Vibrant, tiny, and sporting a bright red grin on its back, the Happy-Face spider is one of the most famous and recognisable arachnids in the world. For over a century, this cheerful-looking creature was thought to be a unique resident of the Hawaiian Islands, a biological curiosity found nowhere else on Earth.
Mature male (left) and female (right) of Theridion himalayana sp. nov. Photo credit: Devi Priyadarshini and Ashirwad Tripathy.
“The discovery was accidental because our survey was [originally] on ants. But my co-author [Ashirwad Tripathy] kept sending me spiders from high altitude regions for identification.
So, one fine day, when he shared this image from the underside of a Daphniphyllum leaf, I froze in shock because I had seen the Hawaiian spider during my master’s programme itself, and I knew instantly we had a jackpot because of its striking resemblance.
I asked him to send all morphs that he found, and that led to the discovery in the next few months, from October 2023 onwards.”
Devi Priyadarshini, Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneswar
Priyadarshini added that she was always interested in exploring high-altitude spiders because the landscape and vegetation are so different there than in the plains:
“This almost came across as a gateway to look at other polymorphic species from this region.”
Ashirwad also said that we could find more variations in the species if the surveys could be done extensively.
Nest architecture of Theridion himalayana. Photo credit: Devi Priyadarshini and Ashirwad Tripathy.
The species name, himalayana, serves as a tribute to the mountain range where the spider was found at elevations of over 2,000 meters above sea level.
“The name Himalayana was decided as the species name because we both wanted to pay our respects to the mighty Himalaya mountain ranges, which have been standing tall not just guarding our country but also holding a plethora of biodiversity within them.
Since this spider was the first polymorphic from this region, we decided to make it an ode to the amazing mountain ranges.”
Ashirwad Tripathy, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
The research, published in the open-access journal Evolutionary Systematics, identified 32 different colour variations, or “morphs”, of the species collected from three locations in Uttarakhand: Makku, Tala, and Mandal. DNA analysis revealed a genetic variation of approximately 8.5% from the Hawaiian happy-face spider, confirming it as a separate lineage that evolved independently in Asia.
Different “morphs” of Theridion himalayana sp. nov. Photo credit: Devi Priyadarshini and Ashirwad Tripathy.
While the smiling patterns are striking, their exact purpose remains a mystery.
“The reason behind the expression of polymorphism is also very complex and unique.
These patterns definitely help them survive better in the wild, which is understood prima facie, but why do they resort to such patterns on their back, and what functional role in their life cycle does it exactly serve is yet to be deciphered. This is definitely indicative of a deeper genetic mystery.”
Priyadarshini
Ashirwad also mentioned that the spider species was surrounded by critters which had similar colour patterns on their body.
Subadult female with Psocid (booklice) prey. Photo credit: Devi Priyadarshini and Ashirwad Tripathy.
The study additionally noted that these spiders are frequently found on ginger plants (Hedychium species), mirroring the behaviour of their Hawaiian cousins. Since ginger is not native to Hawaii, the researchers are intrigued by the evolutionary connection.
“How did the spiders choose an invasive species and ginger exactly? If T. himalayana is an elder cousin of T. grallator, although discovered 125 years later!
Although this sounds like a tall claim now, it will be our further scope of work to establish any missing links, if at all, through Hedychium sps.”
Priyadarshini
Showing the prey of T.himalayana sp. nov. Video credit: Devi Priyadarshini and Ashirwad Tripathy.
Original source:
Tripathy A, Priyadarshini D (2026) On the discovery of a new polymorphic Happy-Face Spider (Araneae, Theridiidae) from the Western Himalayas, India, with notes on its natural history. Evolutionary Systematics 10(1): 63-84. https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.10.174338
Pensoft Publishers is proud to celebrate International Museum Day and its 2026 theme: Museums Uniting a Divided World. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the International Council of Museums, which stresses the enduring necessity of institutions that serve as custodians of our collective memory. In alignment with this year’s focus on fostering dialogue and peace, we have curated a special “Best of the Archive” collection.
In our journal Natural History Collections and Museomics, researchers from the Institute of Ecology in Mexico demonstrate how entomological outreach can transform scientific surveys into community connections. Focusing on dung beetle research in Oaxaca, Mexico, the authors moved beyond data extraction to prioritise ethical engagement with Indigenous communities. Specifically, they utilised a knowledge exchange approach known as intercambio de saberes, which integrated “Traditional Ecological Knowledge” into the scientific process. By donating outreach collections to local libraries and documenting names in Indigenous languages like Ayuujk and Tu’un Savi, the project created a shared space for cultural and scientific dialogue.
Examples of interactions with elementary school students using entomological outreach collections after workshop sessions in the communities of Tlaxiaco and Huajuapan de León. Image credit: Cruz-García et al.
Read more: Cruz-García BJ, Sandoval O, Cruz-García EJ, Escobar-Hernández F, Arriaga-Jiménez A (2025) From collections to connections: empowering communities through entomological outreach. Natural History Collections and Museomics 2: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3897/nhcm.2.147417
Cultural Interaction in the Coral Sea
A review published in Tuhinga explores the “Connections across the Coral Sea” exhibition, which traces the movement of First Nations communities across Northern Queensland, the Torres Strait, and Papua New Guinea. This work, led by Safua Akeli Amaama of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, highlights a Cultural Interaction Sphere where about 100 cultural groups have traded resources and shared knowledge for centuries. The exhibition bridges geopolitical divides by showcasing shared cosmological stories, such as the star constellations known as Matariki in Aotearoa New Zealand and Usiam in the Torres Strait. This inclusive approach to curation honours the maritime technologies and spiritual connections that have long linked these diverse coastal regions.
