The human dimensions of biological invasions – involving stakeholders in addressing invasive species

Can the knowledge and experience of recreational anglers in Iceland help us understand how far the invasive flounder has spread in the country?

Guest blog post by Theresa Henke

For centuries, all kinds of species have been transported by humans around the globe, allowing them to cross the boundaries of their native range and settle in new ecosystems. Over the past decades the numbers of these introduced species and the impacts they cause have been continuously increasing. Biological invasions nowadays represent one of the biggest threats to biodiversity worldwide.

Humans are and have always been an essential part of biological invasions and in order to fully understand the issue and how to tackle it, we need to understand and include the human dimensions in our research.

My research on European flounder in Iceland began in 2017 when I was writing my Master’s thesis. The flounder is a flatfish species that had been officially documented in the country since 1999 but not much was known on its impacts. In my thesis I looked at the flounder through ecological lenses, trying to identify how the presence of the flounder affects other species. Living in a small community in the Westfjords of Iceland during this time, I got to meet many local people who shared their personal stories, experiences and knowledge with me in every-day conversations. I truly enjoyed these conversations and learning about the species I study from different perspectives beyond the academic settings. These exchanges sparked my interest in exploring the human dimensions of biological invasions and, looking back, have really shaped my academic path going forward.

Theresa Henke holding a flounder.

In our recently published NeoBiota study “Have you seen this fish? – Important contribution of stakeholder observations in documenting the distribution and spread of an alien fish species in Iceland” we wanted to explore how the knowledge and experience of recreational anglers in Iceland can help us understand how far the flounder has spread in Iceland. The flounder in Iceland had only received little scientific interest before and the available information was limited and scattered between different institutions and scientists. Recreational anglers, on the other hand, who chase after native salmon, trout, and char in the Icelandic rivers and lakes, often encounter the flounder.

A net full of flounder.

In 2019, we asked anglers in Iceland to take part in an online survey, where we asked them different questions about the flounder, including where in Iceland they have seen or caught it. We then compared locations named by anglers to the locations that were available from different databases of the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute of Iceland. The locations we received included data collected during scientific surveys and research projects done by the institute as well as observations that were reported to the institute by the public (mostly recreational anglers and commercial fishermen).

Our goal was to evaluate whether observations made by stakeholders, in this case the recreational angling community in Iceland, could be a good source of additional information for monitoring of an alien fish species. Collecting information on the distribution and spread of an alien species is a very important step in addressing biological invasions but is often underdeveloped because not enough resources (i.e. money, time, scientists…) are made available.

Theresa Henke holding a 43-cm flounder in Eyjafjörður.

We have shown that neither source offers a perfect solution to the monitoring of the flounder in Iceland. But we show that each of the sources has their own advantages and disadvantages and by combining them, we are able to get a much clearer picture of where in Iceland the flounder currently occurs and how fast it spread in the early years. Information that was shared by stakeholders, whether it was in our study or to the databases of the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, played a big role in better understanding the flounder in Iceland.  

The interactions with the recreational angling community in Iceland during my PhD have taught me a lot about the flounder in Iceland but even more about my own approach to science. I think as scientists, we should more often take a step outside of our academic bubble and take a look at the issue we are studying from the perspectives of the public and other stakeholders. In the case of biological invasions, we can learn a lot from those who are directly confronted by an invasive species, regardless of whether they have a scientific degree or not.

Research article:

Henke T, Bárðarson H, Thorlacius M, Ólafsdóttir GA (2025) Have you seen this fish? Important contribution of stakeholder observations in documenting the distribution and spread of an alien fish species in Iceland. NeoBiota 97: 67-90. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.97.132365

Anti-melanoma activity found in green-produced nanosilver-chlorhexidine complex

A trustful concentration range was established in which the active agent was effective against the cancer cells but remained non-toxic to the normal cells.

