The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat, Histiotus alienus, was first described by science in 1916, by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The description of the species was based on a single specimen captured in Joinville, Paraná, in southern Brazil.
For more than 100 years, the species had never been captured, being known only by its holotype—the specimen that bears the name, and represents morphological and molecular traits of a species—deposited in The Natural History Museum in London, United Kingdom. Now, after a century, the species has been rediscovered. Scientists Dr Vinícius C. Cláudio, Msc Brunna Almeida, Dr Roberto L.M. Novaes, and Dr Ricardo Moratelli, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil and Dr Liliani M. Tiepolo, and Msc Marcos A. Navarro, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil have published details on the sighting in a paper in the open access journal ZooKeys.
During field expeditions of the research project Promasto (Mammals from Campos Gerais National Park and Palmas Grasslands Wildlife Refuge) in 2018, the researchers captured one specimen of big-eared bat at Palmas Grassland Wildlife Refuge. To catch it, they used mist-nets—equipment employed during the capture of bats and birds—set at the edge of a forest patch. When they compared it to the Tropical Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus velatus), commonly captured in the region, they found it was nothing like it.
The unidentified big-eared bat specimen was then collected and deposited at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for further studies.
After comparing this puzzling specimen against hundreds of other big-eared brown bats from almost all the species in the genus, the researchers were able to conclusively identify the bat as a Strange Big-eared Brown Bat and confirm its second known record. “Since the description of several the species within the genus is more than one hundred years old and somewhat vague, comparisons and data presented by us will aid the correct identification of big-eared brown bats,” they say.
The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat has oval, enlarged ears that are connected by a very low membrane; general dark brown coloration in both dorsal and ventral fur; and about 100 to 120 mm in total length. This combination of characters most resembles the Southern Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus magellanicus), in which the membrane connecting ears is almost absent.
The only known record of the Strange Big-eared Brown Bat until now was from Joinville, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, which is about 280 kilometers away from where it was spotted in 2018. So far, the species is known to occur in diverse terrains, from dense rainforests to araucaria and riparian forests and grasslands, at altitudes from sea level to over 1200 m a.s.l.
This increase in the distribution of the species, however, does not represent an improvement on its conservation status: the species is currently classified as Data Deficient by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Its habitat, the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest, is currently under pressure from agricultural activity.
But there is still hope: “The new record of H. alienus in Palmas is in a protected area, which indicates that at least one population of the species may be protected,” the researchers write in their study.
Research article:
Cláudio VC, Almeida B, Novaes RLM, Navarro MA, Tiepolo LM, Moratelli R (2023) Rediscovery of Histiotusalienus Thomas, 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription. ZooKeys, 1174, 273–287. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1174.108553
In a paper published in the journal Research Ideas and Outcomes, authors estimate £18 million has been saved in efficiencies by researchers accessing digital specimens rather than physical collections.
· Scientists from the Natural History Museum (NHM) deep-dive into the uses and users of natural history collections held in the UK
· Modest estimates report a saving of £18 million in efficiencies by researchers accessing digital data rather than physical collections
· Today, software can complete in a week what it would take a human two years to achieve
· Call for investment to secure the UK’s stance as a world superpower in science and tech, and for a future in which both people and planet thrive
A new report has evaluated the use and impact of digitised natural science collections held in the UK and how they contribute to scientific, commercial and societal benefits.
UK natural science collections hold more than 137 million items spanning an incredible 4.56-billion-year history of life on Earth. These collections have emerged as a pivotal data resource to understanding the Earth in its past and current state – and will continue to inform the investors and policy-makers of the future.
UK natural science data in demand
GBIF—the Global Biodiversity Information Facility—is an international database providing open access data on all types of life on Earth. In this paper led by the NHM, scientists report that there are 7.6 million specimens, less than 6% of total UK natural science collections sampled, freely accessible on GBIF.
They found that 12% of the total peer-reviewed journal articles citing GBIF data specifically cite UK natural science collections. These data currently make up just 0.3% of total occurrences on GBIF, meaning they punch an incredible 40 times above their weight.
When asked previously, over 90% of GBIF users linked their use of these data to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals which look to reduce hunger, poverty and inequality, and spur economic growth while tackling climate change and protecting the oceans and forests.