Map of Northern Queensland coastline. Image credit: Safua Akeli Amaama.
Read more: Akeli Amaama S (2024) Connections across the Coral Sea: a story of movement (Queensland Museum, Australia). Tuhinga 35: 11-13. https://doi.org/10.3897/tuhinga.35.132206
Citizen Science and Social Inclusion in Cyprus
The journal Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” highlights the power of public participation in its report on the first records of the Giant water bug in Cyprus. This research relied almost entirely on data provided by biodiversity enthusiasts through social media networks. Validating findings from non-scientists allows for the museum to foster a sense of inclusion and empowers local citizens to contribute to national biodiversity monitoring. This collaboration represents an important bridge between professional researchers and the broader community, ensuring that scientific knowledge is a collective achievement rather than an isolated one.
Photographs of Lethocerus sp. in situ. Records from Facebook Groups (FBG) and Personal Communication (PC).
Read more: Hadjiconstantis M, Tziortzis I, Kunt KB (2023) On the importance of citizen-science: first records of the Giant water bug Lethocerus patruelis (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae) in Cyprus. Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa” 66(2): 291-299. https://doi.org/10.3897/travaux.66.e94457
Digital Repatriation from Aotearoa to West Africa
In Papahou: Records of the Auckland Museum, an article examines how open cultural heritage practices connect Aotearoa New Zealand with West Africa. Through partnerships with Wikimedia, the Auckland Museum is facilitating digital access to Nigerian and Ghanaian artifacts for their source communities. This initiative addresses questions of authority and authorship by allowing local advocates in Ghana and Nigeria to shape how their heritage is represented online. Indeed, by adopting a policy of “open by default, closed by exception”, the museum balances the democratisation of knowledge with the need for cultural safety and Indigenous sovereignty.
“Ikorodu Lagos State Town Hall Nigeria 1972 Designed by Michael Olutusen Onafowokan Part Plan Of Gallery 024” (circa 1961–1983). Wikimedia Commons.
Read more: Selvadurai A, Bayel H, Petercan AL (2026) Open access from Aotearoa to West Africa. Papahou: Records of the Auckland Museum 60: 11-15. https://doi.org/10.32912/papahou.60.187681
Confronting Colonial History in Vienna
The Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna contributes to cultural diplomacy by critically examining the provenance of osteological collections acquired during 19th-century naval expeditions. This interdisciplinary study investigates the ethical challenges of human remains collected from East Africa and Madagascar. It is becoming increasingly clear that the documentation of the circumstances of acquisition and the presence of colonial violence in the historical record is necessary to the adoption of better guidelines for future engagement and repatriation. This transparent approach to difficult histories is essential for building trust and understanding between European institutions and the communities whose heritage they hold.
Different assessments of trauma in the Tanzania and Madagascar Collection. Image credit: Schattke et al.
Read more: Schattke C, Wolf D, Berner M, Eggers S (2026) Ships and Bones: Violence contributing to and consisting in osteological museum collections. Annals of the Natural History Museum Vienna 127: 85-94. https://doi.org/10.3897/anhmw.182645
Conclusion
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the International Council of Museums, we reaffirm our understanding that museums act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides. Through the articles highlighted here, we see museums actively fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion, and peace within and between communities worldwide.
For more museum-led research, make sure to follow Pensoft’s journals on social media:
New research reveals that schools with mountain-related lyrics in their anthems are significantly more likely to utilize nearby green spaces for environmental education.
The natural environment provides human society with essential non-material values – such as cultural symbolism and local attachment – known as “cultural ecosystem services.” But can these abstract cultural values actually influence how communities behave? According to a new study focusing on public schools in Hachioji City, Tokyo, the answer is yes.
In a study published in the journal Nature Conservation, researchers Kazuki Miyauchi and Associate Professor Takeshi Osawa from the Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences at Tokyo Metropolitan University investigated the relationship between nature-related vocabulary in school anthems and actual environmental education practices.
Why school anthems?
Empty classroom. Photo by 2y kang via Unsplash.
Lyrics serve as a vital medium for expressing nature within a cultural context. However, because popular or general songs are sung in many different places, their references to nature tend to be abstract and often lack a strong connection to a specific region.
In contrast, school anthems are deeply rooted in specific schools and communities and are characterized by being sung regularly and repeatedly. Consequently, how local nature is depicted in school anthems can provide insightful clues into the relationship between the school, the community, and the environment.
What the data showed?
Researchers analyzed the official anthems of all 104 public schools in Hachioji City, Tokyo – where the surrounding mountains and iconic Mt. Takao serve as powerful natural symbols – surveying them simultaneously about nature-based programs and use of local green spaces. Of the 63 schools that provided valid responses, a clear pattern emerged.
Distribution map of elementary and junior high schools in Hachioji City, and those that responded to the questionnaire. Credit to Miyauchi and Osawa, 2026
Mountain trail in Hachioji. Photo by Markus Winkler via Pexels.
Surprisingly, anthems referencing “高尾” (Mt. Takao) by name showed no significant correlation with nature-related programs, nor did lyrics correlate with broader outdoor school programs involving overnight trips to distant locations. But schools whose anthems included general mountain terms – such as “山” (mountain) or “峰” (peak) – showed a statistically significant tendency to utilize nearby green spaces for educational activities.