Melanoma is a fast-progressing skin cancer characterized by a high mortality rate after metastasis. Local chemotherapy could be considered a therapeutic approach only in stage 0 of progression (in situ melanoma) and in the postoperative phase after surgical removal of suspected skin lesions. For this purpose, drugs such as Imiquimod, 5-Fluorouracil, Dacarbazine, and Doxorubicin have been tested and shown positive effects. Recently, metal nanoparticles as separate therapeutic units or drug carriers have also fallen into the research focus.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in particular, are widely recognized as multifunctional tools in nanomedicine, drug delivery, and theranostics. They exert wide-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties but their pharmacological effects are in a tight bond with the so-called “surface functionality”. For example, negatively charged and spherical particles are proven less toxic than positively charged particles, especially irregularly shaped (e.g., rods, wires, etc.). Still, because of this, the former are less potent anti-cancer agents.

Contemporary pharmaceutical development relies very much on eco-friendly technologies (often referred to as “green” technologies) that avoid the use of toxic solvents and reagents. This research has implemented one such method based on Camellia sinensis (green tea leaves) as a natural reducer of silver ions. To achieve enhanced antimicrobial and anti-tumor activity, the thus obtained AgNPs were further conjugated to chlorhexidine (Cx+) — a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and a cationic surfactant. Indeed, the AgNP-Cx+ complexes have shown highly increased antimicrobial properties, about 18-fold stronger anti-melanoma activity, and 3 times better tumor selectivity compared to the non-functionalized AgNPs.

Anti-tumor activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chlorhexidine-silver nanoparticles conjugates (AgNP-Cx+) against melanoma. Legend: ζ-zeta potential – characterizes the charge of the silver nanoparticles; dH hydrodynamic diameter – the size that the particles acquire in an aqueous dispersion; HaCaT – normal cells, human keratinocytes; SH-4 – tumor cells, human melanoma; IC50 – the concentration that inhibits cell proliferation at 50%; SD – standard deviation of the values based on six repetitions of the experiment; ppm – part per million; Selectivity Index – an index that is calculated as the quotient of IC50 on normal cells and IC50 on tumor cells; the greater its value, the more selective the agent against the cancer cells; p-value – statistical indicator; the lower the value the greater the statistical significance between the results obtained with the different samples; a borderline for significance is normally set at p<0.05; n/a – not applicable.

The most valuable outcome of this new study, published in the journal Pharmacia, was the establishment of an adhesive patch prototype as a topical dosage form for the AgNP-Cx+ complex. The used polymers, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and Eudragit® RS, demonstrated a lack of negative interference with the antiproliferative action of the active agent but also ensured twice as high activity and even better selectivity against the tumor cells.

Original source:

Ivanova NA (2025) Anti-melanoma activity of green-produced nanosilver-chlorhexidine complex. Pharmacia 72: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.3897/pharmacia.72.e143419

Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Scientific Society’s journal moves to high-tech ARPHA platform

Advancing carbon cycle understanding: Pensoft joins the CONCERTO project

Combining expertise in project branding and stakeholder engagement, Pensoft will support the collaborative mission to enhance understanding and modelling of the terrestrial carbon cycle

Pensoft takes on a fundamental part in the newly launched EU-funded project: Improved CarbOn cycle represeNtation through multi-sCale models and Earth obseRvation for Terrestrial ecOsystems (CONCERTO) as a leader of Work Package 7: Communication, dissemination and synergies of project results and sustainability.

Officially started on 1st January 2025, the kick-off meeting for CONCERTO was held in Milan, Italy, on 21-22 January 2025. Over 35 participants attended the meeting in person, while several other colleagues joined online to shape the vision of CONCERTO’s aim to strengthen the European research ecosystem by creating an innovative scientific collaborative framework that enhances our understanding, monitoring, and modelling of the terrestrial cycle, and leads to reduced uncertainty and Earth system models convergence.

CONCERTO project’s kick-off meeting was held on 21-22 January 2025 in Milan, Italy. The meeting also welcomed project members remotely.
The Project

The key objectives of the CONCERTO project are:

To enhance the understanding, monitoring, and modelling of the terrestrial carbon cycle, while reducing uncertainty, and enabling Earth System Model convergence.