The case for digitising UK natural science collections
The introduction of these collections onto a digital platform has revolutionised scientific research. In this paper published in the journal Research Ideas and Outcomes, the authors estimate £18 million has been saved in efficiencies by researchers accessing digital specimens rather than physical collections, assuming a minimal single physical visit replaced per citation. Of this, £1.4 million has been attributed to UK researchers, money which can be reinvested back into UK science institutions – those at the forefront of finding solutions to real world problems.
Lead author and Deputy Head of Digital, Data and Informatics, Helen Hardy says, ‘The advancement of digitisation has been truly transformational to the scientific community. Today it’s possible to use software that takes a week to achieve the type of information gathering it would take a human over 3,000 hours, or two years, to complete – individuals realising an entire life’s work in just a few months! Anticipation is high for further innovations such as the further integration of artificial intelligence into taxonomic work.’
UK government want the UK to be a science and technology superpower, and natural science collections provide a unique opportunity to achieve this. To unlock the true potential of collections data, UK Natural Science collections are joining forces through the Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK (DiSSCo) to make the case for investment of £155 million in a research infrastructure which is expected to unlock at least a seven- to ten- fold economic return on investment. Working alongside the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to digitise the critical mass of collections, the data will be available through a robust technological infrastructure and continually developed in line with recent innovations.
Ken Norris, Deputy Director of Science at the NHM says, ‘In the midst of a planetary emergency, and what some experts believe to be the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event, estimates say that over 50% of the world’s GDP, which equates to approx. 44 trillion dollars, is dependent on the natural world. By understanding what is in collections now, both on a national and international scale, we can identify trends, necessary actions, and what we need to collect to underpin policy and investment decisions for a future where people and planet thrive.’
Hardy H, Livermore L, Kersey P, Norris K, Smith V, Pullar J (2023) Users and uses of UK Natural History Collections – a Summary, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8403318
A longer paper on this study including further detail on the methodology and findings is also available:
Hardy H, Livermore L, Kersey P, Norris K, Smith V (2023) Understanding the users and uses of UK Natural History Collections. Research Ideas and Outcomes 8: e113378 https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.9.e113378
Photo credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
The initiative, featured in an open-access methods paper in Biodiversity Data Journal, unites the Darwin Core (DwC) and Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS) standards.
Biodiversity observation and research rely more and more on biomolecular data. The standardization this data, encompassing both primary and contextual information (metadata), is crucial for enabling data (re-)use, integration, and knowledge generation.
While both the biodiversity and the omics research communities have recognized the urgent need for (meta)data standards, they each have historically developed and adopted their own standards, making collaboration and data integration challenging.
The Task Group assembled a team of experts to build semantically precise and sustained interoperability between TDWG’s DwC standard, and the MIxS checklist from the GSC.
This collaborative effort culminated in a methods paper, in which they report on building sustainable interoperability between DwC and MIxS.
The paper was published in the open-access, peer-reviewed Biodiversity Data Journal, as part of a special collection, supported by the EU-funded project BiCIKL (Biodiversity Community Integrated Knowledge Library), and looking to demonstrate the advantages and novel approaches in accessing and (re-)using linked biodiversity data.
“With representatives from established biodiversity data infrastructures, domain experts, data generators, and publishers, we – ab initio – bridged the conceptual to the application space,”
write the task group members in their paper.
To ensure the sustainability and lasting impact of this initiative, TDWG and GSC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on creating a continuous model to synchronize their standards.
“We trust that the activities of this TG will inspire similar activities between other metadata standards in this space, to break down silos and open a path to a more collaborative and interoperable future,”
they say in conclusion.
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Original source:
Meyer R, Appeltans W, Duncan WD, Dimitrova M, Gan Y-M, Stjernegaard Jeppesen T, Mungall C, Paul DL, Provoost P, Robertson T, Schriml L, Suominen S, Walls R, Sweetlove M, Ung V, Van de Putte A, Wallis E, Wieczorek J, Buttigieg PL (2023) Aligning Standards Communities for Omics Biodiversity Data: Sustainable Darwin Core-MIxS Interoperability. Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e112420. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e112420
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You can find all contributions published in the “Linking FAIR biodiversity data through publications: The BiCIKL approach” article collection in the open-access, peer-reviewed Biodiversity Data Journal on: https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.coll.209.
As the latest national node to join the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL), its main task is to coordinate, support, and promote DNA barcoding research in Bulgaria.
On 27 September 2023, during a specialised symposium on DNA barcoding at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Bulgarian Barcode of Life (BgBOL), a Bulgarian DNA barcoding consortium, was founded.
