New study in Metabarcoding and Metagenomics shares results from FRESHBAR, the first large-scale barcode reference for Nordic benthic freshwater diatoms.
Diatom DNA metabarcoding holds great potential for biodiversity monitoring and ecological assessment, particularly within the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the recently introduced EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL). However, several challenges remain, among which gaps in reference databases have been identified as a major obstacle, especially for understudied habitats and ecoregions.
Ribbon-shaped chains representing colony formation of Eunotia implicata Nörpel, Lange-Bertalot & Alles. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
Stacked chain colonies of Eunotia incisa W.Smith ex W.Gregory. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
In this context, we present results from the national barcoding project (FRESHBAR), conducted between 2019 and 2023 and focusing on benthic freshwater diatoms of Sweden, a key organism group for both ecology and environmental assessment. The study was recently published in the open-accessMetabarcoding and Metagenomics journal. A primary goal of the project was the publication and vouchering of all data, materials, and results to support further research.
Pin-cushion-like colonies (tufts of upright cells sharing a common pad of mucilage at the base) of Eunotia cf. seminulum Nörpel-Schempp & Lange-Bertalot. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
Pin-cushion-like colonies of cells of the Eunotia flexuosa/ pseudoflexuosa/ latitaenia – group. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
The project established a total of 312 diatom cultures, with a focus on oligotrophic and acidic habitats. The cultures were sequenced for two barcodes (rbcL and 18SV4) and identified using light microscopy, while selected strains were additionally examined by scanning electron microscopy. All data, including sampling metadata, barcode sequences, images, and voucher material, were published in accordance with the FAIR principles, and a subset of cultures was archived in diatom culture collections.
Chain-forming colonies in bracelet form of the Eunotia flexuosa/ pseudoflexuosa/ latitaenia – group. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
Nearly all strains were successfully sequenced, identifying 51 taxa across 17 genera. A notable highlight was the relatively high proportion of Eunotia taxa, a genus poorly represented in diatom databases yet frequently encountered in Swedish freshwaters. Beyond molecular and morphological data, we also captured images of colony formation and sexual reproduction stages from living cultures, information that is only rarely documented.
Sexual reproduction (auxospore formation) and ribbon-shaped chains representing colony formation of Eunotia sp. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
Sexual reproduction (auxospore formation) and ribbon-shaped chains representing colony formation of E. myrmica Lange-Bertalot. Credit to Maria Kahlert.
FRESHBAR represents the first large-scale effort to generate barcode reference sequences for Nordic benthic freshwater diatoms. As all data are publicly available, we are confident that the added sequences and morphological information will contribute to more accurate species-level identification, help resolve taxonomic relationships within diatoms, and improve reference databases for environmental monitoring and research.
Original source:
Kahlert M, Mora D, Kusber W-H, Abarca N, Zimmermann J (2026) New DNA barcode reference data of freshwater diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from Sweden: old acquaintances and new taxa. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 10: e186778. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.10.186778
The peer-reviewed, open-access Endocrinologia Journal, published by the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology is moving to ARPHA, the publishing platform developed by Pensoft.
Focusing on research in basic and clinical endocrinology and metabolic disorders, the journal publishes review articles in Bulgarian, alongside original papers and case reports available in both English and Bulgarian. The paper issues of the journal are published quarterly while the electronic online versions of the papers are published as soon as final approval is granted and formatting is completed.
Due to the generous support of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology, publication in the journal is free to all authors.
Homepage of the Endocrinologia Journal.
In addition to a refreshed, user-friendly design, the Pensoft-developed publishing platform ARPHA provides its signature fast-track, end-to-end publishing system to the benefit of its users: authors, reviewers and editors alike.
Each submitted manuscript is carried through the review, editing, publication, dissemination and archiving stages without leaving ARPHA’s collaboration-focused online environment. The articles are available in PDF and machine-readable XML formats, so that they are easy to discover, access, cite and reuse. Endocrinologia Journal is indexed in Scopus, CrossRef, EMBASE, and the Bulgarian Citation Index, and archived through CLOCKSS and Zenodo.
Endocrinologia Journal
The introduction of an online platform for submitting manuscripts will contribute to improved management of the publishing activities of the journal Endocrinology and will help the journal, as the official publication of the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology, meet current standards for full integration into international scientific databases,
commented Prof. Maria Orbetzova, the journal’s Editor-in-Chief.
Endocrinologia Journal brings a rich legacy of peer-reviewed endocrinology research to our portfolio, and we are excited to support its next chapter. Through ARPHA, we hope to give the journal’s authors, reviewers and editors the tools they need to publish faster, reach further, and make a greater impact,
added Prof. Lyubomir Penev, founder and CEO of Pensoft and ARPHA.
