Two new species of fungi have been found living on dead coffee plant branches in China’s Yunnan Province.
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.
Guest blog post by Francesco Tiralongo
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
271 established non-native species in Turkey with an increased risk of invasiveness under future climate warming scenarios.
A team of researchers, led by Dr. Ali Serhan Tarkan, has published the first nationwide assessment of established non-native species in Türkiye in the journal NeoBiota.
The study identifies 271 species that may pose significant threats to the country’s biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and socio-economic systems, providing a crucial baseline for future conservation and biosecurity efforts.
Using a recent global database of non-native established species, the researchers initially identified 1,092 non-native species within Turkish borders. Through a rigorous review by taxonomic experts, the team filtered out native, cryptogenic, and non-established species, narrowing the focus to 271 confirmed established species.
Invasive freshwater fish (Carassius gibelio). Photo credit to: Esra Baycelebi.
Of these, marine species are by far the most prevalent, with 198 classified as strictly marine, followed by 42 terrestrial and 27 freshwater species. This trend reflects Türkiye’s extensive coastlines along the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, which offer vast ecological niches.
Furthermore, the coastal regions, characterized by dense populations, robust economies, and intensive trade networks, create multiple human-mediated pathways that can facilitate the introduction and establishment of non-native species.
Number of established species in each administrative area of Türkiye based on GBIF records. Gray areas represent administrative areas without non-native species based on GBIF. The marine area represents the Exclusive Economic Zone (extracted from Marine Regions marineregions.org, Flanders Marine Institute 2023). Credit to Tarkan et al., 2026.
The assessment also revealed a clear west-to-east gradient, with non-native species concentrated in the western part of the country and decreasing toward the east. The highest concentrations were found in Kayseri and Muğla, each hosting 37 established species, followed closely by Antalya with 34.
In terms of biogeographic distribution, nearly half of the established species originated from the Indo-Malayan realm, followed by the Australasian realm.
A significant concern raised by the researchers is the substantial impact gap in national reporting. Specifically, the majority of established non-native species in Türkiye had no reported impacts (n = 224; 83%), although this number decreased to 157 (59%) at the global scale.
Doughnut plot indicating the species by (a) impacts and (b) impact mechanisms. Credit to Tarkan et al., 2026.
While only 17% of established species currently have documented impacts within Türkiye, 41% of these same species are known to cause impact elsewhere.
These findings suggest that many species in Türkiye have not yet undergone formal impact assessments. Among those with known effects, ecological and environmental damages were the most frequently cited, primarily driven by biological mechanisms such as competition, predation, and rapid growth.
The outlook for species already established in Türkiye is particularly concerning. Currently, 50% of the 62 species screened using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit pose a high to very high risk of invasiveness. These proportions are projected to exceed 60% under future climate warmingscenarios.
Coordinated national efforts will be essential to mitigate the long-term impacts on Türkiye’s biodiversity and ecosystems.
the researchers conclude
The study therefore underscores the urgent need for systematic monitoring, improved impact assessments, and climate-informed risk management strategies.
Original source:
Tarkan AS, Yapıcı S, Kurtul I, Błońska D, Vilizzi L, Baş Sermenli H, Farooq S, Aldemir C, Uçma Uysal T, Giannetto D, Bilge G, Çiftçioğlu M, Najafi-Majd E, Aktay-Sözüer L, Kaya C, Bayçelebi E, Aydın İ, Haubrock PJ, Briski E, Soto I (2026) The first national assessment of established non-native species in Türkiye. NeoBiota 105: 297-317. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.105.176362
Bridging 40 years of otter science and global eco-volunteering, Projeto Lontra and Estuarine Management and Technologies invite research for a topical collection.
Guest blog post by Dr. Oldemar de Oliveira Carvalho Junior
This call is a natural evolution of a story that began in January 1986. On the wild shores of Peri Lagoon in southern Brazil, my father and I stood beneath the canopy of the Atlantic Forest and dreamed aloud: What if we could protect this place by protecting its most elusive guardian, the Neotropical otter?
Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
Swimming neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
That dream became Projeto Lontra. For forty years, we have walked these shores not as distant scientists, but as neighbors, listening to the water, reading the spraints, and learning from fishers who’ve known these lagoons longer than any journal has existed.
But conservation cannot be a solitary act. And so, in the early 2000s, a quiet revolution began. People of all ages from France, Germany, and beyond started arriving, not as tourists, but as eco-volunteers through different international organizations, such as Cybelle Planète. They came not to “save” us, but to stand with us.
Eco-volunteers installing a trap camera inside an otter cave. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
This is the heart of our partnership: reciprocity, not rescue.
More Than Volunteering. A Model of Shared Stewardship
Cybelle Planète does not sell travel; rather, it cultivates responsibility. Their volunteers spend weeks living alongside our team, collecting spraints at dawn, mapping latrines, teaching in local schools, and planting native trees. They return home not just with photos, but with data that feeds into global assessments, and with a transformed understanding of what it means to care for a shared planet.
As one Cybelle Planète coordinator once told me:
We don’t promote travel. We promote responsibility.
This ethos mirrors our own. In Brazil, conservation has too often been framed as a deficit, something we lack, something others must fix. But Projeto Lontra has always believed that local knowledge is expertise and long-term presence is data. Our 40-year dataset, born from patience, not satellites, is proof.
Eco-volunteers from Australia and New Zealand. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
Playing with the otters. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
Eco-volunteer at an expedition. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
Now, this partnership takes on new scientific weight as a cornerstone of the Scientific Journal Estuarine Management and Technologies and its Topical Collection “Otters as Bioindicators of Estuarine Health.” But rather than spotlight methods or metrics, we want to spotlight people and the relationships that make science meaningful.
Voices of the Collaboration
To truly reflect the spirit of this alliance, we invited key voices to share their vision:
Nosso papel não é promover viagens, mas cultivar a responsabilidade – de longo prazo, recíproca e fundamentada na confiança entre os atores locais da conservação e os cidadãos internacionais.
(Our role is not to promote travel, but to foster responsibility – long-term, reciprocal, and grounded in trust between local conservation actors and international citizens.)
We are reminded that research and materials produced outside traditional commercial or academic sectors can be just as important.
For over 30 years, the Bulletin has amplified voices from the Global South that commercial journals overlook. Projeto Lontra’s legacy reminds us that grey literature is often golden and that true bioindicator science grows from the ground up.
Dr. Arno Gutleb, IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
A Call to Join the Movement
Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to: Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
This isn’t just a story about otters. It’s about a new way of doing conservation:
Municipalities can use tools like the Otter Health Index (OHI) to monitor their estuaries without million-dollar labs.
Researchers can contribute to a truly global bioindicator framework that centers tropical species.
Eco-volunteers can join hands-on programs that generate real data while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
And everyone – scientist, student, and citizen – can engage with the “Otters as Bioindicators” Topical Collection to help shift the narrative from extraction to exchange, from hierarchy to humility.
Because in the end, the otter teaches us this: ecosystems are woven from connection. So too must be our efforts to protect them.
Two new antbird species discovered in the Amazon Basin and described in the open-access journal Vertebrate Zoology.
Scientists have discovered that a widely recognized Amazonian antbird is not one, but five distinct species – including two completely new to science. This revelation of hidden biodiversity was achieved by integrating artificial intelligence, vocal analysis, and traditional museum work, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can transform our understanding of life in Earth’s richest ecosystems.
The research focused on the Cercomacra cinerascens antbird species complex, a group of small, insect-eating birds widespread across the Amazon Basin. While these birds appear nearly identical in plumage, they produce strikingly different songs.