To utilise novel Earth Observation data to advance research and improve the representation of land cover, leaf area index, and management intensity through high-resolution maps.

To integrate advanced Data Assimilation and Machine Learning into modelling to deliver more accurate and reliable insights.

To prepare for the incorporation of FLEX data into land surface models and leverage data to improve understanding of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions.

Pensoft’s role in CONCERTO

As the leader of Work Package 7, Pensoft will focus on disseminating the science behind the project by ensuring effective communication and engagement strategies. A distinctive brand identity will be established through the creation of a project logo, branding guidelines, promotional materials, and a dedicated website. This website will act as a central hub for project content and updates, providing stakeholders and the public with easy access to relevant information.

To maximize the project’s impact, Pensoft will develop a comprehensive communication and dissemination strategy to share project results with key stakeholders and target audiences. Additionally, stakeholder engagement efforts will produce high-quality content such as videos, press releases, and newsletters. These materials will communicate the project’s progress and results, reaching a wide audience and fostering greater understanding and awareness of the project’s scientific objectives.

International Consortium

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

  1. FONDAZIONE CENTRO EURO-MEDITERRANEOSUI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI, Italy
  2. METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH OBSERVATION SRL, Italy
  3. SISTEMA GMBH, Austria
  4. EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MEDIUM-RANGE WEATHER FORECASTS, United Kingdom
  5. BARCELONA SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER CENTRO NACIONAL DE SUPERCOMPUTACION, Spain
  6. UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, Belgium
  7. CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION ECOLOGICA Y APLICACIONES FORESTALES, Spain
  8. UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE, Netherlands
  9. INSTITUT ROYAL D’AERONOMIE SPATIALEDE BELGIQUE, Belgium
  10. POLITECNICO DI TORINO, Italy
  11. PENSOFT PUBLISHERS, Bulgaria
  12. THE UNIVERSITY OF READING, United Kingdom
  13. IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE, United Kingdom.

Over the coming months, the CONCERTO project will focus on creating innovative resources to support professionals in improving multi-scale models and Earth observation for terrestrial ecosystems.

The CONCERTO project website is coming soon!

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

Life cycle and climate adaptability of South Africa’s Cape autumn widow butterfly

A recent study published in the open-access journal African Invertebrates provides insights into the life history and behaviour of the endemic Cape autumn widow butterfly (Dira clytus), a species endemic to South Africa. 

In the study, Silvia Mecenero of the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa and Stephen Kirkman of Nelson Mandela University examine the species’ developmental stages and responses to environmental conditions, with implications for conservation efforts. 

By rearing the subspecies Dira clytus clytus in controlled conditions, the researchers documented the butterfly’s complete life cycle, from egg to adult.

Image showing the various life stages of a butterfly, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to butterfly.
Photographs of the life stages of Dira clytus clytus a adult b eggs c, d newly hatched larva e first instar larva (three days old) f first instar larva preparing to moult (nine days old) g, h second instar larva i third instar larva j fourth instar larva k, l fifth instar larva m fifth instar larvae huddling together in a big group n pre-pupal form o, p pupa.

Two distinct pupation and adult emergence phases were identified over a period of a few months, influenced by cold temperatures, suggesting that environmental cues play a role in triggering these developmental events. The fact that two broods were found in a matter of months is interesting, because in the wild this species breeds only once a year.

The findings indicate that Dira clytus clytus could show some phenological plasticity in its response to climate change, by changing its timing of pupation and the number of broods within a year.

Such flexibility may not always be beneficial to butterflies, as shifts in phenology could lead to mismatches with the availability of their host plants. However, Dira clytus clytus is a generalist that feeds on a variety of grasses and may therefore be more adaptable to changes in its phenology. 

The study was published as part of a commemorative collection of articles published in honour of the late ecologist Prof. Stefan H. Foord.