About the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology:
Founded in 1958, the Bulgarian Society of Endocrinology (BSE) is a professional medical organization dedicated to advancing endocrinology in Bulgaria. Its core mission encompasses the continuous education of endocrinologists, trainees, GPs, and other specialists, alongside the development of national screening programmes for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, and the establishment of Bulgarian clinical guidelines on diabetes management. The BSE supports both healthcare professionals, through Schools of Endocrinology and specialist symposia, and patients, via public education courses and media outreach. It hosts annual scientific congresses and publishes the peer-reviewed journal Endocrinologia.
About ARPHA:
ARPHA is a full-featured, end-to-end publishing platform for journals, books, conference materials and preprints. ARPHA offers flexible operating and business models, and a wide-range of automated and human-provided services. The ARPHA team places a special focus on its scholarly communication solutions designed to leverage the visibility and outreach of academic output, while promoting inclusivity and engagement.
Founded in 1992 “by scientists, for scientists”, the academic open-access publishing company is well known worldwide for its novel cutting-edge publishing tools, workflows and methods for text and data publishing of journals, books and conference materials. Back in 2010, Pensoft became the first scientific publisher to introduce semantic enrichments in scholarly publications. Through its Research and Technical Development department, the company is involved in various research and technology projects.
This tiny nudibranch, which measures less than three millimetres in length, was first spotted by lead author Ho-Yeung Chan during a recreational dive in 2019.
“Taiwanese divers call it ‘sesame’ in Chinese and it is also small like a sesame seed, hence the name,” the research team explained regarding their decision to honour the local nickname in the scientific nomenclature. This tiny nudibranch, which measures less than three millimetres in length, was first spotted by lead author Ho-Yeung Chan during a recreational dive in 2019.
Thecacerasesama sp. nov. Details of appearance and morphological features, hand-drawn on a tablet PC by Chen-Lu Lee.
The discovery was a stroke of luck that began during Chan’s undergraduate studies:
“During a recreational dive in the summer during the undergraduate study of HY Chan in 2019, he accidentally discovered Thecacera sesama sp. nov. in northern Taiwan waters.”
The Research Team
Despite its unique appearance, the importance of the find was not immediately obvious. In a modern twist on traditional taxonomy, Chan “never realised Thecacera sesama was a new species until he consulted the sea slug expert ‘Hsini Lin teacher’ on Facebook.”
Living specimens of Thecacerasesama sp. nov. Image credit: Ho-Yeung Chan et al.
Documenting the species proved to be a significant logistical feat due to the volatile environment of the Keelung coast. The research team noted that the most challenging part of the study was the unique weather conditions of the region.
Taiwan experiences frequent typhoons in the summer and large waves during the winter monsoon season, with sea temperatures often dropping below 16 degrees Celsius. These factors mean that diving for nudibranch research is only possible for about four months of the year, making sightings of such tiny creatures entirely a matter of chance.
Living specimens of bryozoan with Thecacera species. Image credit: Ho-Yeung Chan et al.
The life of T. sesama is remarkably focused, as the researchers observed that the species exhibits only four primary behaviours: feeding, searching, mating, and laying eggs on bryozoans, which are tiny aquatic invertebrates often called “moss animals”. Interestingly, the specific bryozoan that T. sesama calls home may itself be a species new to science.
From a broader ecological perspective, these vibrant molluscs play a vital role in the marine environment:
“Nudibranchs are one of the key players in the marine food web. They are extremely colourful and can be spotted on coral reef ecosystems. However, many nudibranchs are very small in size and are extremely difficult to spot underwater with the naked eye.”
The Research Team
The researchers believe that the discovery of T. sesama is just the tip of the iceberg for Taiwanese marine biology. Because many species are so small, many more are likely awaiting discovery and formal study. The full research on Thecacera sesama was published in the open-access journal ZooKeys on 11 May 2026.
Original source:
Chan H-Y, Lee C-L, Chen W-C, Chang C-H, Shao Y-T, Pang K-L (2026) Thecacera sesama sp. nov. (Nudibranchia, Polyceridae) from Taiwan, evident from morphology and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase I gene. ZooKeys 1279: 269-284. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1279.184298
Cover image:
Two individuals of Thecacerasesama sp. nov. feeding on a bryozoan. Image credit: Ho-Yeung Chan et al.
What if some of the most important clues about marine biodiversity were already collected but never fully shared?
That’s the question that motivated this study, published in Biodiversity Data Journal. It brought together over 40 years of unpublished data on marine amphipods – ecologically crucial crustaceans – from across Italian waters. By unifying scattered records and making them openly accessible, researchers have assembled comprehensive and up-to-date inventories of these species for the Mediterranean.
Satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea with Italy and Sicily. Image provided by Prof. Sabrina Lo Brutto.
Researchers analysed 4,344 previously unpublished records spanning from 1980 to 2025, identifying 302 amphipod species across the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas. Interestingly, they found that the Tyrrhenian Sea harbours the highest taxonomic richness (258 species), while the Adriatic Sea accounts for the greatest number of records due to intense historical sampling.
A Number of species per sea; B Venn diagram illustrating the distribution and shared amphipod species across the three areas, Tyrrhenian Sea (light blue), Ionian Sea (red), Adriatic Sea (blue). Credit to Badalucco et al., 2026.
This work not only updates the Italian inventory but also reinforces the country’s central role as a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean.
noted Prof. Sabrina Lo Brutto of the Department of Earth and Sea Sciences (DiSTeM) at the University of Palermo, the coordinator of the study.
Why amphipods matter
A female hyalid amphipod species (Serejohyale sicilia) with eggs. Image credit to Prof. Sabrina Lo Brutto.
Amphipods are small, often just a few millimeters long, but they play an outsized role in marine ecosystems. They recycle nutrients, connect food webs, and serve as prey for fish, birds, and mammals. Because they respond quickly to environmental stress, they are also powerful bioindicators, helping scientists detect pollution and ecological changes.
Yet despite their importance, our knowledge of where these species live has been fragmented. In some cases, outdated or incomplete records have even led to cascading misidentifications in the scientific literature.
A collaborative effort across Italy
Map showing the distribution of the georeferenced species records. Points were differentiated by colours, based on the sea upon which they lie: Tyrrhenian Sea (light blue), Ionian Sea (red) and Adriatic Sea (blue). Credit to Badalucco et al., 2026.
This study represents a collective effort coordinated under the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC). Researchers from universities, environmental agencies, and research institutes across Italy contributed data spanning more than four decades.
By harmonizing these datasets under the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), we ensured that the information was not only scientifically robust but also openly available for future research.
commented the first author of the study, Dr. Antonina Badalucco (Dept. DiSTeM, University of Palermo).
The full dataset is now accessible via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), making it a resource for scientists worldwide.
A changing Mediterranean
Percentage of the amphipod species per substrate/habitat categories. *The species Dendropoma petraeum is now accepted as Dendropoma cristatum. Credit to Badalucco et al., 2026.
The presence of non-indigenous species is a reminder that marine ecosystems are rapidly evolving. The study identified 11 alien species primarily concentrated in ports, lagoons such as the Venice Lagoon, and aquaculture facilities. Increased shipping, aquaculture, and global connectivity are allowing these species to travel farther and establish themselves in new environments, sometimes with significant ecological consequences.
At the same time, researchers observed that sampling efforts have intensified dramatically in the last decade, driven in part by European environmental policies such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive – generating a surge in available data, while also highlighting how much earlier information had remained underused.
Why this matters now
Understanding where species live is the foundation of conservation. Without accurate distribution data, it’s nearly impossible to track biodiversity loss, identify vulnerable habitats, or design effective protection strategies.
Prof. Lo Brutto explained
By filling long-standing gaps in knowledge, this research supports broader efforts – such as the EU’s and National Biodiversity Future Centre’s shared goal to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 – and provides a baseline for monitoring future environmental change.
Looking ahead
This is not the end of the story; it’s a starting point. Our study shows the immense value of unlocking existing data and making it accessible. We hope it will inspire similar efforts across other regions and taxonomic groups, helping to build a more complete picture of life in our oceans.
Prof. Lo Brutto concluded
Original study:
Badalucco A, Auriemma R, Balistreri P, Baratti M, Bonifazi A, Capillo G, Cimmaruta R, Coccia I, D’Amore A, Desiderato A, D’Iglio C, Grech D, Iaciofano D, Lattanzi L, Lezzi M, Lionello M, Macaluso E, Mancini E, Martino C, Marusso V, Mercurio M, Mucciolo S, Prato E, Pulieri M, Puthod P, Scipione MB, Scirocco T, Sirchia B, Specchiulli A, Targusi M, Trabucco B, Vannucci A, Rosati I, Lo Brutto S (2026) A contribution to the inventory of marine amphipod species from Italian waters based on unpublished sources and FAIR principles. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e189256. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e189256
Published in ZooKeys, a recent study revises the Himalayan pit viper group using a combination of fresh and historical DNA, morphology, skeletal anatomy, and ecological observations.
The high mountain ranges of Asia remain among the least biologically explored regions of the continent. Now, an international team of researchers has shown that one of their most elusive venomous snakes, long treated a single species, is in fact a complex of five distinct species, three of which are new to science.