Logo of the Bulgarian Barcode of Life (BgBOL), a Bulgarian DNA barcoding consortium and the latest national node to join the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL).
By becoming the latest national node to join the International Barcode of Life Consortium (iBOL), the main task before BgBOL will be to coordinate, support, and promote DNA barcoding research in Bulgaria, with a primary focus on the study and preservation of the country’s biodiversity.
“The Bulgarian Barcode of Life opens up new horizons and opportunities to study and understand the biodiversity in Bulgaria,”
DNA barcoding is a method to identify individual organisms based on nucleotide sequences captured from short, predefined and standardised segments of DNA.
Dr Georgi Bonchev explains the DNA barcoding method at the specialised symposium held on 27 September 2023 at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Photo by theBulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Prof. Lyubomir Penev joined the symposium with a talk on the publication, dissemination and management of DNA barcoding data. His presentation also touched on the relevant biodiversity data workflows and tools currently in development at Pensoft with the support of the Horizon 2020-funded project BiCIKL. Photo by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
As part of the event, Pensoft’s founder and CEO Prof. Lyubomir Penev led a discussion on the publication, dissemination and management of DNA barcoding data. His presentation also touched on the relevant biodiversity data workflows and tools currently in development at Pensoft with the support of the Horizon 2020-funded project BiCIKL (abbreviation for Biodiversity Community Integrated Knowledge Library).
“I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in the establishment of the Bulgarian Barcode of Life! This is a huge step forward in advancing DNA barcoding research in Bulgaria and, ultimately, the preservation of the country’s amazing biodiversity,”
comments Prof. Lyubomir Penev.
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About the International Barcode of Life:
The International Barcode of Life Consortium is a research alliance undertaking the largest global biodiversity science initiative: create a digital identification system for life that is accessible to everyone.
iBOL is working to establish an Earth observation system that will discover species, reveal their interactions, and establish biodiversity baselines. The consortium is tracking ecosystems across the planet and exploring symbiomes – the distinct fungal, plant, and animal species associated with host organisms. Our goal is to complete this research and establish baseline data for science and society’s benefit.
For the Pensoft team, September 2023 was a busy and exciting month filled with conferences. Travelling across Europe, they promoted journals, connected with the scientific community, and rewarded exceptional research with free article publications.
Let’s take a look back at all the events of the past month.
Pensoft representatives Mrs. Boriana Ovcharova and Mrs. Anna Sapundzhieva, ready to greet attendees in the sun.
The conference looked at evolutionary adaptations from the perspective of behavioural ecology, reproduction biology, genetics, physiology, as well as nature conservation. It particularly focused on the pressing issues of wildlife research and species conservation in the context of global environmental change. Most of the ≈100 participants were young scientists from more than 30 countries.
The Pensoft team greeted fellow attendees with an exhibition stand and presented the conservation and ecology-focused journals Neobiota, Nature Conservation, One Ecosystem, and Biodiversity Data Journal. Pensoft also advocated for EuropaBon, who are designing an EU-wide framework for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, and REST-COAST, whose mission is to provide the tools to restore environmental degradation of rivers and coasts. Within both European-funded initiatives, Pensoft is a key dissemination partner that contributes expertise in science communication, scholarly publishing, and the development of digital tools and platforms.
Joao Pedro Meireles posing with his Best Poster award.
Pensoft presented Joao Pedro Meireles from Utrecht University with the Best Poster Award for his research on pair compatibility in okapis, entitling him to a free publication in one of Pensoft’s open-access journals.
“My study looked at pair compatibility in the zoo breeding programme of Okapi. During breeding introductions, sometimes the male becomes aggressive towards the female and we decided to investigate the potential factors. We ran a survey among all zoos that house the species in Europe and we found that differences in husbandry were linked to the aggressiveness performed by the males.”
Joao Pedro Meireles, Utrecht University
GfÖ Annual Meeting 2023
From the 12th to 16th of September, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research hosted the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerlandin Leipzig, Germany. The meeting welcomed more than 1,100 participants from around the world, including scientists, policymakers, educators, and environmental enthusiasts.
This year’s meeting was held with the theme: “The future of biodiversity – overcoming barriers of taxa, realms and scales.” There was a particular emphasis on future challenges and opportunities facing biodiversity, and how to address and manage these in an interdisciplinary and integrative way.
Mrs. Boriana Ovcharova (Pensoft) with Neobiota Editor-in-Chief Prof. Dr. Ingolf Kühn.