Original study

Mecenero S, Kirkman SP (2025) Life history and behavioural observations during the rearing of Dira clytus clytus (Linnaeus, 1764) (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), with notes on implications for climate change adaptation. African Invertebrates 66(1): 65-72. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.66.138082

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Year of the Snake: a serpent selection to celebrate Lunar New Year!

Enjoy some of our favourite snake research from across our journals.

Happy Lunar New Year! For more than a billion people worldwide, today is a day of gifts, dancing, celebration and – of course – plenty of delicious food.

Coinciding with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, the 29th of January marks the beginning of a vibrant 15-day festival, which includes 7 days of holiday in China.

As 2025 is the Year of the Snake, we have gathered some of favourite studies celebrating the the scaly world of serpents to celebrate the occasion!

The tug-of-war coral snakes

A different kind of food fight.

A study published in Herpetozoa includes incredible footage of two red-tailed coral snakes (Micrurus mipartitus) engaging in a tug-of-war over a caecilian, a legless amphibian.

Check out the video below.

Two Micrurus mipartitus snakes tugging prey in opposite directions. Credit: Henrik Bringsøe and Niels Poul Dreyer.

The event marked the first documented wild case of kleptoparasitism, or food theft, within the family Elapidae.

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.37.e112716

The Slytherin snake

10 points to Slytherin!

When naming a newly discovered green pit viper species from the Himalayas, researchers sought inspiration from the Harry Potter franchise.

Fittingly, they settled on Trimeresurus salazar, a reference to Salazar Slytherin who founded the serpent-crested Hogwarts house bearing his name. 

Green snake on a branch.
Trimeresurus salazar. Credit: Mirza et al.

The discovery was published in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.

Read it here: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.96.48431

The snake in a ski mask

Slithering around in style.

Rhynchocalamus hejazicus is a recently discovered and secretive snake species from the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia.

Upon the species’ discovery, researchers dubbed the stylish serpent “the missing piece of the puzzle” as it fills a large distribution gap for its genus.

Orange snake with a balck head on sand.
Rhynchocalamus hejazicus. Credit: Fulvio Licata.
black snake.
Rhynchocalamus hejazicus (melanistic morphotype). Credit: Fulvio Licata.

Published in Zoosystematics and Evolution, the research also includes a completely black variation of of the species known as a ‘melanistic morphotype.’

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.100.123441

The eyelash viper

Separating snake species.

An expedition into the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador revealed five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers, previously misidentified as one species.

Published in Evolutionary Systematics, the study received global attention from publications such as National Geographic thanks to the taxonomic importance and visual appeal of the research.

Red snake on a branch.
Red-wine morph of the Central American Eyelash-Pitviper (Bothriechis nigroadspersus), photographed in the Caribbean Island Escudo de Veraguas, off the coast of Panamá. Credit: Alejandro Arteaga.

Check out the research paper here: https://doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527

The shovel snake

Who ever said snakes can’t be cute?

Two species of African shovel-snout snakes, Prosymna confusa and Prosymna lisima, were published as new species in ZooKeys back in 2022.

Endemic to Angola, the snakes have unique beak-like snouts that allow them to dig into sandy soils. They also have backward pointed lancet-shaped teeth that they use for cutting open lizard eggs.

Yellow snake with black markings on sand.
Kalahari shovel-snout snake (Prosymna lisima) from southeastern Angola. Credit: Chad Keates.

As they spend the majority of their time underground, these species were not the easiest to study, but they are certainly a treat for the eyes when they surface their wedge-shaped heads!

Read more here: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1121.85693

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The Pensoft journal collection contains innumerable snake studies, so we could go on forever sharing our favourites. Instead, we will wish you a happy and prosperous 2025 filled with plenty of safe snake encounters.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Pensoft launches official Weibo account to expand global reach

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Clear, Open and Engaged: Pensoft’s perspective on the mission of a science communicator

Teodor Metodiev, senior communications officer at Pensoft, offers his thoughts on why and how research should be publicised today.

Teodor Metodiev, senior communications officer at Pensoft at the opening of “The pollinators we can’t live without” temporary exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Sofia, Bulgaria, 2023).

