Tropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology.
The new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of “vanishing”, honouring scientific pioneers while sounding an alarm about disappearing habitats. The research reveals that each “sky island” harbours its own, previously unknown chameleon species, and highlights the urgent need to conserve these fragile forest habitats.
These mountains rise sharply from the surrounding savanna, trapping clouds and rain and creating cool, moist refuges in an otherwise dry landscape This results in each forest being isolated, making them true ‘sky islands’, and because of this isolation, many of their species occur nowhere else on Earth.
says Prof. Tolley.
Why search these mountains?
Localities for the sky islands where Nadzikambia chameleons were sampled, superimposed over digital elevation layer, with the six species of Nadzikambia, including the newly described species. Credit to Tolley and Conradie, 2026.
Until the 2000s, most of northern Mozambique’s sky islands had been poorly surveyed, even compared with other remote parts of Africa. The team set out to investigate whether the isolated forests on each mountain hold unique reptile and amphibian species that evolved there in isolation. With tropical forests across Africa being rapidly cleared in favour of agriculture, the researchers were heavily motivated by a race against time – species could go extinct before they are even discovered.
How were the new species identified?
The team had to first carry out several different surveys of the remote mountains to assess and catalogue the different reptile and amphibian species present. Noting that there were populations of chameleons on each mountain, measurements and samples were taken. Back at the lab, the team used an approach called the General Lineage Species Concept.
This combines different lines of evidence to identify species. In this case, they sequenced four genes (DNA sequences) from Sylvan Chameleon populations from different mountains and compared the genetic data among these. This was then combined with another type of evidence, body features, to come up with a ‘balance of evidence’ as to whether each mountain has its own species.
Network of nuclear (RAG-1) alleles for Nadzikambia based on phased sequences. Alleles are colour coded according to the proportion of individuals per species having that allele. The sizes of the circles represent the frequency of that allele in the dataset (scaling of circles to left). All branches represent one mutation. Credit to Tolley and Conradie, 2026
Although the chameleons look very similar between different mountains, the DNA told a different story. A phylogeny – a type of family tree built from the genetic data – showed that individuals clustered strictly by mountain. This indicates that each sky island population has been separated for millions of years and does not interbreed with populations on neighbouring peaks.
The similar body shape across species reflects their shared adaptation to life in forest habitats, rather than them being the same species. According to Dr. Conradie “In the same way, African and Asian elephants both look like ‘elephants’ but are distinct species that have evolved similar body forms for similar lifestyles.”
Honouring scientists and a warning about loss
Nadzikambia goodallae male species from Mount Ribáuè. Photo credit to Prof. Krystal Tolley,
Behind each of the three names lies a deliberate choice. Nadzikambia goodallae, from Mount Ribáuè, honours Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on African chimpanzees that has transformed our understanding of animal behaviour and inspired global conservation efforts. This chameleon is endemic to the region.
Before Dr. Jane Goodall became a conservation icon, she spent decades in the forest observing how every species has a role to play in maintaining our fragile ecosystems. Naming this wonderfully unique Sylvan Chameleon for Jane is a fitting tribute to her advocacy and a reminder of the importance of protecting forest landscapes for all animals, including people.
The newly described Nadzikambia franklinae from Mount Namuli. Photo credit to Werner Conradie.
Nadzikambia franklinae, from Mount Namuli, recognises Rosalind Franklin, whose foundational work on DNA structure underpins the very genetic tools used to identify these species.
Nadzikambia evanescens from Mount Inago. Photo credit to Prof. Krystall Tolley.
The third species from Mount Inago is named Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning “vanishing”, to draw attention to its disappearing habitat and the many species worldwide that may be lost before they can be described.
The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila) from Mount Chiperone. Photo credit to Prof. Krystall Tolley.
The fourth species, The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila), was collected by a stream on Mount Chiperone and takes its name from the “Ciperoni” – the local term for the heavy, cloud-laden weather that brings orographic rainfall to the area. This persistent cloud cover sustains the mountain’s mid-elevation wet forest, and the epithet nubila derives from the Latin nubilus, meaning “cloudy”.
Community-led conservation is key
Intact forest habitat (top), and areas of forest destroyed by slash and burn (middle, bottom) on Mount Inago. Credit to Tolley and Conradie
The discoveries come at a time when tropical forests, especially in Africa, are being cleared at alarming rates. The small, isolated forests on Mozambique’s sky islands are particularly vulnerable. The study highlights that local community involvement can make a decisive difference.