Conference participants were welcomed at the Pensoft stand, where they could learn more about the projects EuropaBon and SELINA, which deal with biodiversity, ecosystem and natural capital topics.
Also in Leipzig, the European Conference on Ecological Modellingtook place between the 4th and 8th of September. The event focused on the transformation of how societies deal with natural resources in a world where biodiversity and ecosystem services are at high risk.
The ECEM 2023 continued a series of conferences launched by the European chapter of ISEM, the International Society for Ecological Modelling. ISEM promotes the international exchange of ideas, scientific results, and general knowledge in the areas of systems’ analysis and simulations in ecology, and the application of ecological modelling for natural resource management.
📢Shutout to all attending the #ECEM23@ECEM_2023#ecological#modelling conference TODAY in Leipzig! Make sure to visit the poster session during lunch & find about the unique article types welcome to our #journal! 💡They intend to disseminate models PRIOR TO implementation! https://t.co/dUVskYFK11
— Food & Ecological Systems Modelling Journal, FESMJ (@FESMJournal) September 5, 2023
The Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung team presented a poster on the Formal Model format and potential new MiDox formats, unique publication types that can be submitted to Pensoft’s Food and Ecological Modelling Journal.
118th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society
Speakers at the 118th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society.
Pensoft was proud to sponsor the 118th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society, which took place in Pisa, Italy from the 13th to 16th of September. Experts in various fields of Botany gathered to share their research on the following topics:
Journals promoted by Pensoft at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Paläontologische Gesellschaft.
Summer may be well and truly over, but as a new academic year begins, Pensoft looks forward to attending more conferences, rewarding more incredible research, and connecting with more of the scientific community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to or engaged with Pensoft’s open-access journals this year, and here’s to a successful final quarter of 2023.
Editors: Idoia Biurrun (Spain), Pavel Novák (Czech Republic) & Wolfgang Willner (Austria)
This is the call for the submission of manuscripts for a Special Collection in the journal Vegetation Classification and Survey, dedicated to papers dealing with the classification and diversity of European forests and forest fringes. We welcome both original research papers and review papers at any spatial scale, from local to continental. Presenters at the 31st conference of the European Vegetation Survey in Rome are especially welcome to submit papers related to their presentations, but the Special Collection is open to any paper fitting its scope. The publication of the SC is scheduled for issue 5 of VCS, along 2024, but papers with longer peer-review process might be published in VCS issue 6, in 2025.
Vegetation Classification and Survey is an international, peer-reviewed, online journal on plant community ecology published on behalf of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) together with its sister journals, Journal of Vegetation Science (JVS) and Applied Vegetation Science (AVS). It is devoted to vegetation survey and classification at any organizational and spatial scale and without restriction to certain methodological approaches. It is a specially attractive venue for vegetation survey papers, as long articles are welcome, and offers free reproduction of color figures. Vegetation Classification and Survey is indexed in the Scopus database, and it is expected that if will be included in the Web of Science soon.
Image by Dalibor Ballian under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Until 15 October 2023: Please submit your abstract to Idoia Biurrun (idoia.biurrun@ehu.eus). The abstract must follow the VCS Author Guidelines
Until 31 October 2023: Authors will be notified whether their planned work is eligible for submission
Until 31 December 2023: Submission of invited papers. Non-invited manuscripts might also be considered on a one-by-one basis
Manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer review process and be published on a one-by-one basis once accepted
We anticipate that we will conclude the whole Special Collection at the end of 2024
For detailed author guidelines please consult the earlier issues of the Journal or contact one of the editors of the Special Collection directly: Idoia Biurrun (idoia.biurrun@ehu.eus), Pavel Novák (Pavenow@seznam.cz) and Wolfgang Willner (wolfgang.willner@univie.ac.at). In case we receive many abstracts with promising potential articles, we are open to inviting more guest editors.
Please note that Vegetation Classification and Survey is a gold open access journal, which normally requests Article Processing Charges (APCs) from authors. Thanks to the generous support by IAVS, contributions first-authored by an IAVS member and submitted until 31 December 2023 are exempt from article processing charges, except those authors based on institutions or countries providing specific funding for APCs.
Follow Vegetation Classification and Survey on Facebook and Twitter.
We look back on this incredible journey with pride and appreciation for the countless researchers, authors, reviewers, and supporters who have helped make this dream a reality.