This finding suggests a potential link between symbolic cultural representations embedded in school traditions and the actual practice of nature-related education.
the researchers note in the study
Research Significance and Potential Impact
Schoolchildren on a trip. Photo by Stephanie Hau via Unsplash.
This research is highly significant because it demonstrates that natural expressions embedded in school culture – specifically through school anthems – may be linked to concrete actions in actual educational activities.
It is well-established that childhood experiences in nature exert a strong influence on a person’s future environmental awareness. The fact that local nature “lives” within school culture via anthems and correlates with outdoor curriculum suggests that embedding local ecology into cultural traditions can be a catalyst for children to learn to value their immediate surroundings.
the researchers added
While the study establishes a strong correlation, its scope was limited to mountain-related terms. The researchers point out that future studies should explore other natural elements, such as rivers, forests, and wildlife. The researchers also note that further investigation is needed to determine causality – whether the expressions in the anthems directly influence educational activities, or whether a region’s overall pro-nature orientation is simply reflected in both the community’s lyrics and its curriculum.
By expanding on these findings, we expect to provide new insights into how environmental education and regional development can leverage the powerful connection between culture and nature.
Original source:
Miyauchi K, Osawa T (2026) Are cultural ecosystem services expressed in school songs associated with nature-related educational activities? Nature Conservation 63: 237-245. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.63.180492
A global analysis of more than 12,000 bird and mammal species reveals that ecosystems do not share energy evenly across body sizes and human activities influence this.
A global analysis of more than 12,000 bird and mammal species reveals that ecosystems do not share energy evenly across body sizes. Small species dominate in numbers, but in high-productivity regions their abundance is spread so thinly across many species that larger animals end up capturing more energy per species. Human activity compounds these patterns by selectively eroding large-bodied diversity.
How does an ecosystem distribute its energy across body sizes? A new study suggests the answer depends on where you are – and how much humans have altered the landscape. Analysing communities of birds and mammals worldwide, researchers show that larger-bodied species can, on average, capture more energy per species than smaller ones, particularly in highly productive environments. The work also reveals that human impacts restructure these patterns by disproportionately removing large-bodied species from local communities.
Why body size matters for how ecosystems share energy
Workflow diagram to predict the individual density per km2 of mammal and bird species across a one-degree cell grid globally. A. Global density of data points of empirical estimates of species abundance used for model training; B. Example of 80% training and 20% testing blocks used per fold in our modelling framework; C. Global maps showing the sum of predicted abundance per km2 of all species across one-degree cells; D. Global estimations of species body mass-abundance relationships (MAR-SPP), individual mass distributions (IMD) and richness mass distributions (RMD). Credit to Camacho & Araújo, 2026.
Ecologists have long observed that larger species tend to have smaller populations: a bigger body requires more energy to sustain, so fewer individuals can be supported. A slope of −0.75 in the log–log relationship between body mass and abundance has been proposed as a null expectation – the point at which every species, regardless of size, commands an equal share of ecosystem energy. Yet testing this idea globally has been difficult because abundance data are patchy across regions and taxa.
This study tackles that limitation head-on. By combining large global datasets of abundance and distributions of species, the authors model local populations of birds and mammals across the planet and ask: is ecosystem energy concentrated in a few large organisms, or dispersed among many small ones – and how does that change from place to place?
What the team did
Using extensive abundance datasets and species trait information, the authors modelled population densities (individuals per km²) for 12,057 terrestrial bird and mammal species on a global grid at one-degree resolution. This enabled them to reconstruct community structure across environments and to examine three complementary signatures of how body size relates to energy and diversity within communities: the body mass–abundance relationship across species (how abundance declines with body size), the individual mass distribution (how individuals are distributed across body sizes regardless of species identity), and the richness mass distribution (how species richness is distributed across body sizes). They then related these patterns to two major global drivers: ecosystem productivity (net primary productivity) and human pressure (human footprint index).
Key findings
Relationship between species body mass and abundance (dark blue), individual mass distribution (light blue) and species-richness mass distribution (orange) in communities across one-degree cells as a function of global gradients of net primary productivity (NPP) (A, C) and human footprint (B, C). MAR-SPP, IMD and RMD slopes represent the exponent in power law relationships. Panel A shows the NPP effect on MAR-SPP, IMD and RMD values adjusted for human footprint and panel B shows the human-footprint effect adjusted for NPP. In A and B, the graph uses a boxplot format where the white central section represents the interquartile range between 25% and 75%, the central line denotes the median and the shaded areas indicate the whiskers. Outliers are omitted for clarity. The dashed line depicts a reference of slope = -0.75. Boxplots were calculated in intervals of 0.001 for NPP and every unit of human footprint raised to the 1/4 power. Lines were smoothed with a loess regression with a 0.06 span (α). The boxplots were drawn from the mean value per one-degree cell across 10 global datasets. In A and B, thicker lines represent the mean slopes of 10,000 general linear model (GLM) iterations (1000 iterations on 10 data sets), based on random samples of 20 one-degree cells. In C, GLM slopes are shown across the combined effects of NPP and human footprint. GLM slopes (thick lines in A and B and coloured areas in C) appear to depict non-linear relationships because of back-transformation of NPP and human footprint, which were squared-root and fourth-root transformed for GLM. Credit to
1. Productive ecosystems tilt energy capture towards larger species.
As productivity increases, the study finds that small-bodied species become more diverse without a matching rise in total abundance. Individuals are effectively “spread thinner” across more small-bodied species, reducing the average energy share per small-bodied species. Meanwhile, large-bodied species – fewer in number but less diluted by richness – end up capturing more energy on average. The body mass-abundance slope ranged from approximately −0.69 in the least productive environments to −0.35 in the most productive, consistently shallower than the −0.75 null expectation.