Published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, the study revises the Himalayan pit viper group using a combination of fresh and historical DNA, morphology, skeletal anatomy, and ecological observations. The data reveals that what scientists had long treated as a single widespread species, the Himalayan pit viper first described in 1864, actually consists of multiple deeply distinct evolutionary lineages.
The analyses identified five clearly distinct species-level lineages, i.e. the Himalayan pit viper in the strict sense, Gloydius chambensis described in 2022, and three previously unrecognised species from different parts of Pakistan and Nepal. Alongside genetic divergence, these lineages exhibit distinct morphologicalandskeletal variations.
Phylogeny and distribution of five pit viper species in the Himalaya and Hindu Kush. Image credit: Dr Daniel Jablonski
“These mountain systems still harbour overlooked vertebrate diversity and hold important clues to the biogeography of Asia,” says Daniel Jablonski of Comenius University Bratislava, who has been conducting extensive research in Pakistan and Afghanistan for many years.
“By combining modern field sampling with data from historical museum specimens, we uncovered evolutionary lineages that had remained hidden for more than a century after the original description of the Himalayan pit viper.”
Daniel Jablonski
A key element of the discovery was the integration of newly collected material with a powerful source of evidence: DNA extracted from museum specimens collected in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This included the original type specimen of the Himalayan pit viper, allowing the researchers to clarify the identity of the species in its strict scientific sense.
The study underscores the enduring scientific value of natural history collections. Indeed, specimens gathered by earlier generations of explorers and preserved in museums are still helping scientists solve modern biological puzzles, especially in regions where fieldwork remains difficult.
Paratype of the newly described species Gloydius hindukushensis from northwestern Pakistan. Image credit: Dr Daniel Jablonski and Dr Frank Tillack.
Paratype of the newly described species Gloydius nepalensis from Nepal. Image credit: Dr Daniel Jablonski and Dr Frank Tillack.
In fact, part of the discovery had been waiting in plain sight. “Museum specimens are not just records of the past. They are active research tools and essential infrastructure for future science,” says Sylvia Hofmann from the Museum Koenigas part of theLeibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, who has comprehensively worked in the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau during the past 20 years.
“Some of the key evidence had been sitting in museum collections for more than a hundred years. We just didn’t have the tools to recognise it. As analytical methods continue to improve, the scientific value of these collections will only grow and revealing biodiversity we didn’t even know was there.”
Sylvia Hofmann
Representatives of the herpetofauna play an important role in the ecosystem, particularly as ecological indicators, within the food chain, and as predators in pest control. A group of top predators in the region consist of pit vipers adapted to mountainous environments, which have so far been studied only very inadequately in the Himalayan region.
“Our work aims to close these gaps in knowledge and to lay the groundwork and provide inspiration for further, in-depth studies on this ecologically and medically relevant group.”
Tillack maintains close ties with Nepalese colleagues and has been collaborating with them for 35 years on projects concerning the biodiversity of herpetofauna in the Himalaya.
An important part of the study is the osteology of these snakes, including the skull anatomy of the lectotype BMNH 1946.1.19.64 of Gloydius himalayanus, collected more than 160 years ago. Image credit: Kristin Mahlow-Tillack.
The study also emphasises how much remains to be discovered in regions that have long been difficult to access for scientific research. “Pakistan’s high mountains are still full of biological surprises,” says Rafaqat Masroor of the Pakistan Museum of Natural History, the country’s leading herpetologists.
“This finding highlights how little we still know about a region long shaped by socio-political instability.”
Rafaqat Masroor
Beyond taxonomy, the findings also carry an important conservation message:
“Each of the newly recognised species seems to occupy a relatively restricted range in fragile mountain environments, highlighting new ecological and evolutionary questions.”
Daniel Jablonski
Without recognising such diversity, it would be impossible to assess it accurately or protect it effectively.
Original study:
Jablonski D, Tillack F, Mahlow-Tillack K, Petzold A, Wilzo M, Das A, Idrees M, Baniya CB, Masroor R, Hofmann S (2026) Integrative taxonomy reveals previously undescribed diversity within the Gloydius himalayanus complex (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae) from the Himalaya and Hindu Kush. ZooKeys 1280: 83-153. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1280.182768
Aligning with the International Day for Biological Diversity‘s theme of “Acting locally for global impact,” researchers have released a comprehensive blueprint for building a robust, globally adaptable network of DNA barcoding practitioners.
Heat map illustrating the heterogeneity in the number of available DNA barcode records with species assignment. Data were retrieved from the BOLD Systems data portal in November 2025. Credit to Kaitetzidou et al., 2026.