Today, we are thrilled to share with you the celebration of a remarkable milestone in our journey. In July, we marked our 15th birthday – a decade and a half of fostering the free exchange of ideas, data, and knowledge in the vast realm of zoology.
We look back on this incredible journey with pride and appreciation for the countless researchers, authors, reviewers, and supporters who have helped make this dream a reality. From the very inception, our goal has been to create a platform where zoological discoveries can shine brightly, accessible to all who share a passion for the wonders of the animal kingdom.
ZooKeys was born out of our collective desire to push the boundaries of scientific publishing, to embrace innovation, and to provide a space where the brightest minds in zoology could come together. Over the years, we have not only achieved this but, thanks to our publisher Pensoft, have also become pioneers in implementing cutting-edge technologies to enhance the way knowledge is shared and absorbed.
ZooKeys was the first of Pensoft’s open-access journals, set up to accelerate research and free information exchange in taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography and evolution of animals. Starting as a taxonomic journal, it quickly expanded to other zoology-related sciences, such as ecology, molecular biology, genomics, evolutionary biology, palaeontology, behavioural science, bioinformatics etc… The journal has been thriving since its inception and is currently considered as one of the most prolific and liked Open Access journals in zoology.
Erwin T, Stoev P, Penev L (2018) ZooKeys anniversary: 10 years of leadership toward open-access publishing of zoological data and establishment at Pensoft of like-minded sister journals across the biodiversity spectrum. ZooKeys 770: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.770.28105
One of our proudest achievements was being the first taxonomic journal to introduce semantic tagging and content enhancements, revolutionizing the way information is presented and accessed. This endeavor, which began with our 50th issue in 2010, marked a turning point in scholarly publishing.
The cover of the first issue of ZooKeys.
As of today, we’ve published more than 180,000 pages of research in almost 7,000 articles that have amassed more than 3 million views. Here is a Top 5 of our most popular articles ever:
Helgen K, Pinto M, Kays R, Helgen L, Tsuchiya M, Quinn A, Wilson D, Maldonado J (2013) Taxonomic revision of the olingos (Bassaricyon), with description of a new species, the Olinguito. ZooKeys 324: 1-83. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.324.5827, with 80,500 views,
Bousquet Y (2016) Litteratura Coleopterologica (1758–1900): a guide to selected books related to the taxonomy of Coleoptera with publication dates and notes. ZooKeys 583: 1-776. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.583.7084 with 69,543 views,
Ledford J, Griswold C, Audisio T (2012) An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in the Pacific Northwest (Araneae, Trogloraptoridae, new family). ZooKeys 215: 77-102. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.215.3547 with 65,446 views,
Formal paper on Trogloraptor marchingtoni, OR new sickle-legged spider, available online. Sadly pics loading way slow. http://t.co/GGFjVHPW
Ibrahim N, Sereno PC, Varricchio DJ, Martill DM, Dutheil DB, Unwin DM, Baidder L, Larsson HCE, Zouhri S, Kaoukaya A (2020) Geology and paleontology of the Upper Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of eastern Morocco. ZooKeys 928: 1-216. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.928.47517 with 64,456 views,
— Marcos K. Pinheiro / "Marcos Wyvern" (Marcosaurus) (@MMarcosaurus) April 22, 2020
Bouchard P, Bousquet Y, Davies A, Alonso-Zarazaga M, Lawrence J, Lyal C, Newton A, Reid C, Schmitt M, Slipinski A, Smith A (2011) Family-Group Names In Coleoptera (Insecta). ZooKeys 88: 1-972. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.88.807 with 63,524 views.
Our journey would have been incomplete without you – our avid readers and supporters. Your hunger for knowledge, your curiosity, and your unwavering support have been the wind beneath our wings, motivating us to do better, and reinforcing the importance of what we do. As we celebrate our 15th birthday, we extend our deepest gratitude to each one of you who has been a part of our history.
Part of an illustration by Nancy Halliday from the most popular ZooKeys paper to date.
Looking ahead, the future of ZooKeys looks as bright as ever. We are committed to continuing our legacy of innovation, collaboration, and accessibility. Our goal remains steadfast – to be a beacon of knowledge, a platform that fosters discoveries, and a source of inspiration for the next generation of zoological minds.
As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are filled with a sense of awe and wonder at the remarkable achievements we have collectively made. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Here’s to the next 15 years and beyond, as we continue to explore, discover, and celebrate the extraordinary diversity of life on Earth.