Birds rely heavily on vocal communication, which are important for species recognition. Their songs act as acoustic signatures, providing a powerful key to unlocking hidden diversity.
the researchers explain
The team named one of the new species (Cercomacra mura) in honor of the Mura people, Indigenous inhabitants of the western Amazon where this bird occurs.
One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra mura, perched on a branch. Credit to Tomaz Melo.
The second new species takes its name from its most diagnostic trait: a song composed solely of two‑note, raspy phrases. From the Latin raucus (hoarse, raspy) and sonus (sound), the scientific name Cercomacraraucisona directly reflects its unique vocal signature.
One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra raucisona. Photo credit to: Fernando Zurdo
To decode these signatures, the team employed BirdNET, an artificial intelligence tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This machine-learning algorithm converts sound into numerical data, allowing for the automated comparison of bird recordings collected across the Amazon. The vocal patterns it revealed were then cross-referenced with meticulous analyses of vocalizations, plumage patterns and morphology.
This multidisciplinary approach confirmed that populations separated by major Amazonian rivers, such as the Amazonas, Ucayali, Madeira, and Tapajós, have evolved into distinct species. “These rivers function as long-term natural barriers”, says lead author Cavarzere.
Populations diverged independently over millennia into the unique species we describe today, which are kept isolated by these major rivers.
the researchers explain
The discovery underscores the vast amount of cryptic biodiversity still awaiting discovery in the Amazon, even among seemingly well-known birds. It also highlights a new paradigm for taxonomy, where AI-powered tools work in concert with traditional bioacoustics and specimen-based research.
By merging artificial intelligence with the foundational science of bioacoustics and museum collections, we can uncover diversity that would otherwise remain invisible. Recognizing these species is the first and most critical step toward ensuring their protection in a rapidly changing world.
the researchers conclude
Original study:
Cavarzere V, Breviglieri EL, Silveira LF (2026) Integrative taxonomy of the Cercomacra cinerascens species complex with description of two new species (Aves: Thamnophilidae). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 73-91. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e171834
Students at the forefront of conservation or how community science helps gather data on cavity-nesting bees and wasps, enhancing our understanding of ecosystem interactions.
Can students be the front lines of conservation? A new Canada-wide study, published in Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, suggests they can. The efforts of some 5000 students produced data detailed enough to reveal complex ecological networks hidden inside a small PVC and cardboard tube home.
A trap nest installed at a Bees@Schools community science location. Multiple tubes nested in are visible. Photo credit to Sage Handler.
They invited schools to volunteer across Canada to install standardised ‘trap nests’ – simple PVC pipe and cardboard tube homes that mimic natural cavities where bees and wasps build nests.
Cavity-nesting bees and wasps play key roles in pollination and pest control, yet their distributions and feeding relationships are often poorly known because they can be small, secretive and difficult to observe directly.
Nesting tubes gathered from one trap nest, ready to be cut open and processed. Photo credit to Sage Handler.
Instead of relying only on traditional identification under a microscope, the researchers used DNA metabarcoding – a method that reads DNA from mixed samples and can detect many species at once.
This allowed the team to identify not only which bee or wasp species built each nest, but also which plant pollen or insect prey were brought back as food. The result was a rich, detailed view of both where cavity-nesting bee and wasp species live and how they interact with plants and other insects.
A rainbow of pollen prepared for DNA metabarcoding. Credit: Sage Handler An intact cavity-nesting bee nest extracted from a nesting tube. Credit: Sage Handler (Hill)
A key outcome of the study was the creation of tripartite networks: maps linking (1) the nesting bee or wasp, (2) its food (pollen or insect prey) and (3) parasites. This kind of network is extremely difficult to build through observation alone, but trap nests can act like tiny ecological time capsules.
Every brood cell contains biological traces and metabarcoding can recover them. Students weren’t just collecting insects, they were collecting entire ecological interaction datasets: the raw material needed to build food-web maps across a whole country!