2. Human pressure reshapes community organisation, with lasting consequences.
Human activity produces a shift in these relationships that resembles – but is mechanistically distinct from – the productivity effect. Human impact operates primarily by reducing both the abundance and, more strongly, the species richness of large organisms. This likely reflects the well-documented disproportionate extirpation of large-bodied species by human activities, leaving a persistent imprint on how energy and diversity are distributed across body sizes.
3. Energy distribution and ecological opportunity vary independently.
Across the globe, patterns of energy flow across body sizes and the opportunities for diversification (how many species exist at each body size) can decouple. Interestingly, the distribution of species richness across body sizes was more stable across environments than the distribution of energy – yet it had a stronger influence on the body mass–abundance relationship. This helps explain why simple, one-size-fits-all expectations about body size and abundance often fail at large scales.
Why it matters
The authors argue that body mass–abundance–richness relationships can serve as a functional metric of ecological change – capturing not just how many species are present, but how ecosystems allocate individuals and energy across body sizes. This matters for biodiversity assessments because losing large-bodied diversity can reorganise ecosystems in ways that species counts alone cannot reveal. Specifically, these patterns may help improve biodiversity offset strategies and address the risk of underestimating the ecological importance of large-bodied species.
Small-bodied animals still dominate numerically, but in productive ecosystems they are divided among many more species. That dilution changes the per-species share of individuals and, by extension, energy.
Luis F. Camacho, first author
Human pressure does not just remove species; it reshapes the functional organisation of communities. Looking at body size, abundance, and richness together reveals structural changes that standard indicators miss.
Miguel B. Araújo, senior author
Original source:
Camacho LF, Araújo MB (2026) Body mass–abundance relationships reveal uneven global energy distribution across body size classes in vertebrates. Frontiers of Biogeography 19: e164408. https://doi.org/10.21425/fob.19.164408
Imagine living in a world where your home can disappear overnight.
For many tiny arthropods, such as pseudoscorpions, this is a reality. They inhabit ephemeral and unpredictable habitats – decaying organic matter, animal nests, or tree hollows – that can quickly vanish or become unsuitable. Without wings, escaping these disappearing habitats poses a serious challenge.
So how do they cope?
The answer lies in a fascinating strategy known as phoresy: hitchhiking on other, more mobile organisms. In the case of pseudoscorpions, these carriers are often flies.
Flies (Diptera) are particularly suitable transport hosts. They are highly mobile, capable of long-distance flight, and frequently visit the same types of transient habitats that pseudoscorpions depend on. By attaching themselves to a fly, pseudoscorpions can effectively outsource dispersal – reaching new habitats they could never access on their own.
Despite its importance, the relationship between pseudoscorpions and flies has remained largely underexplored. Comprehensive syntheses are more than two decades old, and much of the available knowledge has been scattered across individual studies, often published in different languages and difficult to access.
What began as a marginal aspect of our research gradually turned into a much greater effort. As we followed scattered records across the literature, it became clear that no up-to-date overview existed. This led us to examine hundreds of publications from different countries and time periods, critically reassessing old records while adding new data from our own material.
Altogether, we compiled 172 records spanning more than 250 years, from 1761 to 2025 – providing the most comprehensive overview of pseudoscorpion – Diptera phoresy to date now published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
New records of pseudoscorpion phoresy in Europe. Locality codes are given in Materials and methods. Country abbreviations: CZ – Czechia, FR – France, SI – Slovenia, SK – Slovakia. Image credit: Jana Christophoryová et al.
Our results show that pseudoscorpions have been recorded hitchhiking on at least 74 species of flies across 30 families, while the number of known pseudoscorpion travellers reaches 39 species from seven families. Several new host associations were identified, including seven fly species and three fly families not previously known to serve as carriers. We also documented 11 new cases of phoresy from Europe, including first national records for some species.
Cases of phoresy from Czechia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. A. Ceroxysurticae and Lamprochernes cf. chyzeri (locality 1); B. Pherbelliaannulipes and Pselaphochernesscorpioides (locality 6); C. Fanniacanicularis and P.scorpioides (locality 7); D. Xylophagusater and Chernescimicoides (locality 8); E. Muscaautumnalis and L. cf. chyzeri (locality 9); F. Lonchaeachorea and L. cf. chyzeri (locality 10); G, H. Limonianubeculosa and P.scorpioides (locality 11). Image credit: Jana Christophoryová et al.
Interestingly, most records are linked to a single, familiar species – the house fly (Musca domestica). However, this pattern is likely influenced by historical research bias, as earlier studies focused heavily on this easily observable association. This highlights an important challenge: understanding phoresy requires not only new data, but also careful re-evaluation of past identifications.
Beyond modern observations, fossil evidence preserved in amber reveals that these interactions are far from recent. Pseudoscorpions were already hitchhiking on flies tens of millions of years ago, indicating that this dispersal strategy has deep evolutionary roots.