Diversity and Wildlife Management: The legacy of PPG Biologia Unisinos was edited by former professors and students of PPG Biologia Unisinos, and features eight articles focused on the Neotropical region. Each study was conducted by the research teams of the program, or was only made possible with their help. It serves as a testament to the importance of the program.
On 21 July 2022, Unisinos, a private institution in southern Brazil, announced that it would discontinue 12 of its postgraduate programs, including PPG Biologia Unisinos. The program specialised in diversity and wildlife management and was the birthplace of the journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation in 2006.
Cover image for Diversity and Wildlife Management: The legacy of PPG Biologia Unisinos.
The closure of the programs was explained by Unisinos as a measure to maintain the university’s financial stability. However, this decision is widely seen as a significant setback for Brazilian research. It has disrupted the work of many professors and graduate students and is expected to have a noticeable negative impact on Brazilian research in the coming years.
“PPG Biologia Unisinos was a resilient postgraduate program with amazing professors that always did their best to keep the high quality of their research even when facing adversities such as budget cuts.
“We hope that this special issue helps raise awareness on the importance of biological research and encourages researchers from other institutions to defend their programs and advocate for more investment in biological research.”
Piter Boll, Neotropical Biology and Conservation’s editor-in-chief and former student of PPG Biologia Unisinos
Notable research featured in the issue includes a review of the management effectiveness of nature conservation units in southern Brazil, and a paper discussing the consequences of the program’s closure.
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Follow Neotropical Biodiversity and Conservationon social media:
Researchers have found that advanced DNA technologies can get a detailed snapshot of insect diversity within a bird’s nest, showing everything from the bird’s last meal to disease-causing parasites.
“Birds’ nests are fascinating microcosms, but until now, studies have only examined the living insects that can be seen crawling and flying around the nests,” says Valerie Levesque-Beaudin, lead author on the study and a leading expert in Diptera taxonomy at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) at the University of Guelph (U of G).
With newer DNA-based methods, researchers can pick up traces of environmental DNA to get a snapshot of all the species in these tiny ecosystems. “The analysis of nest contents and environmental DNA, or ‘eDNA’ as it’s called, via metabarcoding helps us to gain more insight into a bird’s diet, parasites, and other factors that could impact a bird’s health and breeding success,” says Levesque-Beaudin.
For the study, published in Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, researchers collected 20 birds’ nests from the 162-hectare Arboretum at U of G. They examined the nests using DNA barcoding to identify insects to species and DNA metabarcoding to look at the entire nest ecosystem.
Organisms leave traces of DNA behind as they move through the environment, and researchers can use metabarcoding to build a comprehensive picture of life in the nest. Metabarcoding pulls all DNA traces in a bulk sample – in this case, parts of dead insects, debris, and dust from birds’ nests. This method differs from DNA barcoding, where a single specimen – an insect in this case – is DNA sequenced to identify it to species level.
The CBG team used emergence traps for a first sweep of the nest’s contents followed by a second, deeper probe using DNA metabarcoding to identify all the species encountered in the nest. Researchers passed the nests through a sieve, collecting insect remains and the dust for DNA extraction. “We not only found insects making a living in the nest, but traces of prey, parasites, and many other things,” says Levesque-Beaudin. “The most unexpected was the amount of information gained on other birds’ species whose feathers were either used for nest building or whose nests were essentially overbuilt by the nesting species.”
A tent-like emergence trap is used to contain and collect insects living inside the nest debris. PHOTO: VALERIE LEVESQUE-BEAUDIN
“This approach has the potential to revolutionize how we study bird nests as a micro-ecosystem. It unravels connections between different ecological guilds within the nest and connections of the birds with their environment, which would otherwise remain hidden,” says Dr. Bettina Thalinger, senior author of the study.
The CBG’s Associate Director of Analytics, Dr. Dirk Steinke, says the study has positive implications for bird conservation efforts. He says his students have already begun looking at American Kestrels, a threatened bird of prey, to find out if there are clues in the nest communities via metabarcoding and if DNA can help scientists determine if lack of prey or increased parasitism could be among the causes of nestling mortalities.
Darwin’s finch, also called Galápagos finch. PHOTO BY CHRIS HO, CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY GENOMICS.
Galapagos finches are another species threatened by the avian vampire fly – a parasite that attacks nestlings – and treatments include pesticides. Steinke notes that one of his graduate students has begun using DNA metabarcoding in the finches’ nests to understand better the potential impact of pesticide treatment on the entire arthropod nest community.