A lot of people want to contribute to conservation or learn more about biodiversity, but don’t know how. This shows that a small, practical action, like hosting a trap nest, can contribute real data that researchers can use. Community and citizen science is becoming more common, so keep an eye out for research happening in your neighbourhood.
says Handler, the lead author of the study
Original resource:
Handler S, Coveny K, Braukmann TWA, Raine NE, Steinke D (2026) Welcome to Hotel Hymenoptera: monitoring cavity-nesting bee and wasp distribution and their trophic interactions using community science and metabarcoding. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 10: e139674. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.10.139674
Pensoft launches Advances in Pollinator Research, a diamond open-access journal unifying diverse pollinator science efforts.
In collaboration with the European Union pollinator projects community, scholarly publisher and technology provider Pensoft launchedAdvances in Pollinator Research, a new multidisciplinary, community-driven peer-reviewed journal set to transform how pollinator science is shared and translated into real-world action.
Advances in Pollinator Research(APR) is designed as an innovative platform for the full spectrum of pollinator science, from pollination ecology and pollinator-plant interactions to molecular ecology, conservation and more. A core mission of the journal is to champion research from underrepresented regions, taxa, and ecological contexts.
As a diamond open-access journal, APR is currently free to publish and free to read, ensuring that all published research is openly accessible to the global community. The first editorial of the journal is available here.
In response to the global crisis of pollinator decline, APR moves beyond traditional data silos. It is the first comprehensive platform to unify the biological, environmental, socio-economic, and governance dimensions of pollinator health.
It embraces transdisciplinary collaboration and research between scientists, industry, and society with the aim of finding and amplifying solutions to real-world problems.
APR journal with key information.
Furthermore, the journal welcomes research on conventional approaches while highly encouraging publications that apply innovative methods, such as automated monitoring systems, AI-assisted analytics, molecular and genomic tools, as well as large-scale network initiatives and open databases that advance FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data dissemination across regions and taxa.
Figure illustrating the scope and publishing process of the APR journal, showing the diversity of pollinators, the multitude of stressors affecting them, and the various stakeholders interacting with them. Credit to Beaurepaire et al., 2026
The journal will utilise Pensoft’s innovative ARPHA platform, known for its robust support of academic publishing and efficient dissemination of research. Thanks to this one-stop publishing solution, the new journal offers a seamless, end-to-end publishing experience, encompassing all stages between manuscript submission and article publication, indexation, dissemination and permanent archiving.
The publishing services provided by ARPHA also include a variety of human-provided services and support and integrations with third-party providers, intended to maximise the reach and usability of scholarly knowledge published in Advances in Pollinator Research.
“We are excited to launch Advances in Pollinator Research. This ambitious journal is set to drive more innovative and interdisciplinary approaches within the field of pollinator science,”
says Prof. Lyubomir Penev, founder and CEO of ARPHA and Pensoft
“With Advances in Pollinator Research, we aim to build an integrative and inclusive home for pollinator science that dissolves disciplinary and geographic silos and connects knowledge from genes to landscapes. Beyond a journal, APR is envisioned as a participatory forum where researchers, practitioners, and communities worldwide co-produce knowledge and accelerate solutions for pollinator health,”
comments Dr. Straub
“We are truly delighted to launch this new transdisciplinary journal focusing on pollinators. Through this effort, we aim to bring our diverse research community together and provide a dynamic platform for scientists and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, ultimately deepening our understanding of and commitment to protecting these precious and fascinating species.,”
adds Dr. Beaurepaire
Advances in Pollinator Research joins a number of open-access entomology journals published by Pensoft.
For more information on the journal’s focus and scope and guidelines to authors, visit APR’s website, subscribe to the journal’s newsletter and follow it on BlueSky,Facebook and Linkedin.
Neotropical otters are key for estuarine health, providing insights into ecosystem integrity and pollution impacts.
