPHA.

New open-access journal Metabarcoding & Metagenomics joins the lines of publisher Pensoft

The partnership will focus on enhancing the publication and dissemination of eDNA research, and increasing the visibility and impact of eDNA research, including by promoting eDNA conferences hosted by SeDNAs and research outputs from the eDNA community.

The Southern eDNA Society is excited to partner with the MBMG journal to advance our shared commitment to innovation, accessibility, and excellence in eDNA science. The exclusive discounted publication opportunities for SeDNAs members will help amplify their contributions to the global eDNA community.

Anastasija Zaiko, President of SeDNAs

To this end, both organisations will cross-promote each other’s activities, reaching a wider audience and fostering greater engagement within the eDNA community. Pensoft plans to support the dissemination of research presented at SeDNAs conferences, with the possibility of publishing special issues or topical collections in MBMG.

In addition, SeDNA members will receive a special discount on article processing charges in MBMG, which will hopefully encourage them to publish their work in the innovative open-access journal.

This memorandum of understanding builds upon a shared vision of advancing eDNA research and making scientific knowledge openly accessible. Pensoft has always expressed a commitment for open science and technological advancement and we are happy that we can take this step to support the growth and dissemination of eDNA science.

Prof. Lyubomir Penev, founder and CEO of Pensoft

The partnership between Pensoft, MBMG and SeDNAs is not the first of its kind for the scholarly publisher. Recently, another journal launched and published by Pensoft, Nature Conservation, used a similar memorandum to strengthen the collaboration between the publisher and the Infrastructure & Ecology Network Europe (IENE). IENE has so far published several special issues of research papers based on scientific work presented at the network’s conferences in Nature Conservation, with the most recent example, a collection of articles associated with the IENE 2022 International Conference, dating from last month. 

Diversification of Agroecotettix: Grasshoppers of Aridland Scrub in the United States and Mexico

16 new species of Agroecotettix were identified from the United States and Mexico.

Guest blog post by JoVonn Hill

Back in 2018, I began conducting fieldwork on grasshoppers in Texas. Among the specimens I collected that year, I noticed something intriguing—what appeared to be a new species of Agroecotettix. That initial discovery set the stage for years of research, stretching through 2024. During this time, I continued to collect Agroecotettix specimens and studied collections from several institutions, including the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Brigham Young University, and the Mississippi Entomological Museum.

Agroecotettix aristus.

By analyzing these specimens, I identified 16 new species of Agroecotettix from the United States and Mexico. Interestingly, most of these species are associated with mountainous of Texas and Mexico. Some also inhabit the South Texas Plains ecoregion and the Edwards Plateau.

Habitat and Behavior of Agroecotettix

Agroecotettix grasshoppers are often found on thorny, leguminous shrubs such as Acacia and Vachella. Mesquite is typically not a host. In the Big Bend region of Texas, I often found them on Sotol—sometimes consuming pollen, other times seeking shade beneath the leaves during the heat of the day.

Individuals of Agroecotettix dorni roosting during the heat of the day on Dasylirion leaves

One sweltering day in Big Bend National Park, it was 113°F, and I was trudging through Boquillas Canyon, searching for grasshoppers. After two hours of seeing a couple grasshoppers, I was ready to leave. Then, glancing up, I spotted 40 or 50 grasshoppers clustered on the undersides of Sotol leaves, sheltering from the mid-day sun. Many of them were Agroecotettix, alongside other flightless desert grasshoppers like Phaulotettix and Netrosoma. It was just like picking fruit off a tree—no net needed.

A view from Big Bend National Park.
Agroecotettix crypsidomus.

Much of what we now know about Agroecotettix species stems from the work of Dr. Theodore Cohn. During the 1950s and 1960s, he conducted extensive fieldwork in Mexico, often in areas that are now too dangerous to access. His collections were invaluable for identifying several of the new species, highlighting the enduring importance of historical specimens and natural history collections.