DNA barcoding has become a cornerstone for modern species identification and biodiversity monitoring, proving vital for applications ranging from ecological research to conservation and environmental policy. Since its inception, the DNA barcoding community worldwide has been convening under the aegis of the International Barcode of Life (iBOL), which provides necessary global coordination. To implement barcoding at scale, build local capacity, and translate scientific advances into actionable practice, iBOL national nodes have been established since the 2010s
Drawing on a survey and workshop conducted under the Horizon Europe Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, this research synthesises experiences from 20 countries, including 17 in Europe, and examines how national nodes are initiated, governed, and sustained. Common challenges included defining scope, securing sustainable funding, harmonising methodologies, and engaging stakeholders. For example, a particularly striking finding was how rarely node coordinators sought guidance from established networks before setting up their own.
The decision-making process and steps taken were almost entirely based on intuition and the experience from other within-country activities, as well as their perceptions of the activities of other nations’ barcoding nodes,
the researchers note.
Countries are highlighted whose representatives of a national initiative responded to the questionnaire (yellow), attended the workshop (green) or both (yellow–green stripes). Peru and South Africa are not displayed on the map; however, representatives of their national nodes took part in the survey and the workshop, respectively. Credit to Kaitetzidou et al., 2026.
Central to the paper are ten practical recommendations to ensure the establishment and long-term success of national DNA barcoding nodes. The authors emphasise several key priorities, primarily the construction of comprehensive DNA barcode reference libraries and the critical need to align scientific activities with practical biomonitoring requirements.
Furthermore, they strongly advocate for promoting FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE data principles, alongside implementing focused strategies for capacity building, methodological standardisation, communication, and diverse stakeholder engagement.
Stronger national infrastructures will enhance Europe’s capacity for DNA-based biodiversity monitoring and support metabarcoding and metagenomic research. Building on milestones such as the establishment of iBOL Europe in 2022, these local efforts add up to real progress on species discovery, conservation, and environmental management worldwide.
This paper has been published with the support of the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project, funded through Horizon Europe, the UK Research & Innovation Fund and the Swiss Confederation (https://biodiversitygenomics.eu/).
Original source:
Kaitetzidou E, Gadawski P, Goodall-Copestake WP, Dankova G, Gkagkavouzis K, Holak S, Rewicz T, Bącela-Spychalska K, Mamos T, Fantoni K, Jabłońska A, Tończyk G, Trębicki Ł, Aravanopoulos FA, Bruschini C, Bonchev G, Dagher Kharrat MB, Čiampor F, Costa FO, Dapporto L, Ekrem T, Ferreira S, Geiger M, Hausmann A, Hebert PDN, Kalamujić Stroil B, Kamenova S, Kautmanova I, Keskin E, Kučinić M, Lipinskaya T, Mutanen M, Papakostas S, Price B, Ramírez R, Rougerie R, Rulik B, Szucsich N, Van Der Bank M, Triantafyllidis A, Hollingsworth PM, Grabowski M (2026) Empowering national capacity for DNA-based approach to species identification and biodiversity monitoring. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 10: e183268. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.10.183268
A new policy brief from the PollinERA project calls for a major shift in EU pesticide regulation, arguing that current assessments of individual substances fail to address the cumulative environmental impacts of pesticide use across landscapes, and that many pesticide bans are unnecessary if the scale of use is managed.
The authors, Christopher John Topping, Johan Axelman and James Henty Williams, argue that the approach would better align pesticide regulation with EU environmental obligations under the Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000 and the Nature Restoration Law. The brief also outlines key advantages, including environmental protection, regulatory simplification, resistance management, improved farmer access, fair access, and stronger market incentives for lower-impact products.
The brief also proposes implementation through three targeted amendments within the current EU Omnibus process: linking pesticide use conditions under Regulation (EC) 1107/2009 to regional ecological limits; introducing Regional Pesticide Management Plans under the Sustainable Use Directive (2009/128/EC); and aligning regional budget calibration with Water Framework Directive and Nature Restoration Law targets. According to the authors, no new legislative framework would be required.
About PollinERA PollinERA (Understanding pesticide-Pollinator interactions to support EU Environmental Risk Assessment and policy) is a four-year Horizon Europe project that aims to move the evaluation of the risk and impacts of pesticides and suggestions for mitigation beyond the current situation of assessing single pesticides in isolation on honey bees to an ecologically consistent assessment of effects on insect pollinators.
At Pensoft Publishers, we are proud to support the open-access dissemination of botanical knowledge through our journal PhytoKeys. On International Tea Day, we invite you to spill the tea on the captivating world of the genus Camellia. While most people recognise these plants as the source of their morning brew, the genus is incredibly diverse and economically significant.
Camellia species are famous for their tea properties, providing the leaf buds and young branches used to manufacture black, green, and oolong tea. Beyond the teapot, these evergreen shrubs and trees are valued for their oil-producing seeds and their stunning ornamental flowers in horticulture. Despite their global fame, we are still discovering new members of this family, often in the remote forests of East and Southeast Asia.