On Mount Chiperone, the forest is considered sacred, and cultural values have helped protect both the habitat and its wildlife. Mount Mabu has benefited from more than a decade of community-based conservation.
Together, these two mountains hold the most intact forests surveyed in the study, showing that forest clearance is not an inevitable trade-off for local livelihoods when communities are empowered and supported, and their beliefs are in sync with conservation.
Original source:
Tolley K, Conradie W (2026) Sky Islands of Mozambique harbour cryptic species of chameleons: Description of four new species of sylvan chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 207-246. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e178403
Once again, Pensoft joined the ESP conference as an open-access scholarly publisher, publishing services provider, and a partner at Horizon Europe consortia.
Conference Organising Committee’s Davina Vačkářová thanks the ESP2026EU’s sponsors, exhibitors and partners. Photo courtesy of the ESP.
From 18 to 22 May 2026, the historic city of Prague, Czechia, hosted the 6th European Conference of the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP). Set against a backdrop of global turning points, such as biodiversity declines and climate uncertainty, the event served as an important forum for discussing how ecosystem services can cultivate a sustainable and equitable future.
This year’s ESP European conference ran under the theme “Advancing ecosystem services knowledge for achieving a nature- and people-positive Europe.” Photo courtesy of the ESP.
The conference ran under the theme, “Advancing ecosystem services knowledge for achieving a nature- and people-positive Europe.” Attendees focused on how to translate major policy frameworks, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the new Nature Restoration Law, into inclusive and effective action that respects both nature and healthy ecosystems. A major talking point at the event was also the new path ahead of the ESP as it officially becomes an independent international community later in 2026. An election of a new Steering and Executive Committee has already been scheduled for October 2026.
For Pensoft, the ESP 2026 European conference was not only a wonderful occasion to meet once again many long-time partners and friends, including the ESP team itself; editors and loyal authors of our journals; and members of the international project consortia, where we are involved, but also an exciting opportunity to talk with new members of the ESP community and learn about the needs, interests and passions of a new generation of researchers in a rapidly changing scientific field.
Pensoft’s stand at the ESP 2026 Europe conference in Prague, Czechia.
As an open-science publisher well embedded in environmental research through its dozens of journals covering ecology, biodiversity conservation and other related fields, Pensoft Publishers also actively participated in the week’s dialogues, contributing unique perspectives on scientific communication.
The Karolinum: the seat of Prague’s Charles University hosted the pre-conference training sessions, the Opening ceremony and the Welcome reception on Monday. Photo courtesy of the ESP.
The sixth European installment of the conference kicked off on Monday, 18 May, at the Karolinum, the historic seat of Charles University. The energy of a dynamic, highly engaging week was set perfectly by a lavish evening ceremony filled with speeches from renowned local figures, traditional music, and cultural performances. Yet, long before the opening notes played, the Karolinum was already buzzing, having hosted a full slate of pre-conference training sessions throughout the day.
A get-together for the editors and loyal authors of the open-access peer-reviewed One Ecosystem – the Ecology and Sustainability Data Journal took place on Monday at the Karolinum (Prague, Czechia).
Just ahead of the opening ceremony, our team at Pensoft hosted a semi-formal get-together for the editors and loyal authors of the open-access peer-reviewed One Ecosystem – the Ecology and Sustainability Data Journal. This year, the scholarly outlet, launched in collaboration between Pensoft, the ESP and the ESMERALDA Horizon 2020 project, now succeeded by the Horizon Europe-funded project SELINA, celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Chaired by Editor-in-Chief Prof. Benjamin Burkhard and Pensoft’s Head of Journal Development and PR Iva Boyadzhieva, the meeting recapped the best moments from One Ecosystem’s first decade and inspired discussions and ideas for the journal’s future. They also referred to the recently published editorial titled “Ten years of innovation and the way ahead in scientific publishing in One Ecosystem”. The piece reflects on the journal’s journey since its 2016 launch and addresses modern challenges in academic publishing, such as reviewer fatigue and the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence.
Over the last ten years, One Ecosystem has established itself as a unique journal in the field, thanks to its commitment to openly sharing the research data underpinning each publication. It also offers a versatile range of article types. These include traditional formats (e.g. Research Article, Review Article, Data Paper), innovative options (e.g. Software Description, R Package, Single-media Publication), as well as ones specifically devised for the community, such as Ecosystem Inventory, Ecosystem Service Mapping and Ecosystem Accounting Table.