Guest blog post by Dr. Oldemar de Oliveira Carvalho Junior
For four decades, we’ve been quietly watching otters along the southern coast of Brazil. Not just because they’re charismatic and playful, but because they are among nature’s most honest diagnosticians. Just like a doctor checks your pulse, blood, and behavior to assess your health, scientists can use otters to monitor the condition of estuaries, those vital transition zones where rivers meet the sea.
Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to: Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
Otters sit at the top of the food chain in estuaries. They need clean water, healthy fish populations, connected habitats, and safe denning sites. If any of these elements falter, otters are among the first to respond, with fewer sightings, changes in their diet, or markers of disease.
While a water sample offers only a fleeting snapshot, otters aggregate environmental signals across time and space.
Neotropical otter with a cub. Photo credit to Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
In fact, their very presence, or absence, tells a story. In regions where Atlantic Forest fragmentation has severed the connection between land and water, otter sightings have plummeted by 30% in just a decade.
This isn’t just a loss of biodiversity; it’s a warning for everyone downstream. Fewer otters mean degraded waterways, disrupted food webs, and weakened natural buffers against floods and erosion.
A “living record” of pollution
Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) feeding on fish. Video credit to: Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
The diet of otters consists of 70-80% fish, as well as crabs and other aquatic animals. As they consume prey, they also accumulate pollutants, like heavy metals, microplastics, and industrial chemicals, that have built up in those animals. Their bodies effectively become archives of contamination.
Think of an otter as a biological hard drive: by analyzing its scat (feces), we can reconstruct what pollutants are moving through the estuary, even if they’re invisible to the naked eye.
For instance, in Brazil, we’ve found microplastic fibers in otter droppings from protected lagoons, proof that no coastal system is truly isolated from human impact.
The tropical knowledge gap
Neotropical otter. Photo credit to: Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
Globally, over 70% of otter research focuses on temperate species like the Eurasian or sea otter. Meanwhile, the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) receives less than 4% of scientific attention, despite inhabiting the world’s most biodiverse and threatened estuaries.
This imbalance in the research poses a great conservation risk. Tropical estuaries face unique pressures: rapid urbanization, mangrove deforestation, and climate-driven sea-level rise. Without focused research, we risk managing these ecosystems with tools designed for entirely different environments.
Our work aims to close this divide, establishing the Neotropical otter as a key indicator to drive evidence-based conservation across the Global South.
Land-based diseases in aquatic sentinels
Video from trap camera of two Neotropical otters in a shelter. Video credit to: Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
One of our most striking findings showed that 66% of otters tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii – a parasite shed only by domestic cats. How does a land-based pathogen end up in an aquatic mammal? The answer is through runoff.
The rain washes cat feces from the streets, gardens, and informal settlements into rivers and lagoons. This reveals a sobering truth: even within protected areas, otters are exposed to threats originating far inland. To protect these sentinels of ecosystem health, we must implement integrated management strategies that address sewage overflow, urban runoff, and domestic animal impact.
What comes next?
Neotropical otter inside a shelter. Video credit to: Projeto Lontra / Instituto Ekko Brasil
We’re finalizing the Otter Health Index (OHI), a low-cost toolkit for municipalities, NGOs, and community groups to monitor estuaries using simple metrics: spraint frequency, habitat connectivity, contaminant screening, and local knowledge. It’s designed for places with limited labs but rich ecological insight.
After 40 years of observing otters, we’ve learned this: protecting them isn’t just about saving a species. It’s about safeguarding the intricate web of processes that sustain clean water, fisheries, flood resilience, and human well-being.
Otters aren’t just inhabitants of our estuaries; they are their guardians. If we listen to what they’re telling us, we’ll know exactly what these ecosystems need to survive and thrive.