Research article:
Levesque-Beaudin V, Steinke D, Böcker M, Thalinger B (2023) Unravelling bird nest arthropod community structure using metabarcoding. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 7: e103279. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.7.103279
News piece originally published by the Centre of Biodiversity Genomics. Republished with permission.
The species was previously known on the commercial tarantula market as the “Chilobrachys sp. Electric Blue Tarantula” but no documentation existed describing its distinctive features or natural habitat.
In an exciting discovery, a new species of tarantula with electric blue coloration was found in Thailand.
New electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand. Photo by Yuranan Nanthaisong
“In 2022, the bamboo culm tarantula was discovered, marking the first known instance of a tarantula species living inside bamboo stalks. Thanks to this discovery, we were inspired to rejoin the team for a fantastic expedition, during which we encountered a captivating new species of electric blue tarantula” researcher Dr. Narin Chomphuphuang said.
Following the announcement of Taksinus bambus in Thailand, he and his research team, along with JoCho Sippawat, a local wildlife YouTuber, embarked on a survey expedition in the Phang-Nga province. During their survey, they not only identified this new tarantula species by its distinctive electric-blue coloration but also discovered its unique natural history. This is the first tarantula species ever found in a Thai mangrove forest.
The Chilobrachys natanicharum electric-blue tarantula exhibits a blue-violet hue resembling the color of electrical sparks. Photo by Yuranan Nanthaisong
“The first specimen we found was on a tree in the mangrove forest. Collecting them was challenging due to the muddy and waterlogged ground. These tarantulas inhabit hollow trees, and the difficulty of catching an electric-blue tarantula lies in the need to climb a tree and lure it out of a complex of hollows amid humid and slippery conditions. During our expedition, we walked in the evening and at night during low tide, managing to collect only two of them,” Narin said.
The research team conducting a site area survey recently discovered an electric-blue tarantula near the type locality. Photo by Narin Chomphuphuang
“The first specimen we found was on a tree in the mangrove forest. Collecting them was challenging due to the muddy and waterlogged ground. These tarantulas inhabit hollow trees, and the difficulty of catching an electric-blue tarantula lies in the need to climb a tree and lure it out of a complex of hollows amid humid and slippery conditions. During our expedition, we walked in the evening and at night during low tide, managing to collect only two of them,” Narin said.
Catching an electric-blue tarantula is challenging due to the need to climb a tree and lure it out from a complex of hollows with a humid and slippery surface. Photo by Narin Chomphuphuang
“Allow us to introduce our exciting discovery: a new species of tarantula that exhibits a mesmerizing blue-violet hue, reminiscent of electric blue sparks. The secret behind the vivid blue coloration of our tarantula lies not in the presence of blue pigments, but rather in the unique structure of their hair, which incorporates nanostructures that manipulate light to create this striking blue appearance,” Narin said.
Blue is one of the rarest colors to appear in nature, which makes blue coloration in animals particularly fascinating. The scarcity of the color blue in nature can be attributed to the challenges associated with absorbing and reflecting specific wavelengths of light. Blue is difficult to produce in nature because, to appear blue, an object needs to absorb very small amounts of energy while reflecting high-energy blue light. This is challenging, because blue light has shorter wavelengths and higher energy compared to other colors. Generating molecules capable of absorbing this energy is complex, making blue in nature relatively rare.
Close-up of the font C. natanicharum displaying a blue-violet hue. Photo by Yuranan Nanthaisong
In essence, what we perceive as a blue tarantula is, in fact, a result of how light interacts with the nanostructure-covered hairs on the tarantula’s body, causing some colors to cancel each other out and allowing only blue to be reflected. These biological photonic nanostructures create a remarkable iridescent effect that changes as you alter your viewing angle, making the tarantula even more captivating.
Photo by Yuranan NanthaisongPhoto by Narin ChomphuphuangPhoto by Narin Chomphuphuang
What’s even more fascinating is its ability to not only display blue but also a beautiful violet hue. Violet light occupies only a small portion of the visible light spectrum, and there are very few nanostructures precise enough to exclusively scatter violet light. Moreover, violet wavelengths are even more energetic than blue.