Cases of phoresy from France. A, B. Scatopsenotata and Pselaphochernesscorpioides (locality 2); C, D. Physiphora sp. and Lamprochernesnodosus (locality 3); E, F. Neolimoniadumetorum and P.scorpioides (locality 4); G, H. Tipulavernalis and Dactylocheliferdegeerii (locality 5). Image credit: Jana Christophoryová et al.
Taken together, our findings show that phoresy is not just an occasional curiosity, but a widespread and long-standing ecological strategy. It allows these tiny, wingless predators to navigate a fragmented and ever-changing world – by quite literally catching a ride.
Original source:
Christophoryová J, Mathy V, Hörweg C, Vičanová L (2026) Hitchhiking across continents: phoresy of pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) on Diptera, with new European records. ZooKeys 1276: 213-248. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1276.188186
For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.
Contemporary floristic research is based on quantitative and standardized approaches, supported by various tools for identification and data analysis. However, historical data on the flora of particular regions still serve as an essential foundation. It was precisely this historical context that motivated our research, now available inItalian Botanist.
Nearly two centuries ago, botany in Central Europe began to emerge as an independent scientific discipline, a process in which amateur botanists played an important role. During the 1830s and 1840s, botany was often referred to as scientia amabilis and experienced significant expansion, reflected in the rapid increase in described plant species and intensified exploration. At that time, Dalmatia appeared “exotic” to researchers from continental Europe, but also highly attractive for study, particularly because many of its areas remained poorly explored.
Map of Neumayer’s plant collection sites for Roberto Visiani (black circle) in Dalmatia. Image credit to Marić, Jasprica and Maslek, 2026.
We were intrigued by references to lesser-known botanists appearing in Central European botanical journals of that period. Our aim was to identify who these individuals were, what their contributions had been, and how their research was conducted and organized. In this context, the work of Roberto de Visiani, professor of botany and director of the Botanical Garden in Padua, is essential. He gathered a wide network of collaborators across Dalmatia and significantly contributed to the systematic study of its flora. His Flora Dalmatica is the result of such collaborative efforts.
Bundle of herbarium sheets in the herbarium collection of Visiani’s “Flora Dalmatica” in Padua. Credit to M. Marić.
Among these collaborators, Joseph Martin Neumayer (1791-1840) stood out. Although described by his contemporaries as “an industrious and intelligent collector of plants” and “a living encyclopedia”, his life and scientific contribution remained largely unknown, and even basic biographical details were recorded incorrectly. This gap became the main impetus for our research.
Letter from the Neumayer-Visiani correspondence, 2 Jan 1838 (UNIPD 38/4.3 – Ar.B.25). Available at https://phaidra.cab.unipd.it/o:469580 [accessed July 2024].
In addition to reviewing historical scientific literature, the most valuable sources were letters exchanged between Neumayer and Visiani, preserved in the archives of the Botanical Garden of the University of Padua. The research was further expanded through archival material from the State Archives in Dubrovnik, as well as parish birth and death records. Through these sources, a picture gradually emerged of a highly dedicated and enthusiastic researcher, fully committed to fieldwork and the development of herbarium collections, which he exchanged with leading botanists of his time.
Herbarium sheets from “Flora Dalmatica” showing Neumayer as collector. ACrypsisaculeata, Narenta (Neretva delta) BLoliumrigidum (=Triticumloliaceum), Prčanj (Bay of Kotor) CCarexhordeistichos, Narenta DTrifoliumpatulum, Mt. Vlaštica near Dubrovnik. Credit to M. Marić.
The letters reveal that botanical expeditions were demanding and often risky, conducted in the rugged mountainous regions of the Dubrovnik hinterland and Montenegro, as well as in the malaria-prone areas of the Neretva valley. Thanks to these efforts, many plant species from these regions were recorded for the first time. Neumayer also proved to be a “Renaissance-type” researcher, extending his interests beyond plants to mosses, lichens, amphibians, and various groups of insects.
This research reminds us that behind every scientific endeavor, both in the past and today, stand curiosity, perseverance, and a deep commitment to one’s work.
Original source:
Marić M, Jasprica N, Maslek J (2026) The contribution of amateur botanists to the advancement of botanical science in the first half of the 19th century: The case of Joseph Martin Neumayer (1791–1840). Italian Botanist 21: 109-138. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.21.183349
May 7th marks Deep Day, a global day of awareness and action dedicated to the deep sea. Founded by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, it aims to raise awareness of the deep sea’s immense ecological importance and call for its protection against threats like deep-sea mining and destructive fishing.
To celebrate the wonders of our oceans and raise awareness of the incredible biodiversity of the deep sea, we at Pensoft Publishers would like to highlight some of the remarkable marine studies that have recently been published in our scientific journals.
A Global Collaboration to Uncover Deep-Sea Amphipods
The 24 newly described deep-sea amphipod species. Image credit to: Eleanor Frost, National Oceanography Centre
Demonstrating the power of global teamwork, an international group of experts recently discovered 24 new deep-sea amphipod species in the central Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Researchers from institutions worldwide, including the University of Lodz and the National Oceanography Centre, came together for a coordinated taxonomy workshop to achieve this. Their work revealed a completely new evolutionary branch with the discovery of a new superfamily, Mirabestioidea.
Crucially, their findings form part of the International Seabed Authority’s Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative (SSKI) and its ‘One Thousand Reasons’ project, which aims to formally describe 1,000 new species by the end of the decade.