Original sources:
Carvalho Junior, O., Bez Birolo, A., Tosatti, M., Haddout, S., Ljubenkov, I. and Jayachandran, P.R. eds., (n.d.). Otters as Bioindicators of Estuarine Health: Innovations in Monitoring and Management from Tropical Coastal Brazil. PEstuarine Management and Technologies. doi:https://doi.org/10.3897/emt.coll.317
Birolo, A.B., Tosatti, M., Junior and Assiya Haddout (2026). Otters as bioindicators of estuarine health: Scientific gaps, field-based insights, and a framework for future research. Estuarine Management and Technologies., 3, pp.65–78. doi:https://doi.org/10.3897/emt.3.185117.
A juvenile great white shark was caught off Spain, prompting further research confirming its elusive presence in the Spanish Mediterranean.
On April 20, 2023, a juvenile great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) measuring approximately 210 cm and weighing between 80-90 kg was incidentally caught by local fishermen off the coast of eastern peninsula. This rare encounter, prompted the researchers to dive deep into past records spanning from 1862 to 2023 compiling an extensive review that is now published in the open-access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria.
The accidentally caught juvenile great white shark. Photo credit to Báez et al., 2026
The accidental capture – contextualized within a review of records spanning 160 years – revealed that while the Mediterranean great white shark remains as an elusive“ghost” population, it maintains a continued presence in these waters. Currently, the species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a declining population trend.
“Determining the presence of juvenile individuals is of particular importance,” says Dr. José Carlos Báez, the study’s lead researcher. “The occurrence of juvenile specimens raises the question whether active reproduction may be occurring in the region.” He further hypothesized.
The fear of Great White Sharks
Through the examination of records, this study confirms the continued, though sporadic, presence of white sharks in Spanish Mediterranean waters. This research highlights a persistent but infrequent occurrence, with sightings remaining an exceptional event.
Citing H.P. Lovecraft’s famous observation that “the oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” He emphasizes that scientific clarity is the best remedy. “By shedding light on the biology and ecology of the great white shark, research can help replace unfounded myths with genuine understanding.”
Dismantling the Stigma, One Myth at a Time
Video of the accidentally caught great white shark. Credit to Báez et al., 2026
With Great White Shark populations in decline, researchers emphasize that long-term observation programs are vital to understanding the species’ biology in the Mediterranean. By pairing direct sightings with advanced tracking methods, evidence-based strategies can be developed for the conservation of this iconic apex predator.
“The main idea I want to convey to the public is that these large marine animals have a fundamental role in marine ecosystems. As highly migratory pelagic species, they redistribute energy and nutrients across vast distances. They serve as nature’s scavengers – by consuming carrion, they keep ecosystems clean. Even in death, their descent to the seafloor provides a critical pulse of nourishment for deep-sea communities.
concludes Báez.
Research article:
Báez, J.C., Puerto, M.A., Torreblanca, D., Varela, J.L., Carmona, L. and Macías, D. (2026). New record of white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Elasmobranchii, Lamniformes, Lamnidae), from the Mediterranean Spanish coast. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 56, pp.27–31. doi:https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.56.173786.
With 55% of its native habitat gone, the Cerrado is in crisis. Preserving this biodiversity hotspot demands immediate reform and the protection of Indigenous rights.
Guest blog post by Cássio Cardoso Pereira
“In addition to surviving some of the poorest soils in intertropical Brazil, the vegetation of the Cerrado has achieved the ecological feat of withstanding wildfires, rising from its own ashes like a kind of phoenix among Brazil’s ecosystems. It cannot, however, withstand the violent technological artifices invented by so-called civilized men.”
Aziz Ab’Saber, 2003 (translated)
Often overshadowed by the Amazon, the Cerrado is the second-largest Ecodomain in South America. Despite covering 24% of the territory and sustaining major watersheds, it has historically been sidelined in global conservation dialogues.
Our detailed review recently published in Nature Conservation warns that this biodiversity hotspot is currently facing a massive, multi-faceted ecological crisis. Despite its significance, the region has seen more than 55% of its native vegetation converted, an area exceeding 1 million km², with the vast majority of this destruction occurring within the last five decades.