So far, the journal has published over 200 papers authored by scientists from all continents, accumulating more than 1,500,000 views, 600 citations, and 6,000 online mentions. Today, the journal’s editorial board comprises 50 experts representing diverse geographies and professional fields. One Ecosystem is indexed in over 60 relevant scholarly databases, including Scopus and Web of Science, and holds a Q1 ranking on Scopus. Authors also benefit from a swift turnaround time, with an average of just 2.5 months from submission to acceptance, and articles typically published within three months of submission.
Keynote speeches at the first conference day were delivered by Jakub Kronenberg (University of Lodz), Alessandra La Notte (Senior consultant on natural capital accounting) and Ben Delbaere (LIFE Programme).
On Tuesday, the main schedule opened with inspiring keynote speeches, with Jakub Kronenberg (University of Lodz) examining the transition towards relational values of nature, Alessandra La Notte (Senior consultant on natural capital accounting) sharing two decades of insights into natural capital accounting, and Ben Delbaere (LIFE Programme at ELMEN EEIG) demonstrating how the European LIFE Programme supports a nature- and people-positive society.
Later in the day on Tuesday, Pensoft’s Iva Boyadzhieva, Head of Journal Development and PR, gave a talk on the topic of scholarly communication as part of a session organised and hosted by the Early Career Researchers (ECR) division of the ESP: Young Ecosystem Services Partnership (YESS) and focused on building practical skills and fostering careers for young researchers.
Pensoft’s Iva Boyadzhieva gave a talk titled “Scholarly Communication: Lessons from the publisher’s kitchen” as part of the YESS session “The Early Career Lab: Skills, Identity, and Growth for the Next Generation of Ecosystem Services Researchers”.
Boyadzhieva shared insights into how authors and publishers can work collaboratively to transform scholarly publications into scientific knowledge that is accessible to everyone, everywhere, regardless of professional background or expertise, by drawing on real-life examples and automated publication processes.
One Ecosystem’s Editor-in-Chief Prof. Benjamin Burkhard.
One Ecosystem’s Editor-in-Chief Prof. Benjamin Burkhard at the ESP session “The Changing Landscape of Academic Publishing on Ecosystem Services Research: Editors’ Perspectives.”
The One Ecosystem journal took center stage once again on Friday afternoon during a panel session titled, “The Changing Landscape of Academic Publishing on Ecosystem Services Research: Editors’ Perspectives.” The event brought together the Editors-in-Chief of the three ESP-associated journals for an engaging open discussion about the shifting dynamics of scientific literature. Sharing insights gained from One Ecosystem’s 10-year journey, Burkhard highlighted how authors of research who work closely with their publishers can support knowledge sharing and empower researchers. In the case of One Ecosystem, this collaboration translates to increased visibility, discoverability, reusability and citability of the published work, as well as rapid and hassle-free authoring and peer review experience, all thanks to the automated workflows and human-centric approaches provided through the publishing solutions of the ARPHA publishing platform.
It is worth issuing a reminder that manuscripts submitted in 2026 and accepted for publication in One Ecosystem journal are eligible for a 10% discount on the article publication charge (APC).
Despite excellent on-site organization, many sessions struggled to accommodate the massive turnout.Photo courtesy of the ESP.
Throughout the week, the daily program featured eight parallel session tracks covering a wide range of topics, many closely aligned with ESP Working Groups and National Networks. A dedicated poster session took place on Wednesday afternoon.
One of the field excursions offered ESP 2026 Europe delegates the challenge of an intense, half-day climbing experience in a nature park just outside Prague. Photo courtesy of ESP.
On Thursday, delegates had the opportunity to join one of several field excursions. These ranged from a visit to the unique rewilding reserve located in the former military area in Milovice, to a walk through the Prague Pasture: one of the city’s most remarkable natural sites, and an intense climbing experience just outside Prague.
Zdeněk Ent was awarded Best Poster for his poster, “Experiencing Ecosystem Services: Art, Sensory Engagement and Transformative Learning in Peri-Urban Landscapes”. In a yearly tradition, part of the award includes a free publication in the One Ecosystem journal.