Naming these species offered a unique opportunity to honor individuals and ideas that have influenced me such as:

Image of LeVar Burton courtesy of Super Festivals under a CC BY 2.0 license
  • LeVar Burton: One species is named after this the Reading Rainbow and Star Trek icon. Burton is an American treasure who has inspired a love of reading in millions, including me. As a child, I grew up watching Reading Rainbow and later found myself reading those same books to my own kids during school events.
Image of Ted Turner courtesy of by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
  • Ted Turner: Another species honors Ted Turner, the entrepreneur and conservationist. Turner’s efforts to preserve vast swaths of the western U.S. have will have a lasting impact on biodiversity.
Image of Michael Dorn courtesy of Supercon Conventions under a CC BY 2.0 license
  • Michael Dorn: Known for playing Worf on Star Trek, Dorn inspired another species name. Work was always my favorite character. A portion of this species anatomy resembled a Klingon weapon, making the connection apt.
  • IDIC: One species is named after the Vulcan philosophy of “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.” This Star Trek principle seemed a fitting name for a species in this group of cryptic species.
  • Jay Silverheels: another species honors Silverheels’ cultural impact and the Texas landscapes where the series was set. A Native American athlete and actorwho most famously portrayed the fictional character Tonto in “The Lone Ranger” television series from 1949-1957, Silverheels was one of the first Native American actors to portray a major Indigenous character on a television series. Throughout his career, Silverheels advocated for more inclusion of Indigenous people in media and founded the Indian Actors Workshop in Los Angeles during the 1960’s.
Image of Clayton Moore courtesy of twm1340 under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
  • Clayton Moore: Known for playing the Lone Ranger, “moorei” honors Clayton Moore for his portrayal of this fictional Texas Ranger that embodied justice, bravery, and connection to the American West.
  • Frida Kahlo: The species name kahloae patronym the iconic Mexican painter known for her vivid and symbolic artwork.  Her enduring connection to Mexican culture makes her an apt figure to be commemorated through this species, which is endemic to Mexico.

Exploring the Agroecotettix genus has been a journey into the unexpected. What began as a few curious specimens turned into the discovery of 16 species (and counting). The biodiversity of this group, particularly in Mexico, is likely even greater than we currently realize.

The natural world never ceases to amaze. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you look a little closer using new techniques or tools—and suddenly, there’s a universe of diversity waiting to be discovered.

Research article:

Hill JG (2024) Desert diversification: revision of Agroecotettix Bruner, 1908 (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Melanoplinae) with descriptions of sixteen new species from the United States and Mexico. ZooKeys 1218: 177-230. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1218.133703

Deep black as midnight: striking new moray eel discovered in Central Indo-Pacific river mouths, named after god of the underworld

This new moray eel is named after the underworld god Hades for its distinctive habitat, unique behaviors, and most notably, its deep, dark coloration.

The Hades’ snake moray (Uropterygius hades), a dark brown, slender snake moray eel, has chosen the road less traveled, thriving in dim and muddy river mouths, unlike most of its marine moray eel relatives. It is widely distributed across the Central Indo-Pacific, and has been found in southern Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, southern Java, and Fiji. This new moray eel was named after Hades, the god of the underworld, due to its unique habitat, burrowing behavior, high sensitivity to light, and most notably, its deep, dark coloration.

Live photo of Uropterygius hades. Image credit: Dr Wen-Chien Huang

Scientists Dr Wen-Chien Huang, Dr Rodulf Anthony Balisco, Dr Te-Yu Liao, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, Western Philippines University, the Philippines, and Dr Yusuke Hibino, Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History, Japan, describe this new species in a paper published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. They named it after Hades, the underworld god, to emphasize its imposing appearance and its habitat in dim, turbid environments. This idea was inspired by Dr. Wen-Chien Huang, who was influenced by Ralph Fiennes’ portrayal of Hades in the movie Clash of the Titans.

Live photo of Uropterygius hades. Image credit: Dr Wen-Chien Huang

There are approximately 230 species of moray eels worldwide, with most inhabiting marine environments. Only one species has been confirmed to spend the majority of its life in freshwater. Some marine species, like the slender giant moray (Strophidon sathete), can tolerate and occasionally enter lower-salinity environments such as river mouths. However, moray eels specifically adapted to estuarine habitats are exceedingly rare.