Land use and land cover (LULC) in the Cerrado Ecodomain in 1985 and 2023, revealing significant changes in the spatial structure of the territory. An intensification of human activities can be observed, with emphasis on agricultural expansion, which resulted in the significant replacement of native vegetation by alternative uses. This process represents an accelerated landscape transformation over the last four decades. These maps were made using the Cerrado shapefile developed by Cássio Cardoso Pereira, with LULC data available from MapBiomas (2024).
While recent data suggests a slight reduction in annual deforestation rates, the accumulated loss continues to climb, making the Cerrado the Ecodomain in Brazil with the greatest loss of native vegetation.
Annual clearing in the Cerrado (2001–2025) according to PRODES (INPE 2025). Bars represent the total area cleared each year (km²), with colors ranging from dark orange (highest values) to light orange (lowest values), indicating relative variation in intensity. Arrows indicate the percentage change compared to the previous year: increases (↑, red), decreases (↓, green), and stability (→, black, 0.0%). These data do not detect degradation, only complete removal of natural vegetation. Annual data refer to the so-called “reference year”, which runs from August of one year to July of the following year, based on satellite images with a resolution of 10 to 30 meters. The icons used in this figure are from Wikimedia licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Figure design: Cássio Cardoso Pereira.
This expansion is driven by a combination of agricultural and urban growth, mining, and land speculation, creating a landscape that is increasingly fragmented and ecologically compromised.
Inverted forest and hidden carbon
One of the things that make Cerrado truly unique is its “inverted forest“. Unlike tropical rainforests that store their biomass in high canopies, the Cerrado has achieved an ecological feat of survival by storing approximately 90% of its carbon belowground through massive, deep root systems. This underground network makes the Ecodomain a critical carbon sink and a primary regulator of water.
Schematic representation of the distribution of carbon stocks in the Cerrado, characterized as an “inverted forest” due to the predominance of biomass and carbon belowground. Estimates were obtained from Terra et al. (2023). Figure design: Walisson Kenedy-Siqueira.
However, misguided restoration efforts that focus solely on planting exotic trees in naturally open areas can further exacerbate this issue, highlighting the need for restoration strategies that prioritize ecological functionality and native seed banks over simple afforestation.
Ecosystem diversity and conservation challenges
However, it is not just the vast tropical savanna in Cerrado that makes up this inverted forest, but the complex and interdependent mosaic of grasslands, savannas, and forests, each with distinct structures, ecological processes, and vulnerabilities. Treating it as homogeneous invisibilizes both grassland and forest formations, complicating effective conservation policies.
For example, natural grasslands, especially in the montane Campos Rupestres, occupy limited areas, harbor high endemism, and face strong pressures from mining, biological invasions, and increased fire. Whilst savannas, although dominant in the area, have been widely converted into monocultures, exotic pastures, and forestry, compromising ecological integrity.
Main anthropogenic threats to the Cerrado resulting from land-use changes, ranked by impact on each ecosystem type (I–III: grassland, savanna, and forest). The ecosystems illustrated are according to Ribeiro and Walter (2008). For more details on each ecosystem. Figure design: Walisson Kenedy-Siqueira.
Even though some species are adapted to natural fire, many ecosystems, such as forests, the marshland formationsVeredas, and the montane Campos Rupestres, are highly vulnerable. Exotic species invasions and increased frequency and intensity of fires exacerbate ecological losses even without direct deforestation. We’ve found out that nearly all fires in the Cerrado are human-induced and occur outside natural regimes, causing cumulative degradation.
Threatened biodiversity and conservation gaps
Our research highlights a troubling pattern of ‘silent extinctions’ across the Cerrado. While this Ecodomain is home to thousands of unique plants and animals, we have identified a massive gap in how these species are monitored. Plants and invertebrates are the most threatened yet the least studied. This means species are vanishing before they can even be scientifically documented. Current policies are failing because they rely on incomplete data; we cannot protect what we have not yet cataloged. To prevent total collapse, we must expand our conservation criteria to protect not just individual species, but the complex ecological interactions that sustain the region’s water and soil.