Following an ESP tradition, the three highest-voted posters were recognised during Friday’s closing ceremony, with the first-prize winner receiving a free publication in One Ecosystem, sponsored by Pensoft. This year, the Best Poster Award went to Zdeněk Ent from Prague Institute of Planning and Development for the poster “Experiencing Ecosystem Services: Art, Sensory Engagement and Transformative Learning in Peri-Urban Landscapes”.
During the week, Pensoft’s exhibition stand welcomed dozens of inquiries regarding the publisher’s tailored journal portfolio. Visitors also expressed keen curiosity about the publishing services and self-developed platform available to journal owners, book authors, and conference organizers. Meanwhile, delegates showed notable interest in several titles, both well-established journals like Nature Conservation, NeoBiota, Metabarcoding & Metagenomics and One Ecosystem, and newly launched ones, including Individual-based Ecology and Advances in Pollinator Research.
A lot of Pensoft stand’s visitors were also pleased to see that there was a new player amongst the journals of Pensoft aimed at an emerging field in ecology. The recently rebranded Agricultural and Ecological Modelling (AEM) provides a unique scholarly outlet thanks to its modern approach to publishing by increasing transparency, giving credit to research objects across the entire modelling research lifecycle. This is achieved through publishing specialised article types, such as: Formal Model, Model Testing and Calibration, Model Implementation and Documentation, Data Papers and Software Descriptions. These new publishing formats are designed to keep pace with advances in Modelling research and to make it FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) by enabling scholarly credit for diverse research outputs, often created by different groups of authors. For the time being, AEM remains a Diamond Open Access journal, meaning that it will not charge authors for open-access publication.
AEM also has a focus on open science and reproducibility; it is currently archived in four databases (CLOCKSS, Zenodo, Portico, and Zendy) and indexed in over 40 services, including AGRICOLA, CABI, ChronosHub, CNKI, FAO AGRIS, ResearchGate, and Swisscovery, among others. You can learn more about AEM in the latest editorial.
For those who missed the opportunity to sign up for the journals’ newsletters at the stand, they can do this by filling in their email address from the homepage of the journal they are interested in, or by updating their profiles in the Pensoft system.
Undoubtedly, amongst the greatest highlights at the Pensoft’s stand was the Horizon Europe-funded GREEN TALENT project, where our Project Department leads the project’s Work Package dedicated to Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation.
The conference delegates were intrigued to learn about the international initiative’s aim to build biodiversity and climate capacity at national, trans-European and global levels, with a focus on Widening Countries. The partners at Green Talent: both from academic and non-academic backgrounds, are to contribute expertise, training, and secondments and connect pilot projects to broader EU and global networks. One of the ways the GREEN TALENT consortia does this is by designating four Demonstration Pilots (a.k.a. Demo Hubs) in four Widening countries: Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria, where secondees can benefit from real-world experience and foster partnerships across sectors, while working on scalable solutions to climate and biodiversity challenges, acting as collaboration hubs between academic and non-academic sectors.
Members of the Horizon Europe-funded GREEN TALENT project consortium. Photo courtesy of ESP.
Having only kicked off a year ago and set to run for four years in total, there are many new developments and results yet to be announced from GREEN TALENT, including a Capacity-Building Platform that will allow users to browse various opportunities and events meant to help them improve their skills; to get in touch and foster collaboration with other experts; and to learn about best practices from across different institutions and relevant companies. This is why we strongly recommend visiting the GREEN TALENT, signing up for the project’s newsletter and following the initiative on BlueSky and Linkedin.
GREEN TALENT’s project coordinator, Prof. Dr. Mario V. Balzan, presented at a session dedicated to sustainable and inclusive approaches to ecosystem services tailored to the needs of islands.
In addition to the various GREEN TALENT information brochures and promo materials present at the Pensoft stand, people at the conference could spot quite a few of the project’s members around the ESP venue. There were several talks by GREEN TALENT representatives, including the project’s coordinator: Prof. Dr. Mario V. Balzan (Ecostack Innovations). His talk, part of the session “Islands at the forefront of sustainable and inclusive ecosystem services approaches” examined governance and knowledge gaps in pollinator ecosystem services on small islands, where he used Malta as a case study.
The signature journal stickers by Pensoft were once again a common sight at the ESP conference in Prague. Photo courtesy of ESP.
Ultimately, the conference successfully highlighted the tools needed to drive sustainable development across Europe. Through active contributions to both the overarching policy discussions and the targeted skill-building sessions for the next generation of researchers, Pensoft continued its commitment to making environmental science open, transparent, and globally accessible.