Highlighting the importance of this joint effort, Dr. Anna Jażdżewska from the University of Lodz shared:
This was a truly collaborative process that allowed us to achieve the ambitious goal of describing more than 20 species new to science within a year – something that would not have been possible if each of us worked independently. The team’s findings provide information that is crucial for future conservation and policy decisions.
😯Fascinating new #study recorded 108 morphotaxa from 4,500m down to the #hadal depths of 9,775m, revealing the hidden life of the NW Pacific trenches. 🎥They analyzed 460 hours of video from landers & submersibles across the Japan, Ryukyu, and Izu-Ogasawara trenches. 👇Full study here: https://doi.org/10.3897 /BDJ.14.e182172 📗You can read all about it on Pensoft’s blog 👇 https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/04/06/what-lives-10-km-below-the-surface-a-new-look-at-life-in-japans-deepest-ocean-trenches/ Research center: Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre. Main funders of the expedition: Inkfish, Caladan Oceanic #deepsea#sciencetok#research
Photo and video credit to Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, Inkfish, Caladan Oceanic, Jamieson et al., 2026
Another recent expedition provided a profound look at life up to nearly 10 kilometers below the surface in the Japan, Ryukyu, and Izu-Ogasawara trenches, cataloging at least 108 distinct organism groups. The research captured rare footage of species interactions at extreme depths – and one baffling, unidentified animal that has left taxonomists worldwide perplexed.
The unknown organism or Animalia incerta sedis. Credit to Jamieson et al., 2026, o Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, Inkfish and Caladan Oceanic.
Rather than using traditional trawls that can damage fragile organisms, the team utilized crewed submersibles and free-fall baited landers. Explaining the value of this non-destructive method, the research team noted:
This combination enabled us to build the most comprehensive visual baseline yet for abyssal and hadal megafauna in the Northwest Pacific to date.
They added that the study aims to establish a foundation for the future, emphasizing that:
More than anything, the hadal zone remains one of Earth’s least-explored and most intriguing frontiers.
Learn more: Jamieson AJ, Swanborn DJB, Bond T, Cundy MC, Fujiwara Y, Lindsay D, Stott MS, Kitazato H (2026) Faunal biodiversity of the lower abyssal and hadal zones of the Japan, Ryukyu and Izu-Ogasawara trenches (NW Pacific Ocean; 4534-9775 m). Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e182172. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e182172
Finally, highlighting a unique way the public can engage with science and taxonomy, a recently found deep-sea chiton was named by the internet after science YouTuber Ze Frank featured it in an episode of his “True Facts” series. Originally discovered in 2024 within the Izu-Ogasawara Trench at a depth of 5,500 meters, this new species belongs to the genus Ferreiraella, a rare and specialized group of mollusks that live exclusively on sunken wood in the deep sea.
From over 8,000 suggestions submitted across social media, the research team selected the name Ferreiraella populi. The epithet populi is a Latin singular noun in the genitive case meaning “of the people”.
Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, co-chair of the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA), emphasized the broader significance of this public discovery:
Ferreiraella populi exemplifies the overwhelming biodiversity of the oceans, the vast majority of which remains unexplored. Many species go extinct before we even know they exist – this is especially true for marine invertebrates.
Learn more: (SOSA) SOSA, Chen C, Frank H, Kraniotis L, Nakadera Y, Schwabe E, Sigwart JD, Trautwein B, Vončina K (2026) Ocean Species Discoveries 28–30 — new species of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) and a public naming competition. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e180491. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e180491
These studies highlight the vastness of the unexplored frontier that our deep seas and oceans offer. Revealing this hidden life – from entirely new evolutionary branches of amphipods to records of unknown organisms – requires global collaboration, cutting-edge exploration technologies, and the involvement of the general public.
Ultimately, this shared pursuit of discovery provides the fundamental knowledge crucial for conservation and policy decisions. As Deep Day reminds us of the encroaching threats from deep-sea mining, human-derived debris, and destructive fishing, we must work together to understand these fragile habitats so that we can effectively protect them and #DefendtheDeep.
Distinguished by its striking colors and a name that carries the weight of a high ecclesiastical office, a new species of moth has been discovered in the rugged terrain of Greece. When researchers from the Tyrolean State Museum, the Finnish Museum of Natural History and the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology identified this unique insect in the White Mountains of Crete, they chose a name that reflects both its noble appearance and a message of environmental hope: Pyralis papaleonei – derived from “Papa Leone” (Pope Leo).
The discovery, published in the open-access journal Nota Lepidopterologica on 28 April 2026, highlights that even among such conspicuous European moths, overlooked species remain to be discovered. The new species is currently only known from the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) in the western part of Crete, where it appears to be an endemic treasure of the island.
Type-locality of Pyralis papaleonei sp. nov. (Greece, Crete, Omalos plateau). Image credit: Peter Huemer.
Striking purple forewings
The so-called Pope Leo Moth has a wingspan of around two centimeters, placing it among the medium-sized representatives of its group. Its most distinctive features are its purple forewings with an orange-golden patch and prominent white bands. The moths were recorded at artificial light sources and appear to be mainly active in June. So far, little is known about the biology and lifestyle of the new species. It was distinguished from related species based on classical morphological characteristics – such as wing pattern, coloration, and genital morphology – as well as genetic fingerprinting. Molecular analyses revealed a divergence of around six percent from its closest relative, clearly indicating that it represents a distinct species.
Pyralis papaleonei sp. nov., holotype. Image credit: Peter Huemer.