Percentage distribution of threatened species among different biological groups in the Cerrado. The information was adapted from the IUCN Red List (2024), the Flora and Funga of Brazil portal (2024), the official national list of threatened species by MMA (2022), terrestrial vertebrate data from Vieira-Alencar et al. (2025), freshwater fish data from Lima and Ribeiro (2011), and invertebrate data from Embrapa (2023). Figure design: Walisson Kenedy-Siqueira.
Cerrado’s water crisis
The environmental crisis in the Cerrado is also a “silent water crisis” that threatens Brazil’s national security. The Ecodomain sustains the country’s main watersheds and major aquifers, yet this balance is being disrupted by irrigated agriculture, agrochemical contamination, and dam construction. Excessive surface and groundwater withdrawal is already leading to reduced river flows and the degradation of Veredas, which are essential for water regulation.
Paradoxically, the very sectors that drive this degradation, such as agribusiness and energy production, are the most dependent on these water resources, creating a cycle of increasing water insecurity. Protecting the Cerrado’s riparian zones and aquifers is no longer just an environmental concern but a prerequisite for the survival of the regional economy and climate resilience.
Disconnect between law and reality
The Cerrado is facing a dangerous disconnect between environmental law and ecological reality. Our research reveals that current protection is startlingly thin: while we cataloged 706 Conservation Units, they cover only 8% of the Ecodomain, with less than3% under strict protection.
To assist researchers and policymakers, we have compiled an unprecedented dataset of these units, including the often overlooked Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) and crucial ecotones, available at: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.61.168273.suppl1.
However, data alone isn’t enough. The Brazilian Forest Code, specifically the 20% Reserva Legal (RL) and the narrow 30-meter Áreas de Preservação Permanent (APPs) are ecologically insufficient. These leave vital formations like Veredas and Campos Rupestres as isolated, vulnerable fragments.
To prevent ecosystem collapse and secure Brazil’s water supply, we advocate for urgent reforms: increasing RL requirements to at least 35%, expanding protection zones to reflect biological reality, and enforcing strict traceability to decouple agricultural production from habitat loss.
Recognition and protection of Indigenous lands
Kayapó people from the state of Pará. Their lands are located in the Amazon, but include a Cerrado enclave, which is shown in the review. Photo credit to: Adriano Adriano Jerozolimski
Beyond legal designations, we emphasize that the future of the Cerrado depends on recognizing the rights of Indigenous peoples, whose traditional knowledge and sustainable land management have maintained the ecosystem’s balance for millennia.
For instance, recent laws such as the Marco Temporal and agribusiness proposals threaten to reduce their territories and accelerate biodiversity loss, making it urgent to protect and fully recognize these lands to conserve the Cerrado and its ecological resilience.
Mobilizing knowledge and adding value
Effective conservation requires recognizing the Cerrado as a biodiversity hotspot with dedicated legal instruments capable of protecting its full ecological heterogeneity.
Moving forward, the extractive logic of the past must be replaced with with regenerative systems, prioritizing conservation, restoration, and biodiversity-based economic alternatives, including agroforestry, payments for ecosystem services, fiscal incentives such as ICMS Ecológico. Ultimately, these measures will help promote conservation, social justice and sustainable certifications that recognize the Cerrado’s biodiversity as a core economic asset
Original publicaiton:
Pereira, C.C., Walisson Kenedy-Siqueira, Maia, L.R., da, V., Arantes-Garcia, L., Fernandes, S., França, G., Carvalho, G., Rodrigues, J., Salm, R. and Fearnside, P.M. (2026). The Cerrado crisis review: highlighting threats and providing future pathways to save Brazil’s biodiversity hotspot. Nature Conservation, 61, pp.29–70. doi: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.61.168273