The Mistelgau clay pit near Bayreuth, Germany, is known for its well-preserved marine fossils, particularly its abundance of ichthyosaurs. These large marine reptiles resembled modern dolphins in appearance and lived worldwide during the Early Jurassic period, around 180 million years ago.
The ichthyosaur from Mistelgau now under investigation belongs to the genus Temnodontosaurus. Several parts of its skeleton have been preserved: fragments of the skull and lower jaw, the shoulder girdle, forefins, the spine, and over 100 teeth. The exceptional three-dimensional preservation allows researchers detailed insights into anatomical structures that have rarely been documented before, such as those in the palate, orbital region, and the fins.
Comparisons reveal clear similarities, but also differences to Temnodontosaurus trigonodon—animals of this species are among the largest known ichthyosaurs. Based on its skull length of 1.5 meters, the animal is estimated to have been about 6.6 meters long. These findings are published in the open-access journal Zitteliana.
Fossil Temnodontosaurus cf. trigonodon (UMO BT 011237.00), viewed from below, showing the skull and body plate, including all isolated bones and teeth recovered from the surrounding sediment. Image credit: Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken.
“Our Temnodontosaurus fossil is one of the youngest finds of this ichthyosaur genus to date. Until now, representatives of this genus have mainly been known from older geological layers, such as the Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden. The discovery from Mistelgau now shows that these large marine reptiles survived longer in the Southwest German Basin than previously documented.”
Dr. Ulrike Albert, SNSB paleontologist
Albert conducts research at the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken in Bayreuth, one of ten museums belonging to the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History. The team at the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken has been conducting regular excavations in Mistelgau since 1998. The fossils recovered there are prepared at the Urwelt-Museum and subsequently subjected to scientific analysis.
Particularly striking are several modifications to the skeleton, presumably caused by injuries, including those affecting the reptile’s shoulder and jaw joints.
“The injuries likely significantly limited the animal’s ability to catch prey. The fact that it nevertheless survived is evidenced, among other things, by its heavily worn teeth and gastroliths, which we were able to identify in the abdominal region.”
Stefan Eggmaier, preparator at the Urwelt-Museum
Ulrike Albert and Stefan Eggmaier from the Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken at the excavation site in Mistelgau. Image credit: Mathias Orgeldinger.
Gastroliths are extremely rare in ichthyosaurs such as Temnodontosaurus. Eggmaier speculates that the animal may have had to change its diet in order to survive its injuries.
The current findings are part of ongoing research into the ecology of the Jurassic Sea in Upper Franconia. Analyses of teeth and bone structures are planned, with the aim of better understanding the ecology of these animals and their habitat.
Original study:
Eggmaier SA, Albert UEG (2026) A partial skeleton of Temnodontosaurus cf. trigonodon in three-dimensional bone preservation from the upper Toarcian of Mistelgau, Germany. Zitteliana 100: 39-80. https://doi.org/10.3897/zitteliana.100.172724
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
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.
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
A new study published in Nature Conservation shows that not all acoustic deterrent devices may be effective in protecting the Black Sea porpoise, Europe’s smallest marine mammal.
The endangered Black Sea harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) is facing a critical fight for survival. As Europe’s smallest marine mammal, this isolated population is being pushed toward extinction by bycatch – the unintentional entanglement in fishing gear. The crisis is most acute in the Black Sea turbot fishery, where recent estimates reveal that more than 10,000 porpoises die annually.
Led by a strong motivation to address threats to this iconic species, a team of Bulgarian researchers has carried out a four-year trial study of 57 hauls seeking effective solutions to reduce porpoise mortality. The study, now published in Nature Conservation, found bycatch in 61% of all hauls, accounting for 189 cetaceans: 182 harbour porpoises, five bottlenose dolphins, and two common dolphins.
Bycaught Black Sea harbour porpoises. Photo credit to Dimitar Popov.
The trials did not begin promisingly, as the first two models of acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) tested, proved ineffective at reducing bycatch.
the researchers noted
This initial setback prompted the team to search for an alternative solution, eventually leading to a breakthrough with the PAL Wideband pinger, an acoustic deterrent device developed in Germany.
PAL Wideband pinger attached to a fishing net. Photo credit to Dimitar Popov.