A tradition of remarkable species names
Butterflies and moths are often named after physical characteristics, geographic origins, or in honor of distinguished individuals. Within the genus Pyralis, however, a particular tradition can be observed: as early as 1775, Austrian naturalists Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller described the first species of the group as Pyralis regalis (“royal”), inspired by its splendid coloration. This was followed by sonorous names such as Pyralis princeps and Pyralis cardinalis, also referring to the remarkable beauty of these moths.
All these species belong to the diverse superfamily Pyraloidea, which comprises around 16,000 described species worldwide and represents one of the largest groups among micro-moths.
Specimen of Pyralis regalis. Image credit: Peter Huemer.
Taxonomy as the “first profession” of humankind
The naming of living organisms also has a cultural-historical dimension: in the Old Testament (Genesis 2), Adam is firstly tasked with naming all animals. In this sense, taxonomy – the science of classifying, naming, and organising organisms – can be regarded as one of humanity’s earliest endeavors.
For study leader Peter Huemer of the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum, naming a species is therefore more than a formal scientific act: it also serves as a symbolic appeal to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, to highlight humanity’s central responsibility in safeguarding creation. This is particularly fitting as butterflies and moths are regarded in Christianity as symbols of resurrection, transformation (metamorphosis), and the immortal soul.
Specimens of Pyralis papaleonei. Image credit: Peter Huemer.
Only a fraction of global biodiversity documented
Peter Huemer, former head of the Natural Science Collections at the Tyrolean State Museums and now a volunteer researcher, explains:
“We are facing a global biodiversity crisis, yet only a fraction of the world’s species has been scientifically documented. Effective conservation of biodiversity requires that species are first recognised, described, and named.”
Around 700 new moth species are described each year, primarily in the tropics. However, fundamental research in Europe is far from complete: in the Alps alone, approximately 200 previously unknown species have been identified in recent decades.
With their internationally significant scientific collections, the Tyrolean State Museums make an important contribution to this work. The discovery of the Pope Leo Moth, Pyralis papaleonei, highlights how much remains to be discovered even in well-studied regions of Europe—and underscores the urgent need to protect sensitive habitats.
Over the past two decades, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has become a crucial tool for monitoring aquatic ecosystems. The most common method, metabarcoding, relies on PCR amplification of a smaller genetic region to identify specific taxa. However, PCR can lead to “significant taxonomic bias” because it often amplifies the DNA of different organisms unequally, making quantitative estimates difficult.
To avoid this, scientists have increasingly explored “shotgun sequencing“- an approach that sequences the DNA in a sample much more broadly – across the entire tree of life and across the genome. Unfortunately, in marine environments, shotgun sequencingis typically overwhelmed by microbial DNA, burying the genetic traces of less abundant macro-organisms such as animals.
Bigger Pores, Better Animal DNA Capture?
In a new study published in Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, researchers investigated if they could capture a higher proportion of eukaryotic (animal and plant) DNA simply by using filters with larger pore sizes.
Filter pore sizes are expected to influence results, since eDNA may be present in many different states, including but not limited to complete organisms, sloughed tissue, feces, free DNA, or gametes.
commented Dr. Adrián Gómez-Repollés, the lead author of the study.
To test this, the team collected 15 seawater samples from Skovshoved Harbour in Denmark and filtered them using pore sizes ranging from 0.2 µm to 8.0 µm. The results showed a stark contrast in the type of DNA captured based on the filter size.
Filters with smaller pore sizes (0.2 µm and 1.2 µm) retained a significantly greater proportion of bacterial reads than eukaryotic reads (63% vs. 28%); conversely, filters with larger pore sizes (5.0 µm and 8.0 µm) retained a significantly greater proportion of eukaryotic reads than bacterial reads (49% vs. 31%).
By switching to 5.0 µm or 8.0 µm filters, the researchers successfully reduced the dominance of bacteria. Of the 19 metazoan (animal) phyla detected using shotgun sequencing, all but one were found to be more abundant when using the larger pore sizes.
Looking to the Future of Biomonitoring
Taxonomic comparison at the kingdom and phylum levels of eukaryotes detected with shotgun sequencing and metabarcoding. A. Number and relative abundance (percentages) of taxonomically classified reads after rarefaction per sample and kingdom for shotgun sequencing; B. Number and relative abundance of taxonomically classified reads after rarefaction per sample and kingdom for metabarcoding. For both heatmaps, sample replicates are ordered along the y-axis by increasing pore size, starting with the enclosed filter type (EN) and continuing with the open pore filter type (OP). Pore sizes are in µm; C. Cladogram of the full set of eukaryotic phyla identified by shotgun sequencing and metabarcoding. Branch colors represent kingdoms (blue, Metazoa; red, Fungi; green, Viridiplantae; pink, other eukaryotes). Three surrounding rings indicate phyla shared between shotgun sequencing and metabarcoding (gray), phyla uniquely detected with metabarcoding (yellow), and phyla uniquely detected with shotgun sequencing (blue). Information in the rings is summarized in a Venn diagram in the upper left corner. Taxa marked with an asterisk are no longer categorized as a phylum. Credit to Gómez-Repollés et al., 2026
When compared alongside traditional 18S rDNA metabarcoding, the shotgun sequencing method successfully shared 39 of the 54 detected eukaryotic phyla, indicating a similar performance in detecting the presence of high-level taxonomic groups.