With more than three decades of experience in the domain of science communication, Pensoft has a rich perspective on what it takes to bring science into the spotlight. A testament to this is its growing projects department, where the public face of some of Europe’s most innovative research undertakings is being moulded by a cohort of experts. 

Among their ranks is Teodor Metodiev, a communicator with years of experience when it comes to bridging the gap between the scientific and the public. He recently sat down for an interview to share his observations on the significance, challenges and lessons of the job. 

Read below to find out how effective engagement can make today’s research tomorrow’s reality.  

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Why is science communication important and how can it influence the scope and impact of today’s research?

I believe science communication is fundamental because it eliminates the gap between researchers and users of their work, be they policymakers, practitioners or other stakeholders. By combining novel and traditional communication methods, scientific knowledge, results and data are much more likely to be shared, understood, and applied. If not communicated effectively, scientific results and advances have no real impact and are simply lost in an avalanche of emerging new information.

What are the most common challenges you encounter as a science communicator?

There are many diverse challenges one could encounter as a science communicator! I believe the most common one is the overall complexity of science, which is sometimes very difficult to communicate in a clear, visually appealing way. For me personally, one of the greater challenges is to delve into controversial topics such as climate change, vaccines, or genetic engineering, where emotions and ideologies may run high.

How can complex technical concepts be made accessible to non-science stakeholders and the general public?

Making complex concepts accessible to the general public is among the main responsibilities of a science communicator. There are many different approaches to do that, but it ultimately depends on the audience you want to engage – for example, you would not necessarily want to interact with a farmer through policy briefs. In general, I would list three main ‘pillars’ that can be considered when dealing with complex scientific information:

  • Simplify the language and avoid scientific jargon (i.e. by using short sentences with a clear structure)
  • Always leverage visual aids, such as infographics, animations, videos or graphical abstracts
  • Try to present the information in a narrative-like form – start with the background and problem, and then explain the solutions you are offering.

By adhering to these simple steps, I believe most challenging scientific concepts can be easily translated into an understandable format for laypersons or other stakeholder groups!

Which indicators do you consider crucial when assessing the success of a science communication campaign?

In my view, the success of any science communication campaign should be measured beyond quantitative indicators. Sure, audience reach, number of impressions and demographic data are important, but real success should be assessed through active engagement (i.e. comments or questions towards the topic, participation in events or activities, feedback and criticism from evaluation surveys, etc). I believe that monitoring these qualitative indicators on an ongoing basis is instrumental for a long-term awareness and understanding of a given topic over time.

What has made Pensoft unique and effective in the field of science communication?

I honestly believe the driving force behind Pensoft’s success in science communication is the motivated team behind it –  it has demonstrated that an openness to engage, combined with an urge to learn and expand your horizons, is ultimately the making of a successful science communicator. In addition to being curious and forthcoming, an environmental conscience is another fundamental characteristic of Pensoft which surely resonates with all of its members!

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Explore past and present research projects in Pensoft’s communication portfolio.  

Inspiring a new generation of taxonomists

New species of Australian miracine wasps described with school students as part of the Insect investigators citizen science project

Guest blog post by Mollie Slater-Baker

It is estimated that only around 20% of the world’s insects are formally described. A formal description is the foundational understanding of a species, including a scientific name, information on how to identify the species, its biology, and where it can be found. With such a large proportion of our insects lacking this foundational information, we are left viewing the insect world through a very small window. This has major implications for conservation of insects and the ecosystems in which they play integral roles. It also limits our understanding of our natural resources, with the study of insects being valuable in a variety of fields, from healthcare and biochemistry, to biological pest control, to insect-inspired engineering.

Unfortunately, with a worldwide lack of taxonomic experts, limited funding, and the immense scale of describing the world’s insects, documenting our insect diversity before it’s lost to extinction is a considerable challenge. But this is where community engagement and citizen science can shine.