Field trials demonstrated that this device can reduce harbour porpoise bycatch in the Black Sea by approximately 74%. Researchers believe the specific acoustic signals, namely the wider frequency band (between 10 and 150 kHz) emitted by the PAL Wideband model, contributed to its effectiveness, as it was the only one of the three pingers tested, that successfully deterred porpoises from approaching fishing nets.
Map of the conducted trials involving PAL Wideband pingers in 2020 and 2021. Credit to Popov et al., 2026
“Other recent studies have highlighted significant shortcomings in the conservation of harbour porpoise populations in European waters,” the researchers stated. This underscores the urgent need for effective strategies to reduce bycatch, the leading human-induced cause of mortality for the species.
Mitigation measures could include spatio-temporal closures of high-risk fisheries in areas where harbour porpoises are most abundant, as well as the adoption of alternative or modified fishing gear, including the use of acoustic deterrent devices.
the experts noted
Bycaught Black Sea harbour porpoise. Photo credit to Dimitar Popov.
Among the available options, the use of effective pingers, supported by appropriate financing mechanisms, is increasingly seen as one of the most practical and widely accepted approaches to reducing bycatch while maintaining profitable fishing operations.
Not all acoustic deterrent devices are equally effective in reducing the bycatch of the harbour porpoise in the Black Sea.
the researchers concluded
Their findings demonstrate that certain pinger models fail to mitigate porpoise bycatch in the bottom-set gillnets specifically used to target turbot.
The study underscores the importance of careful selection and testing of deterrent devices and emphasizes that this distinction must be explicitly taken into account in the development of targeted and effective strategies to reduce bycatch in Black Sea fisheries.
If you are interested in other marine research from Bulgaria, take a look at the topical collection “Black Sea ecosystem in the spotlight” which includes this study.
Original source:
Popov D, Meshkova G, Dimitrov H, Panayotova M (2026) Can pingers mitigate the bycatch of the endangered Black Sea Harbour Porpoise? Nature Conservation 63: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.63.183768
Beneath the lush rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula lies a hidden, subterranean world: a vast network of flooded sinkholes and anchialine caves. These unique underwater systems, which mix fresh and saltwater and are influenced by the tides, have no open connection to the surface and have served as an evolutionary refuge for millions of years.
When marine biologist Fernando Álvarez first encountered these sinkholes (cenotes), he was captivated.
My first impression of these incredibly beautiful places was that I had to work there to find out how that rich crustacean fauna had evolved in those exceptionally large cave systems.
Álvarez recalls
Entrance to a cenote. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
Entrance to a cenote. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
The cenotes where Typhlatya shrimps occur. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
A recent study published in Subterranean Biology, reveals that the answer lies with a tiny, fascinating creature: the anchialine cave shrimp of the genus Typhlatya.
The Keystone of the Cave Food Web
The cenotes where Typhlatya shrimps occur. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
In most surface ecosystems, sunlight fuels plants, which then feed the rest of the food chain. In the pitch-black depths of anchialine caves, nature has found other ways. Instead of photosynthesis, this ecosystem relies on a chemosynthetic route.
Organic matter from the rainforest floor decomposes and percolates through the porous limestone rock, eventually bringing methane into the cave’s waters. Methanotrophic bacteria consume this methane to produce energy and grow. And this is where Typhlatya shrimp comes in. Equipped with specialized, scraping appendages, these shrimps are adapted to graze on these bacterial mats.
Because they convert microbial growth into animal biomass, Typhlatya shrimps act as “keystone species,” introducing essential nutrients into the cave’s food web. They serve as a crucial initial link that larger subterranean predators feed on.
What we see now is that Typhlatya shrimps are a key component of the anchialine trophic web.
explains Álvarez
Stable Isotopes reveal ecological niches
To better understand how these shrimps survive, Brenda Durán and Fernando Álvarez used stable isotope analysis (looking at carbon and nitrogen signatures in the shrimps’ tissue) to figure out exactly what they are eating.
Typhlatya mitchelli. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
Typhlatya mitchelli. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
Over the years my research has evolved from very descriptive taxonomic studies… to more ecological studies about the interactions among species.
Álvarez notes regarding the motivation behind the study.
Their findings revealed that the different species of Typhlatya living in the Yucatan have carved out their own unique dietary niches, allowing them to peacefully coexist.
For instance, Typhlatya mitchelli relies mostly on decaying vegetation and nitrifying bacteria found in shallower cave sections. While, Typhlatya dzilamensis hangs out deeper in the caves near the halocline (the zone where fresh and saltwater mix), exploiting organic material trapped in that layer. Typhlatya pearsei feeds heavily on the methanotrophic bacterial biomass near the cave ceilings.