One of the most dramatic stories recently published in PhytoKeys concerns Camellia hekouensis, a tree native to Hekou in Yunnan, China. For a time, the botanical community feared the species was lost forever after the last known living tree died at the end of 2024 due to bark destruction.
However, a dedicated effort by the staff of the Dawei Mountain National Nature Reserve saved the species from the brink. They successfully protected 11 wild trees and propagated 32 others ex-situ. This species is particularly interesting because its chemical profile challenged previous scientific claims. While earlier researchers suggested it lacked certain purine alkaloids, new analysis shows the leaves actually contain 1.18 mg/g of theobromine.
Camelliahekouensis. Image credit: Dongwei Zhao et al.
Read more: Zhao D, Zhang G, Yang S (2025) Phylogenetic position, supplementary description and phytochemical analysis of Camellia hekouensis (Theaceae), a critically endangered tree native to Hekou, Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 256: 185-195. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.256.149481
Further research in Yunnan has revealed another unique relative of the common tea plant named Camellia yangii. Discovered in the forests of Malipo County, this species is a true member of the tea section, yet it stands out for being remarkably hairy. It bears a red or purplish red terminal bud that is densely pubescent, making it a rare and visually striking germplasm resource.
Lead researcher Dongwei Zhao of Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, found that while most Camellia species have five sepals, Camellia yangii typically bears only three. It also follows its own schedule, flowering about a month later than other tea plants in the vicinity. This late flowering phase is a natural barrier that prevents it from hybridising with other species, keeping its genetic line distinct. With fewer than ten individuals known in the wild, its discovery is a call to action for urgent protection.
Botanical science sometimes involves correcting the records of the past, as seen in the reinstatement of Camellia angustifolia. This species from Guangxi, China, was originally described in 1981 but was later dismissed as a mere synonym of another variety in 1992.
Recent field investigations proved that this was a mistake. Researchers from the Guangxi Research Institute of Tea Science discovered that the original type specimen was actually a misidentified bellflower from a completely different family. Once the correct specimens were examined, the differences became clear – unlike its shrubby relatives that grow only a few meters tall, Camellia angustifolia is a majestic tree that can reach heights of 20 meters.
Read more: Deng H, Liao X, Yu X, Liu Z, Yang S (2025) Reinstatement of the independent specific status of Camellia angustifolia, a tea plant (Camellia sect. Thea, Theaceae) from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys 267: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.174664
Our journey through recent tea-related discoveries concludes in the striking Danxia landscape of Guangdong Province. Here, researchers identified Camellia shangshii, a new species endemic to the red sandstone formations of Danxiashan Mountain. This species bears smaller leaves and flowers than its closest relatives. One of its most defining features is that its white petals are fused together at the base for several millimeters.
This tree notably thrives in a unique microclimate where specialised soils and environmental contrasts drive the evolution of distinct species. It is named in honour of Dr. Shangshi Wu, a scientist who pioneered the study of these geological landscapes.
Camelliashangshii. Image credit: Shiyang Wang, Yinyu Wu and Xiaowei Yi.
Read more: Wang S, Liu H, Tan S, Shen L, Chen Z, Chen F, Fan Q (2026) Camellia shangshii (Theaceae), a new species endemic to danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China. PhytoKeys 270: 13-23. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.270.172597
As we celebrate International Tea Day, these discoveries remind us that our knowledge of the natural world is still growing. Every new species found and every historical error improves our understanding of the biological heritage of our favorite beverages. At Pensoft, we will never stop be-leafing in the power of new species to inspire conservation and science!
New research from NeoBiota uncovers an invasional mutualism between Western honey bees and myrtle rust, with potentially troubling consequences for Australia’s native ecosystems.
Every year on May 20th, the world celebrates World Bee Day, a date chosen to honour Anton Janša, an 18th-century pioneer of modern beekeeping who was born on this day in Slovenia, a country where beekeeping has been a cherished tradition for centuries. This year’s theme, “Bee Together for People and the Planet,” puts the spotlight on the partnership between humans and bees, and how collaboration, tradition, and innovation can help secure a sustainable future for both.
At Pensoft, we’re marking the occasion by shining a light on a threat that often goes unnoticed: the destabilisation of pollination networks. As ecosystems change and pathogens spread, sometimes carried by the very pollinators we rely on, the delicate web of relationships between plants and their pollinators is under pressure. Understanding bees and other pollinators as potential carriers of invasive plant diseases is becoming an increasingly important piece of the conservation puzzle.
Surprising Interaction
Apis mellifera on leaves with myrtle rust. Photo credit to Geoff S Pegg.