Experts in insect taxonomy “threatened by extinction” reveals the first European Red List of Taxonomists

The Insect Investigators citizen science project, which ran in Australia in 2022, aimed to involve schools throughout the taxonomic process, to contribute to large-scale collection and documentation of Australian insects, while fostering an appreciation for insect diversity and the role of taxonomy. Fifty rural schools from Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia participated by setting up Malaise traps (tent-like passive insect traps) to sample local invertebrates near their schools over four weeks. This project resulted in over 60 thousand insect specimens being collected from often under-sampled, more remote parts of Australia. The resulting specimens are preserved and deposited in Australian museums for future research, including taxonomic work.

Malaise traps set up at Kwoorabup Nature School (left) and Beerwah State High School (right) to sample insects as part of the Insect Investigators project.

Through this project, several schools were involved in collecting a rarely collected group of parasitoid wasps belonging to the subfamily Miracinae (aka miracine wasps). These tiny wasps (typically 1-2mm in length) are very difficult to collect using traditional methods, though they appear to be quite diverse in Australia. As parasitoids, miracine wasps require an invertebrate host to complete their lifecycle. For miracine wasps, this host is a leaf-mining caterpillar – the kind that eats small twisting tunnels on the inside of leaves. The wasps lay their eggs inside these caterpillars, and the wasp larvae hatch and eat the caterpillar from the inside out!

‘Insect soup’ – specimens collected via Malaise Trap at Kwoorabup Nature School.

Due to their caterpillar-eating biology, and the fact that they are picky eaters, usually targeting a specific species, these wasps can be used to control pests. For example, the miracine wasp species Mirax insularis in Puerto Rico, and Centistidea striata in Brazil, are known to attack coffee leaf-miners, a major pest of coffee plantations – so you may have one of these wasps to thank for your morning coffee!

As part of this project, we engaged with schools to involve them throughout the process of describing the miracine wasps they had collected. First, we ran in-person and online or hybrid workshops with the students to teach them about the new wasp they had discovered, and the taxonomic process involved in describing and naming it. The students then brainstormed a variety of creative names for the new species, which were collaboratively curated and voted upon to arrive at the final species names.

From Queensland, we have Mirax supremus, meaning ‘highest’ in Latin, named after the Pinnacle program at Beerwah State High School, which the students were a part of.

Mirax supremus.

From South Australia, comes Ceduna Area School’s species, Mirax ceduna, named after the school and town the wasp was collected from (colloquially known as the ‘golden bum wasp’).

Mirax ceduna.

And from Kwoorabup Nature School in Western Australia (WA), Mirax kaatijan, meaning knowledge/learning in the Noongar language of the south-west region of WA, to represent the new knowledge the students had learnt about insect diversity, and the importance of knowledge about our insects.

Mirax kaatijan.

Though the descriptions themselves are a small step towards the immense task of describing Australia’s insects, it was inspiring to see the students and their communities really engage with the process and build a connection with their local insects, and an appreciation for these tiny, often-overlooked wasps. We hope this project plays a role in inspiring the next generation of budding entomologists and taxonomists in Australia.

References

1.           Stork, N.E., How Many Species of Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods Are There on Earth? Annual Review of Entomology, 2018. 63(1): p. 31-45.

2.           Song, C., et al., Bee Sting-Inspired Inflammation-Responsive Microneedles for Periodontal Disease Treatment. Research (Wash D C), 2023. 6: p. 0119.

3.           Mika, N., H. Zorn, and M. Rühl, Insect-derived enzymes: a treasure for industrial biotechnology and food biotechnology. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 2013. 136: p. 1-17.

4.           Galli, M., et al., Can biocontrol be the game-changer in integrated pest management? A review of definitions, methods and strategies. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 2024. 131(2): p. 265-291.

5.           Gorb, S.N. and E.V. Gorb, Insect-inspired architecture to build sustainable cities. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 2020. 40: p. 62-70.

6.           Zhang, Y., A. Reid, and J.F.C. Windmill, Insect-inspired acoustic micro-sensors. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 2018. 30: p. 33-38.