Beneath the lush rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula lies a hidden, subterranean world: “My first impression of these incredibly beautiful places was that I had to work there to find out how that rich crustacean fauna had evolved in those exceptionally large cave systems.” – Marine biologist Fernando Álvarez. 👇 A reminder to check out our blog here for further insights: https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18058 👇 Full article in the open-access journal Subterranean Biology: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.55.164068 #shrimp#yucatan#sciencenews#subterranean#ecology
Interestingly, the study found that the shrimps’ diets remain stable across the rainy and dry seasons. However, their diets do shift based on regional geography, such as the difference between the deep, isolated sinkholes of the “Ring of Cenotes” and the sprawling, highly interconnected tunnels of the “Caribbean Cave Area”.
A Fragile World Under Threat
The cenotes where Typhlatya shrimps occur. Photo credit to Fernando Álvarez.
These remarkable cave shrimps belong to an ancient lineage that has survived since the time of the dinosaurs, with relatives spanning the globe from the Mediterranean to Australia. Yet, they are now facing a modern, unprecedented threat.
The rapid urbanization of the Yucatan Peninsula brings deforestation, pollution, and severe environmental deterioration. Because these caves rely entirely on the organic matter percolating from the rainforest above, any damage to the surface environment directly destroys the “vertical integrity” necessary for the caves to function. As Álvarez warns:
We are losing the vertical integrity that these anchialine caves need to function; any changes occurring on the surface within the caves’ area will inevitably affect them.
The anchialine caves of the Yucatan Peninsula are complex, unique ecosystems filled with extraordinary biodiversity. To save the remarkable Typhlatya shrimp and the hidden food web it supports, we must protect the forests above ground.
Blind eel in an anchialine cave. Video credit to Fernando Álvarez.
The Yucatan Peninsula is an area of extraordinary cultural wealth and contains sophisticated and unique ecosystems as the anchialine caves, but sadly all this is disappearing.
he reflects
After all, the survival of this dark, subterranean world depends entirely on the health of the sunlit world above.
Original study
Durán B, Álvarez F (2026) The trophic role of cave shrimps of the genus Typhlatya seen through stable isotope eyes. Subterranean Biology 55: 43-56. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.55.164068
Yunnan Province in southwestern China is a global biodiversity hotspot, accommodating an incredible variety of plants and animals. It is also the heart of China’s coffee industry, with Yunnan accounting for almost all of the country’s coffee production. However, coffee plants are very common hosts for many types of fungi, which can act as harmful diseases, harmless residents, or natural recyclers – these factors can impact the plant’s health and how much coffee it produces.
A new study published in the open-access journal MycoKeys, and led by Mei-Yan Han of Chiang Mai University, revealed two novel species of Neohelicomyces fungi: Neohelicomyces coffeae and Neohelicomyces puerensis. While studying the fungi that live on Coffea arabica, the team spotted these unique organisms growing on dead coffee branches. This discovery underscores the need for further investigations into the fungal diversity of the region.
Both species are characterised by their coil-shaped structures which appear as glistening white patches on coffee plants. Specifically, N. coffeae features short stems and small, multi-sectioned spores, while N. puerensis is distinguished by its tightly coiled filaments and unbranched stems. While the former is named after the host genus Coffea, the latter references the locality in which both species were found: Pu’er City.
Neohelicomyces coffeae (GMB-W1490, holotype). Photo credit: Mei-Yan Han et al.
Neohelicomyces puerensis (GMB-W1485, holotype). Photo credit: Mei-Yan Han et al.
Importantly, these fungi are classified as saprophytic because they were found growing exclusively on the dead branches of coffee plants rather than on living tissue. Functioning as nature’s essential recyclers, they obtain their energy by breaking down complex organic materials like wood and cellulose. Therefore, by decomposing this dead matter, both play a vital role in the coffee ecosystem by unlocking trapped nutrients and returning them to the soil. This incentive subsequently helps support the growth of the surrounding living coffee plants.
Saprophytic fungi are additionally being studied as potential sources for new medicines and agricultural tools. Scientists have found that the family to which these new species belong, Tubeufiaceae, can produce natural chemicals that fight off bacteria, other fungi, and even certain types of cancer. Specifically, researchers have already discovered compounds related to Neohelicomyces species that show promise in slowing the growth of human cancer cells.