New research published in NeoBiota has found that the Western honey bee – an introduced species to Australia – and the devastating, invasive plant fungus known as myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) may have formed a mutually beneficial relationship known as an “invasional mutualism.”
Myrtle rust is notorious for devastating ecologically and culturally significant native plants in the Myrtaceae family, putting 17% of Australia’s endemic vegetation at risk. While rust fungi generally rely strictly on wind to spread, researchers discovered that bees may actively forage on the bright yellow fungus spores, packing them into their pollen baskets and carrying them back to the hive just as they would regular pollen.
Researcher taking samples from a beehive. Photo credit to Caroline Hauxwell.
Beehive in the forest. Photo credit to Caroline Hauxwell.
Through a series of experiments, the team made three significant findings. Firstly, the rust spores proved to be quite nutritious. They contained over 22% protein and all 10 essential amino acids, meeting the threshold required for bee colonies to survive. In fact, the fungus matched the nutritional quality of high-value floral pollen, like willow pollen.
In laboratory feeding trials, larvae raised on a diet of myrtle rust spores grew up perfectly healthy, developing at the same speed and reaching similar body weights as bees raised on a traditional high-quality pollen diet. As the researchers explain:
These findings suggest that spore foraging may not be an aberration, but a viable foraging strategy for honey bees.
And perhaps the most alarming discovery is that the myrtle rust spores remain viable and capable of causing new plant infections for at least nine days inside a beehive which could pose significant biosecurity risks
A Devastating Ecological Feedback Loop
Taking samples from a beehive. Photo credit to Caroline Hauxwell.
This discovery challenges the assumption that invasive species always act independently, and it carries major environmental consequences. As myrtle rust kills off keystone taxa in the Myrtaceae family, such as eucalypts, paperbarks, and other ecologically and culturally significant species, particularly in Australia, fewer flowers and less pollen become available for bees to forage on. Beyond the direct biodiversity loss, as the fungus kills these plants, fewer flowers and less pollen are available for the bees.
Under such conditions, bees may increasingly turn to alternative protein sources, such as fungal urediniospores,
the researchers explain.
This could set off a devastating ecological feedback loop.
“Over time, this dynamic may destabilise plant-pollinator networks and forest regeneration, particularly in regions with high Myrtaceae endemism.” They add: “While generalist foragers like A. mellifera may buffer their colony health by switching to spores or non-Myrtaceae pollen sources, the long-term ecological cost could be substantial, especially for specialist pollinators that lack such flexibility.“
The risks extend beyond ecosystems. Because spores remain viable inside a hive for over a week, commercial beehives – regularly transported across the country over three to seven days to pollinate crops – now represent a significant pathway for human-assisted spread of the pathogen.
As the lead author, Sacchi Shin-Clayton (University of Cambridge) emphasises:
Apis mellifera is an introduced species used as a commercial pollination agent worldwide, and shifting honey bee colonies between agricultural sites to boost pollination has become a standard practice. This reliance on honey bee colonies and shifting between multiple sites is quite concerning, given the demonstrated interaction between A. mellifera and myrtle rust, and its longevity within colonies.
Despite this, current biosecurity strategies for managing myrtle rust do not account for the movement of commercial beehives, leaving a critical gap in disease management approaches.
We propose that honey bees be explicitly considered in both epidemiological models and the formulation of management and containment strategies,
the researchers urge.
Recognising pollinators as potential vectors of invasive plant pathogens is an essential next step – one that could prove critical for protecting Australia’s vulnerable native forests.
This World Bee Day is a timely reminder that our relationship with bees is more complex than it might seem. Protecting them and the ecosystems they move through will require us to understand that complexity better.
Original source:
Shin-Clayton S, Mortensen AN, Beggs JR, Buxton MN, Hauxwell C, Bateson MF, Jochym M, Pegg GS, Pattemore DE (2026) Honey bees as potential vectors of the invasive rust pathogen Austropuccinia psidii: nutritional mutualism and implications for pathogen spread. NeoBiota 106: 75-90. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.106.169027
Invisible to the naked eye, phytoplankton play a critically important role at the base of marine food webs, yet their diversity continues to be underestimated. Recently, the UN Global Compact released “The Plankton Manifesto,” highlighting how these microscopic organisms are crucial for addressing the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Diatoms, a major group of photosynthetic microalgae, are particularly powerful in driving roughly 20% of global photosynthesis and forming the very base of marine food webs.
Yet despite their monumental importance, microalgal ecosystems remain largely unexplored and poorly mapped. That is why a recent major scientific undertaking in the Northeast Pacific is so significant.