7.           Suzuki, K., et al., Development of water surface mobile robot inspired by water striders. Micro & Nano Letters, 2017. 12(8): p. 575-579.

8.           Engel, M.S., et al., The taxonomic impediment: a shortage of taxonomists, not the lack of technical approaches. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2021. 193(2): p. 381-387.

9.           Slater‐Baker, M.R., et al., First record of miracine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Australia: molecular phylogenetics and morphology reveal multiple new species. Austral Entomology, 2022. 61(1): p. 49-67.

10.        Navarro, P. and F. Gallardo, Host instar preference of Mirax insularis (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a koinobiont parasitoid of Leucoptera coffeella Guerin-Meneville (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). Journal of Agriculture- University of Puerto Rico, 2009. 93: p. 139-142.

11.        Penteado-Dias, A.M., New species of parasitoids on Perileucoptera coffeella ( Guérin-Menèville) (Lepidoptera, Lyonetiidae) from Brazil. Zoologische Mededelingen, 1999. 73: p. 189-197.

12.        Slater-Baker M-R, Guzik M, Rodriguez J, Howe A, Woodward A, Ducker N, Fagan-Jeffries E (2025) Three new species of Australian miracine parasitoid wasps collected by regional schools as part of the Insect Investigators citizen science project (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Miracinae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98: 19-45. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.137806

Pensoft joins the FORSAID project in the next chapter for forest health

With its extensive experience in science communication and dissemination, Pensoft will help maximise FORSAID’s impact and ensure its long-term legacy.

As the dedicated communication partner of the project, Pensoft will lead efforts to popularise a new early detection paradigm targeting forest pests in Europe

The issue of pest proliferation is felt more acutely than ever in the wake of globalisation and climate change. As pests and pathogens spread across biomes, the threat to forests and the health of the plants within is only increasing. Cognisant of this worrying trend, the European Union has actively pursued mitigation and prevention measures over the last few years. Grassroots efforts are also on the rise as insights from academia and citizen science alike improve monitoring capabilities on the ground.

To address the core of the problem in its entirety, greater coordination and innovation across the board are required.

It is with this tenet in mind that FORSAID: FORest Surveillance with Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies – first emerged on the scene as a Horizon Europе-funded project. 

The goal of FORSAID is the inception and deployment of a technology-based early detection system for EU-regulated forest pests. 

The pursuit of that very goal brought together 17 partner organisations from 10 countries. FORSAID is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Having officially started in September 2024, it is set to continue until February 2028.

Within the team, Pensoft has taken the lead in the domains of Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation. Its long-standing expertise vis-a-vis public campaigns for science initiatives will be harnessed in an attempt to show the benefits and solutions that the latest digital innovations can bring to plant health monitoring. Thus, Pensoft is to help maximise FORSAID’s impact and ensure its long-term legacy. 

The project will be presented across the public domain by following a tailored communication plan. Examples of its implementation include social media campaigns, regular updates of a dedicated FORSAID website and synergies with various stakeholder groups.

Foresight in FORSAID

The project consortium firmly believes that digital innovation is the key to a truly effective pest detection framework. This signifies the central role of technology at all stages of this paradigm’s development process. 

More specifically, the employment of digital tools will proceed on several levels: 

  • Satellite and drone surveillance will be employed to remotely map out forested areas of interest and assess the extent of plant damage caused by pests and pathogens.
  • Smart traps and DNA barcoding will serve to identify and sort out different species of pests.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) models will assist throughout this process as it helps to automate the procedure, thereby increasing efficiency. 

Building on the technology-based research and experimentation, insights from a variety of stakeholders will also be gathered to crystalise FORSAID’s approach.

 The consortium’s intent here is the consolidation of a network of interested and involved actors who would ensure the long-term application of the project’s results. A special focus is also placed on citizen scientists, whose practical needs will be considered in the design of the digital tools developed within FORSAID. Finally, a detailed economic analysis will assess the early detection framework and its associated technological instruments, in order to ensure its usability in the long run.

The FORSAID project consortium at the project’s kick-off meeting held on 26 September 2024 in Padua, Italy.