As of 2026, there are 36 known species of Neohelicomyces, with the vast majority found in China – particularly in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces – though they also appear in Europe and North America. By expanding their known diversity specifically in agricultural environments, researchers have shed light on their ecological potentials, and have called attention to their future biotechnological applications.
Following these discoveries, it is certain that the future of fungal research is starting to brew.
Original source:
Han M-Y, Yang J-Y, Karunarathna SC, Kumla J, Lu L, Zheng D-G, Elgorban AM, Alfagham AT, Yu F-Q, Dai D-Q, Zhang L-J, Suwannarach N, Tibpromma S (2026) Two new Neohelicomyces species (Tubeufiaceae, Tubeufiales) associated with Coffea arabica L. in Yunnan Province, China. MycoKeys 127: 343-362. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.127.173937
New research reveals the rapid expansion of the portunid crab, Gonioinfradens giardi, highlighting ongoing biological changes in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is undergoing rapid ecological transformations driven by climate change and human-mediated species introductions. Among the most striking processes is the increasing arrival and establishment of non-indigenous species entering through the Suez Canal, a phenomenon known as Lessepsian migration.
A new study published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria documents the rapid expansion of the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Gonioinfradens giardi in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Italy. Following the first confirmed Italian record – a single specimen collected at Portopalo di Capo Passero in November 2025 – researchers documented 11 additional individuals between November 2025 and January 2026, providing early evidence that the species has moved beyond sporadic occurrence and may already be establishing stable populations in the region.
🦀A new study highlights the rapid expansion and early establishment of the non-indigenous Indo-Pacific swimming crab, Gonioinfradens giardi, along the Ionian coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea The research was published in the open-access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria. 👉Full article here: Tiralongo F, Leotta P, Accolla H, Tibullo D, Felici A (2026) Rapid expansion of a Lessepsian migrant crab, Gonioinfradens giardi (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in the Ionian Sea: New records and early evidence of establishment. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 56: 145-149. https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.56.185183 #invasivespecies#conservation#italy
Our findings suggest that Gonioinfradens giardi is transitioning from occasional records to a more consistent presence in the central Mediterranean. This raises important questions about its potential ecological role and interactions with native species.
explains Francesco Tiralongo, lead author of the study
To reconstruct the current distribution of the species, the newly collected data integrates recent records with field observations obtained through a collaboration with local fishers utilizing standard artisanal fishing gears.
The haul of a dozen individuals within a two-month period indicates that environmental conditions are becoming more favorable for its persistence. Furthermore, these captures mark the westernmost presence of the species in the Mediterranean Sea to date.
Distribution map of Gonioinfradensgiardi; new records along the Ionian coast of Sicily are shown in yellow (circles), while the red circle indicates the first published record. Credit to Tiralongo et al., 2026
The rapid emergence of this species highlights how dynamic and responsive Mediterranean ecosystems are to ongoing environmental changes. Documenting these early phases of establishment is crucial for understanding future ecological scenarios and supporting informed management decisions.
adds Alberto Felici, co-author of the study
The establishment of non-indigenous crustaceans may have cascading effects on local ecosystems, including competition with native species and potential implications for fisheries. While the long-term impacts of G. giardi remain uncertain, its rapid spread reflects broader changes already underway in Mediterranean marine biodiversity.
Gonioinfradens giardi, credit to Francesco Tiralongo.
This case adds to a growing list of species reshaping Mediterranean ecosystems. Continuous monitoring, including contributions from fishers and citizen scientists, will be essential to track these dynamics and support adaptive management strategies.
Tiralongo adds
A YouTube video by the study’s lead author, Francesco Tiralongo, in which he introduces Gonioinfradens giardi – a species relatively unknown in the Mediterranean – explains its origin, describes how it entered the ecosystem, and outlines its current distribution in Italian waters as well as its potential impacts on ecosystems and fisheries.
The study contributes to the expanding body of evidence that the Mediterranean Sea is becoming a hotspot for biological invasions, emphasizing the need for coordinated research and monitoring efforts at regional and basin-wide scales.
Original source:
Tiralongo F, Leotta P, Accolla H, Tibullo D, Felici A (2026) Rapid expansion of a Lessepsian migrant crab, Gonioinfradens giardi (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in the Ionian Sea: New records and early evidence of establishment. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 56: 145-149. https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.56.185183