A First-of-its-Kind Baseline in the Salish Sea
Map of sampling locations. A Distribution of sampling sites throughout the Salish Sea (green markers).Red frame: area of enlargement around Galiano Island (1B); B Sampling sites around Galiano Island (green markers). Map credit to Webber et al., 2026.
Diatom records of the Salish Sea bioregion have historically been fragmentary, dating back to early inventories in the 1800s, and with only scattered surveys filling the gap across the 20th and 21st centuries. As Andrew Simon, PhD student at the University of Alberta, president of IMERSS, and one of the study’s researchers, puts it:
The Salish Sea has long been studied for its rich marine biodiversity. Yet, until now, the history of research on its primary producers has been fragmented, and we have lacked a consolidated baseline record.
Now, for the first time, researchers have taken a significant step toward closing that gap. A team of Canadian researchers — Mark Webber (University of Victoria; IMERSS), Elaine Humphrey (UVic; IMERSS), Arjan van Asselt (IMERSS), Alice Chang (UBC), Evan Morian (Hakai Institute; UBC), and Andrew Simon (IMERSS; University of Alberta) — has published anew checklist of 924 diatom taxa alongside a curated dataset of 11,469 records in the open-access journal Biodiversity Data Journal, providing a long-needed foundation for environmental monitoring across this region of the northeast Pacific Ocean.
Trigonium quinquelobatum, external valve view. SEM. Scale bar: 20 µm, Credit to Webber et al., 2026.
Cocconeis kerguelensis, SV. LM. Scale bar: 5 µm. Photo credit to Webber et al., 2026
Neocalyptrella robusta, live, girdle view. LM. Scale bar: 50 µm, Credit to Webber et al., 2026
The findings include some curious discoveries. Several taxa are reported for the first time on the Pacific coast of North America, including Trigonium quinquelobatum, while others, such as Cocconeis kerguelensis (previously known only from the Indian Ocean) and Neocalyptrella robusta (previously confined to California), suggest a range expansion into cooler waters.
Ecologically, the genus Tabularia stands out as a dominant presence on eelgrass and macroalgae, despite having few species. In contrast, genera like Auliscus, Biddulphia, and Mastogloia are surprisingly scarce in the Salish Sea compared to other regions, leaving open questions about what limits their occurrence there.
This dataset also directly answers a key recommendation from the UN Plankton Manifesto, which urges the scientific community to strengthen plankton research and develop comprehensive plankton atlases to biomonitor the health of marine ecosystems.
Bacteriastrumhyalinium, valve view. LM. Scale bar 20 µm. Credit to Webber et al., 2026.
The Salish Sea — the traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples — is home to roughly nine million people and is experiencing rapid growth in urbanization, industrial activity, and marine shipping.
Because diatom populations respond quickly to changes in water quality and environmental conditions, they serve as highly effective early-warning bioindicators for shifts in ecosystem health and pollution levels.
Without a clear picture of what the base of the food web looks like today, it is impossible to understand the impact of tomorrow’s environmental changes.
Attheyalongicornis, girdle view. SEM. Scale bar: 10 µm. Credit to Webber et al., 2026.
“We are fortunate to have had a dedicated group of academic researchers and community scientists contribute to this work over many years,” says Mark Webber, IMERSS’ resident diatomist. “Drawing from the literature, microscope analysis, and molecular sequencing, we now have a better picture of the diatoms present in the Salish Sea. Diatoms are vital to the health of countless organisms — from shorebirds and shellfish to fish and mammals. This baseline provides a reference point for understanding changes that could ripple across the entire web of life.“
Local Research for Global Solutions
Actinoptychusadriaticus var. pumila, exterior valve view. SEM. Scale bar: 5 µm. Credit to Webber et al., 2026.
The UN Plankton Manifesto stresses that understanding and managing plankton communities can unlock “Plankton-Based Solutions” to support fisheries, clean waters, and climate change mitigation.
Our work demonstrates how sustained collaboration between community scientists and research institutes can bridge these gaps, through partnering community expertise and observation with access to microscopy and molecular technologies,
the team concludes.
The new checklist and dataset will support researchers and policymakers in environmental assessments of the Salish Sea, as the team continues to refine and analyze the data to support ongoing regional research.
Original source
Webber M, Humphrey E, van Asselt A, Chang A, Morien E, Simon ADF (2026) Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of the Salish Sea, Northeast Pacific: annotated checklist and new species reports. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e189060. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e189060
IMERSS, or the Institute for Multidisciplinary Ecological Research in the Salish Sea, is a non-profit society based in Galiano Island, British Columbia, Canada. IMERSS joins scientific researchers, citizen scientists, and Indigenous communities to conduct multidisciplinary ecological research, monitor biodiversity and the environment, and communicate results to better understand and respond to change in the Salish Sea bioregion.