To test the potential of shotgun sequencing in applied biomonitoring even further, the researchers examined the results at genus-level for a number of well known marine animals such as fish, mussels, crustaceans and bristle worms. Here, they found both DNA matches to native Danish species but also to exotic taxa that were highly unlikely and probably due to the low level of resolution in shotgun sequencing, where genetic regions of low variation and coverage are sequenced.
Water sample collection. Photo by David Stanciu.
But, when they looked further into the results they observed that the local taxa consistently comprised a higher number of reads. The number of reads could thus be a simple way to initially separate authentic taxa from erroneous matches in eDNA studies based on shotgun sequencing, although the approach needs further testing.
However, the authors note current limitations with the technology, primarily driven by incomplete public DNA reference databases. In the study, only 0.78% of the total shotgun reads could be definitively assigned to a superkingdom level. Another drawback was the lack of field controls to rule out cross-contamination or input from airborne DNA, coupled with a limited spatiotemporal design involving only a single sampling location.
Despite these hurdles, shotgun sequencing and filters with larger pore sizes could potentially be a significant step forward for eDNA in marine biology. As global genomic databases continue to expand, “the taxonomic coverage and resolution of shotgun sequencing should improve, likely enhancing the potential of shotgun sequencing for future eDNA research“, says Philip Francis Thomsen, professor and senior author on the study.
Original study:
Gómez-Repollés A, Sigsgaard EE, Jensen MR, Thomsen PF (2026) Filter pore size influences taxonomic composition of retained eDNA from seawater samples—evidence from shotgun sequencing. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 10: e164232. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.10.164232
Graceful, brown-eyed, and a staple of local folklore, the roe deer is one of Romania’s most iconic forest dwellers. But behind the serene image of these animals lies a hidden crisis: a new study reveals the roe deer is the most frequently poached mammal in the country, a finding made possible by turning to an unlikely source of scientific data: the local news.
Because Romania lacks a centralised official database for monitoring illegal hunting and fishing, researchers from the University of Bucharest analysed over 1,100 media reports from 2007 to 2024 to uncover the patterns of wildlife crime. The study, published in the journal Nature Conservation, found that ungulates and aquatic species are the primary targets of poachers, often driven by the lucrative trade in meat and animal products.
Taxa reported in mass media articles addressing poaching events from 2007 to 2024 in Romania. Photo credit: Neagu et al.
“We initially planned to map the scale of poaching in Romania using the data you would expect authorities to keep, things like police files, court records, and hunting inspectorate reports.”
“What we ran into was a gap no one really talks about, since there is no centralised database for poaching in this country. That forced us to rethink the question. Where were these stories actually being told? The answer was the press.”
Lead researcher Andra Claudia Neagu, a doctoral student at the University of Bucharest
The research identifies the roe deer as the most reported victim of illegal hunting, appearing in over 22 per cent of analysed articles, followed closely by the wild boar at 16 per cent. Fish and aquatic species also face high risks, making up nearly 34 per cent of poaching reports, with the highest concentration of incidents occurring in Tulcea County, home to the ecologically rich Danube Delta.
Bear caught in a snare in Covasna County. Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac (National Agency for Environment and Protected Areas, Vrancea County Environmental Directorate).
“A poaching incident in a forest outside a small village rarely makes it into a national statistic, but it often ends up in a local news brief.”
“On their own, these are footnotes. Put enough of them together and patterns emerge: where, which species, which season, which methods. What official records cannot capture, the local press often does.”
The Research Team
The study also highlighted a darker side of human-wildlife conflict: protected species like the brown bear and grey wolf are frequently targeted when they venture too close to human settlements. Researchers found that the poaching of these large carnivores is often fueled by a low tolerance among local communities and a lack of social acceptance.
Bear caught in a snare in Vrancea County. Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac.
Understanding the “why” behind these crimes is critical for reform. Neagu’s team found that poaching ranges from trophy hunting for status to subsistence fishing by families with few legal ways to earn a living.
“It changes almost everything, because there is no single ‘poacher’.”
“Trophy poaching needs stronger enforcement and real consequences. Subsistence poaching needs alternatives that break the dependence on an illegal catch. And casual poaching needs education far more than punishment. Treating these three as the same problem is one of the reasons anti-poaching policies so often fail.”
The Research Team
As technology advances, the team sees both new threats and new opportunities. While poachers use increasingly sophisticated trapping and online sales channels, researchers believe artificial intelligence could be a game-changer for conservation by scanning public platforms for evidence of illegal activities.
“Poachers adapt just as fast as we do. Some of the cases that made it into our dataset only came to light because someone online spotted an image, perhaps a trophy photo, and reported it. A tool trained to scan public platforms for exactly that kind of content could flag dozens more cases that slip through today.”
The Research Team
An improvised trap, often used by poachers (snares). Photo credit: Silviu Chiriac.
Ultimately, the study suggests that the most powerful tool for change is a shift in community mindset. Hotspots identified in the research, such as Tulcea for fishing and Bacau for ungulates, requires more public engagement.
“The biggest barrier to tackling it in Romania isn’t missing technology or weak laws. It is a quiet social tolerance.”
“If we had to pick one thing, it would be breaking the silence around poaching. If you care about wildlife, share what you know with the people around you. The more normal it becomes to treat poaching as a real problem, the less cover it has, and that is where real change starts.”
The Research Team
Research on the study, titled “Wildlife at risk: A media-based analysis of wildlife poaching in Romania,” was led by Andra Claudia Neagu, Steluta Manolache, and Laurentiu Rozylowicz. The work was supported by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-IV-P1-PCE-2023-1119 (Harmonia).