The violet hue of the top view depends on the viewing angle due to the iridescent effect from biological photonic nanostructures. Photo by Yuranan Nanthaisong
In terms of coloration, female and juvenile male C. natanicharum exhibit unique characteristics attributed to the presence of two distinct types of hair. Notably, they possess a more pronounced metallic-blue coloration on various parts of their bodies, while violet hues are predominantly observed in specific areas such as the chelicera, carapace, and certain leg segments. In adult male C. natanicharum, a similar coloration pattern is retained on the chelicera, carapace, and legs, although it appears less intense compared to females. Furthermore, there is a notable shift in coloration on their legs and body, transitioning to white due to the increased density of white setae.
Juvenile C. natanicharum Photo by Yuranan NanthaisongAdult male C. natanicharumPhoto by Paveen Piyatrakulchai
“This species was previously found on the commercial tarantula market. There, it was known as the “Chilobrachys sp. Electric Blue Tarantula” but no documentation existed describing its distinctive features or natural habitat. The exact location where the Electric Blue Tarantula lived remained a mystery until our recent discovery. This has led us to speculate that C. natanicharum may be present in the southern region of Thailand, especially in the remaining forest areas close to where it was found,” Narin said.
The habitat of C. natanicharum includes mangrove forests (left) and highland (right) Photos by Narin Chomphuphuang
According to a study just published in the journal ZooKeys, C. natanicharum exhibits adaptability in inhabiting evergreen and mangrove forests, where tarantulas live inside tree hollows. They can be found at elevations ranging from sea level to highland areas, and live in both arboreal and terrestrial burrows within evergreen forests, at elevations of up to 57 m.
“Unlike our previous discovery, the bamboo culm tarantula, which is specifically associated with bamboo, the electric blue tarantula demonstrates remarkable adaptability. These tarantulas can thrive in arboreal as well as terrestrial burrows in evergreen forests. However, when it comes to mangrove forests, their habitat is restricted to residing inside tree hollows due to the influence of tides, and they cannot be found living terrestrially within mangroves.” Narin said.
Photo by Narin Chomphuphuang
The scientific name of Chilobrachys natanicharum was chosen after an auction campaign for naming the new species. The winner of the auction campaign was Nichada Properties Co., Ltd., Thailand, which suggested a combination of the names of Mr. Natakorn Changrew and Ms. Nichada Changrew, who are company executives.
All proceeds from the auction were donated to support the education of Lahu children in Thailand and poor cancer patients.
“The Lahu people are an indigenous hill tribe in northern Thailand (Musoe) and are known for their vibrant culture and traditional way of life. Unfortunately, many Lahu children are denied access to education due to poverty, leaving them with limited opportunities for their future. The goal is to help change this by providing educational opportunities for Lahu children, giving them a chance to break out of the cycle of poverty. Additionally, cancer remains a significant public health issue globally, affecting millions of people each year. Many cancer patients struggle with financial hardship, which can make accessing quality care even more difficult. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their financial situation,” the researchers write in their paper.
The proceeds from the auction campaign to choose the scientific name of the new species C. natanicharum were used to support Lahu children in Thailand. Photo by JoCho Sippawat
“We often encounter the question, ‘What are the benefits of studying new species of tarantulas?’ It’s essential for the general public to understand the significance of taxonomy as a fundamental aspect of research. Taxonomy serves a vital role, ranging from the basic, such as when people inquire on social media about the name of a spider, to conducting crucial research aimed at preserving these species from extinction.” Narin said.
These mangrove forest areas serve as the habitat for the electric-blue tarantula C. natanicharum. Photo by Narin Chomphuphuang.
Mangrove forests are invaluable ecosystems offering numerous benefits. However, they face the looming threat of deforestation, which is a destructive process caused by activities such as logging, commercial development, pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change. The electric blue tarantula, the first tarantula species discovered in the mangrove forests of Thailand, is also one of the world’s rarest tarantulas. “When we examine the causes behind the decline of mangrove forests, it becomes apparent that many of these threats are human-induced, both directly and indirectly. This raises a critical question: Are we unintentionally contributing to the destruction of their natural habitats, pushing these unique creatures out of their homes? Or should we advocate for the protection of mangrove forests, not only for the sake of the Electric-Blue Tarantula but also for the preservation of this remarkable jewel of the forest?,” the researchers ask.
Research article:
Chomphuphuang N, Sippawat Z, Sriranan P, Piyatrakulchai P, Songsangchote C (2023) A new electric-blue tarantula species of the genus Chilobrachys Karsh, 1892 from Thailand (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae). ZooKeys 1180: 105-128. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1180.106278