The discovery of Hades’ snake moray was actually accidental, when the three researchers from National Sun Yat-sen University investigated the cave of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, aiming to survey the aquatic fauna and targeting a cave eel species, the bean-eyed snake moray (Uropterygius cyamommatus). This eel, with its highly reduced eye size, is considered an ideal example for studying the evolutionary processes that allow eels to adapt to cave environments. However, the researchers did not find any bean-eyed snake morays in the cave; instead, they collected a slender moray with a conspicuous, uniformly deep dark color.

Fresh specimen of Uropterygius hades. Credit: Dr Wen-Chien Huang

When kept in an aquatic tank, the Hades’ snake moray exhibits tail-first burrowing behavior, which is rarely seen in moray eels. Additionally, it is highly sensitive to light, consistently attempting to hide when exposed to it. Its small eyes—thought to be an adaptation to low-light environments—and its reduced number of head sensory pores—believed to help avoid clogging by the substrate—suggest that this species might be an excellent burrower, relying primarily on chemoreception rather than vision to detect prey or avoid predators.

Original source:

Huang W-C, Hibino Y, Balisco RA, Liao T-Y (2024) Description of a new uniformly brown estuarine moray eel (Anguilliformes, Muraenidae) from the Central Indo-Pacific Ocean. In: Ho H-C, Russell B, Hibino Y, Lee M-Y (Eds) Biodiversity and taxonomy of fishes in Taiwan and adjacent waters. ZooKeys 1220: 15-34. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1220.129685

Mitigating animal-vehicle collisions with field sensors, artificial intelligence and ecological modelling

A French research team has developed a method for mapping the risk of collisions between animals and vehicles along transport infrastructures.

Collisions between animals and vehicles are a threat to conservation efforts and human safety, and have a massive cost for transport infrastructure managers and users.

Using the opportunities offered by the increasing number of sensors embedded into transport infrastructures and the development of their digital twins, a French research team has developed a method aiming at managing animal-vehicle collisions. The goal is to map the collision risk between trains and ungulates (roe deer and wild boar) by deploying a camera trap network.

Roe deer crossing a railway, photographed by a field sensor and automatically identified with artificial intelligence. Image credit: TerrOïko

Led by Sylvain Moulherat and Léa Pautrel, from OïkoLab and TerrOïko, France, the study is published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation.

Connecting people, connecting landscapes: a new special issue from Nature Conservation

The proposed method starts by simulating the most probable movements of animals within and around an infrastructure using an ecological modelling software. This allows the assessment of where they are most likely to cross.

After identifying these collision hotspots, ecological modelling is used again to assist with the design of photo sensor deployment in the field. Various deployment scenarios are modelled to find the one whose predicted results are most consistent with the initial simulation.

Example of a map showing the estimated relative abundance of a species along a railway section. The higher the abundance, the higher the collision risk. Image credit: TerrOïko

Once sensors are deployed, the data collected (in this case, photos) are processed through artificial intelligence (deep learning) to detect and identify species at the infrastructure’s vicinity.

Finally, the processed data are fed into an abundance model, which is another type of ecological model. It is used to estimate the probable density of animals in every part of a studied area using data collected at only a few points in that area. The result is a map showing the relative abundance of species and, therefore, the collision risk along an infrastructure.

This method was implemented on an actual section of railway in south-western France, but it can be applied to any type of transport infrastructure. It may be implemented not only on existing infrastructures but also during the conception phase of new ones (as part of the environmental impact assessment strategy).

Such a method paves the way for the integration of biodiversity-oriented monitoring systems into transport infrastructures and their digital twins. As sensors collect data continuously, it could be improved in the future to provide real-time driver information and produce dynamic adaptive maps that could be ultimately sent to autonomous vehicles.

Original source

Moulherat S, Pautrel L, Debat G, Etienne M-P, Gendron L, Hautière N, Tarel J-P, Testud G, Gimenez O (2024) Biodiversity monitoring with intelligent sensors: An integrated pipeline for mitigating animal-vehicle collisions. In: Papp C-R, Seiler A, Bhardwaj M, François D, Dostál I (Eds) Connecting people, connecting landscapes. Nature Conservation 57: 103-124. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.57.108950 

Connecting people, connecting landscapes: a new special issue from Nature Conservation

The article collection highlights the outcomes of the 2022 International Conference of the Infrastructure and Ecology Network Europe (IENE), held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

A special issue titled “Connecting people, connecting landscapes“ has just been published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation.