Full list of project partners:

  1. The University of Padua (Italy)
  2. The National Research Council of Italy (Italy)
  3. EFOS Information Solutions D.O.O. (Slovenia)
  4. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (international)
  5. European Institute of Planted Forest (international)
  6. National Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Research – INRAE (France)
  7. National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (Portugal)
  8. Forest Research Centre (Portugal)
  9. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany)
  10. Linnaeus University (Sweden)
  11. Museum für Naturkunde – Leibniz Institute for Evolutionand Biodiversity Science (Germany)
  12. Pensoft Publishers (Bulgaria)
  13. Slovenian Forestry Institute (Slovenia)
  14. Telespazio France SAS (France)
  15. University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
  16. Ukrainian National Forestry University (Ukraine)
  17. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL (Switzerland)

You can follow the project’s progress and achievements on the dedicated LinkedIn and BlueSky pages and FORSAID’S brand new official website.

Endangered and exceptional: Discovery of new insect species highlights Kosovo biodiversity hotspot

A remarkable discovery from Kosovo’s Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park underscores the region’s high biodiversity and urgent need for conservation.

A new species of caddisfly, Tinodes lumbardhi, was found in a sidestream of the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo’s Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park. The discovery, made by Professor Halil Ibrahimi of the University of Prishtina and his research team, underscores the region’s high biodiversity and urgent need for conservation.

Tinodes lumbardhi, the new species from Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo

The aquatic insect is small, with its wings less than 5 mm long. Its name, “lumbardhi,” honors the local Albanian name for the river, meaning “the white river.”

“The discovery of Tinodes lumbardhi is both a celebration of Kosovo’s unique natural heritage and a wake-up call for conservation,” said Professor Halil Ibrahimi. “The survival of these species depends on our ability to protect their fragile habitats.”

The type locality of Tinodes lumbardhi, a shelter for several other rare species of caddisflies.

Hosting several rare and endemic species, Bjeshkët e Nemuna, a mountainous region in western Kosovo, is a hotspot for caddisfly diversity. Despite this richness, however, Kosovo’s freshwater ecosystems face escalating threats from human activities. Hydropower development, pollution, and water extraction have severely degraded habitats like the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River, leading in some areas to impoverished insect communities and an alarming absence of fish. Sidestreams like the one where T. lumbardhi was found serve as critical refuges for rare species but remain vulnerable to environmental pressures.

Caddisflies, known for their sensitivity to environmental changes, are key bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health. These small insects are not only vital for biodiversity but also for maintaining ecological stability in the face of threats such as climate change and habitat destruction.

Heavy environmental pressures endanger the aquatic fauna of Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo.

Kosovo’s caddisfly fauna has seen significant advancements in recent years, with contributions from Ibrahimi and his team shedding light on the region’s ecological treasures. Their work has revealed species such as Potamophylax kosovaensis and Potamophylax coronavirus, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research and conservation efforts.

The discovery of Tinodes lumbardhi adds to the growing recognition of Bjeshkët e Nemuna as a biodiversity hotspot of international significance. In their research paper, published in Biodiversity Data Journal, the researchers call for urgent targeted conservation measures to mitigate the impacts of hydropower development and other anthropogenic threats in the region. “Protecting these rare species and their habitats is not only a moral imperative but also a crucial step toward sustaining the ecological integrity of Kosovo’s freshwater systems,” says Halil Ibrahimi in conclusion.

Original source:

Ibrahimi H, Bilalli A, Musliu M, Geci D, Grapci Kotori L (2025) Tinodes lumbardhi sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Psychomyiidae), a new species from the Lumbardhi i Deçanit River in Kosovo. Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e143104. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.13.e143104

Photos by Halil Ibrahimi

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

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

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

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

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

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

The fish-to-tetrapod transition  

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

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

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

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

Building a legacy in palaeontology  

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

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

Celebrating 25 years  

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

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

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

Dr Florian Witzman, Editor-in-Chief

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

Check out the articles featured in the special issue below:

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

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