Edited by Cristian-Remus Papp, Andreas Seiler, Manisha Bhardwaj, Denis François, and Ivo Dostál, the article collection highlights the outcomes of the 2022 International Conference of the Infrastructure and Ecology Network Europe (IENE), held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

While the transport sector is vital for societal development, it also poses significant challenges to biodiversity, often fragmenting landscapes and disrupting wildlife movement. The IENE 2022 conference explored solutions to harmonise transport infrastructure with ecological connectivity. More than 190 presentations and workshops at the event advocated for multi-sectoral cooperation and evidence-based solutions.

The special issue comprises research on topics such as:

  • Wildlife crossings and ecological connectivity
  • Mitigation strategies for animal-vehicle collisions
  • Strategic approaches to sustainable infrastructure development
  • Emerging technologies like AI for biodiversity monitoring
Aerial top down view of ecoduct or wildlife crossing – vegetation covered bridge over a motorway that allows wildlife to safely cross over

A global perspective is considered, with case studies from Europe, North America, and Asia. This special issue is a call to action for policymakers, planners, and conservationists worldwide.

See a full list of the special issue’s articles here:

Top 10 new species of 2024

A countdown of our top 10 favourite species described as new to science in our journals this year.

2024 is almost over—can you believe it?

If you follow any of Pensoft’s social media accounts, you will know that we have been counting down our top 10 favourite species described as new-to-science in our journals this year.

The list is—of course—entirely arbitrary, but it is also a fun way to look back on a year in which several weird and wonderful animals, plants and fungi were discovered.

In this blog post, we will tell you more about each species, share some honourable mentions, and reveal our number 1 spot!

Honourable mentions

The league of legends crab

Gothus teemo and Teemo.

When it was time to name a tiny, ‘furry’ new species of gorilla crab from China, researchers drew unlikely inspiration from the video game League of Legends.

Gothus teemo was named after the character Teemo thanks to its distinctive appearance and has drawn a lot of attention from fans of the franchise.

Top-lane crab: new species named after League of Legends character

Published in Zoosystematics and Evolution.

the ancient shark

The new species is thought to have resembled a modern sandtiger shark (pictured).

Calling anything on this list a ‘new species’ is not accurate—rather, they are just new to published science. Nothing exemplifies this more than Palaeohypotodus bizzocoi, a long-extinct shark species that lived 65 million years ago, shortly after the fall of the dinosaurs.

What makes this discovery remarkable is that it was partially accidental. Find out how a 100-year-old box of teeth in Alabama led to the discovery of this ancient shark below.

New species of 65-million-year-old shark ‘accidentally’ discovered in Alabama

Published in Fossil Record.

the drone-discovered plant

Sometimes, it is the way in which a new species is discovered that makes it so special.

Such is the case for Schiedea waiahuluensis, a carnation species from Hawaii that is likely the first plant to be identified and collected using drone technology. Learn all about it below!

Botany from above: drone discovers new plant species in Hawaii

Published in PhytoKeys.

Top 10 new species of 2024

10: the crocodile newt

Tylototriton gaowangjienensis.

With its all-black colouration, Tylototriton gaowangjienensis, a crocodile newt from China, has drawn comparisons to Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.

However, this alluring amphibian hides flashes of orange beneath its tail and toes! Find more pictures and information below.

Published in Herpetozoa.

9: the border-hopping bee

New bee species.
Male Hoplitis onosmaevae with unfolded proboscis.

Besides its adorable appearance, Hoplitis onosmaevae is remarkable due to its distribution. It is currently only known from a small region of the French Alps, and areas >2,000 km away in the mountains of Turkey and Iraq.

Another interesting aspect of Hoplitis onosmaevae is its specialised ecological niche: it is thought to only collect pollen from Onosma species. This narrow ecological niche makes it vulnerable to factors like climate change and changes in agricultural practices.

Rare bee species discovery links the French Alps to Turkey and Iraq

Published in Alpine Entomology.

8: the dung fungus

Metacampanella coprophila

Metacampanella coprophila is one of two new species described in a recent MycoKeys paper! Known from Mongolia, it grows in sheep dung in the summer.

Metacampanella is an important, recently defined genus in the Marasmiaceae family, expected to expand with future studies.

Published in MycoKeys.

7: the miracle plant

John L. Clark with Amalophyllon miraculum. Credit @phinaea on Instagram.

The discovery of Amalophyllon miraculum—in an area assumed to be a barren agricultural landscape of plant extinctions—represents an inspiration for biodiversity conservation. This “miracle” plant, as its name suggests, was found surviving in one of the small, isolated forest fragments that remain in the Centinela region of western Ecuador.

¡Que Vive Centinela! A tiny new plant species reaffirms the “miraculous” survival of Western Ecuador’s ravished biodiversity

Published in PhytoKeys.

6: the spiky frog

Pristimantis normaewingae.

This spiky amphibian was discovered on Cerro Candelaria, a mountain in the Tungurahua province. The discovery of this new species in the upper Rio Pastaza watershed suggests this area might be a centre of rapid evolution for these fascinating frogs.

Published in Evolutionary Systematics.

5: the giant tiny beetle

Clavicornaltica mataikanensis.

Entomologists and citizen scientists teamed up to discover this new species of flea beetle in the lush rainforests of Borneo. The discovery was made during a Taxon Expeditions trip, where non-scientist people got the chance to work alongside scientists to identify and describe new species.

What makes this discovery particularly exciting is the beetle’s size—it’s actually one of the largest among its relatives! Flea beetles that live in the leaf litter of tropical forests are typically much smaller, and as a result, we know very little about their ecology and diversity.

“Tiny, beautiful, and completely unknown animals”: Citizen scientists discover new beetles from the Borneo forest

Published in Biodiversity Data Journal.

4: the grumpy dwarf goby

A photograph of a red grumpy-looking fish on a black background.
The grumpy dwarf goby, Sueviota aethon.

Discovered in the Red Sea, the ‘grumpy dwarf goby’ (Sueviota aethon) was published as a new species in ZooKeys. You can probably guess how it earned its name! This tiny fish, measuring less than 2 centimetres long, sports a permanent frown thanks to its large canines and fierce expression. Despite its small size, the grumpy dwarfgoby is thought to be a fearsome predator in its coral reef habitat.

New ‘grumpy’ fish species discovered in the Red Sea

Published in ZooKeys.

3: the sun-shunning plant

Thismia malayana.

Thismia malayana is a mycoheterotrophic plant, meaning it doesn’t photosynthesise. Instead, it acts as a parasite, stealing carbon resources from the fungi on its roots!

By stealing nutrients from fungi, it can thrive in the low-light conditions of dense forest understories where its highly specialised flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats and other small insects.

Sun-shunning thief: new plant species robs underground fungi to survive

Published in PhytoKeys.

2: the ‘cute but deadly’ velvet worm

While the Tiputini velvet worm—Oroperipatus tiputini—may look friendly, it is an accomplished hunter that shoots a sticky substance from a pair of glands to trap its prey. This “living fossil” is a rare and unique invertebrate that evolved over 500 million years ago. The new species was discovered in the Ecuadorian Amazon at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station, which is part of the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve.

Cute but deadly: a new velvet worm species from Ecuador

Published in Zoosystematics and Evolution.

1: the starry night gecko

Here it is, our number 1 spot!

They say that life imitates art, and this new gecko species proves that to be true! Researchers in India have discovered a gecko with such a unique and beautiful colouration that they named it after painter Vincent van Gogh. The “Starry Night” gecko, or Cnemaspis vangoghi, was discovered in the Southern Western Ghats and stands out due to the male’s yellow head and forebody with light blue spots on the back, a striking combination reminiscent of the famous painting.

Discovering Van Gogh in the wild: scientists unveil a new gecko species

Published in ZooKeys.