Biodiversity Data Journal最新文献

The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is a top predator and may serve as an indicator of environmental health. The species is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. As of 2020, the population of White-tailed Eagles in Bulgaria was estimated at 43-60 breeding pairs. Conservation efforts were undertaken in the country, including rescue, rehabilitation and release of birds back into the wild. Soft release was used for the first time in Bulgaria for White-tailed Eagles at two different locations: Karandila in Sinite Kamani Nature Park (Sliven Region) and near Potochnitsa Village (Kardzhali Region). The current study tracks the rehabilitation of four immature eagles tagged with GPS-GSM transmitters, their adaptive capacity and the success of their release back into their natural environment.

Background: Thesium ebracteatum Hayne is an endangered hemiparasitic plant, rare in the south-western part of its range. It is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and appears on the national Red Lists of many European countries. In Romania, the species is considered extinct according to the national Red List, with only a few historical records from Transylvania.

New information: In June 2025, approximately 100 individuals of T. ebracteatum were discovered near Bălcăuți, Suceava Region, Romania. This represents the first national record of the species in several decades and the first ever from eastern Romania. The species occurred in a stand documented by a vegetation plot, corresponding to the phytosociological association Brachypodio pinnati-Molinietum arundinaceae. The isolated occurrence near Bălcăuți, similar to other peripheral populations in the south-western part of the species' range, is regarded as relict. This interpretation is further supported by the disjunct occurrence of other rare plant species typical of peri-Carpathian forest-steppe. Historical maps indicate that the site once formed part of an extensive grassland complex known as Horaiț/Horaiza, most of which was converted to arable land during the 19^th and 20^th centuries. For the long-term conservation of T. ebracteatum and other rare species at the site, targeted management is required, including the prevention of further ploughing and the extension of legal protection to all valuable local stands.

Background: The long-term monitoring of the small mammal community in Doñana (SW Spain) was initiated in 2011 as part of the European Long-Term Ecological Research (eLTER) project, of which Doñana is a Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) Platform. The main objective of this action is to collect time-series data on the abundance and distribution of the different small mammal species present in Doñana. Since 2017, this action has been included in the monitoring programme of the Integrated Scientific and Technical Infrastructure of the Doñana Biological Reserve (ICTS-Doñana) and in the LIFE Adaptamed project. The dataset includes information obtained from five representative habitats of Doñana and six sites sampled twice a year (spring and autumn). Some of them have been part of an experiment with different vegetation treatments applied. The sampling is based on capture and recapture methods using Sherman live traps. Information on sex, age and weight of each individual is also included. Here, we present data from 2011 to 2021, which could be useful for analyses of abundance, diversity and distribution patterns of the following species: white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula), black rat (Rattus rattus), garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) and wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). This information can be used to increase the ecological knowledge and improve management plans for the conservation of the species in Mediterranean ecosystems.

New information: This is the first published version of the standardised dataset of long-term monitoring of small mammals (Soricomorpha and Rodentia) in Doñana.

Background: The genus Lasiocallimerus Corporaal, 1939 is a small genus belonging to the tribe Hydnocerini in the subfamily Clerinae (Coleoptera, Cleridae), with three known species from Southeast Asia.

New information: This genus is recorded from China for the first time. A new species, Lasiocallimerus wangi sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province and L. dembatkoi Kolibáč, 1998 is newly recorded from Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces of China. A key to the identification of all Lasiocallimerus species is provided.

Background: The advancement of carbon sequestration projects holds significant potential to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes for both the environment and the economy. In this context, biomass models have been extensively developed to estimate the aboveground biomass of woody plants - such as trees and shrubs - using dendrometric characteristics, like diameter and height. The datasets presented in this study compile dendrometric traits from multiple tree and shrub species, supporting the construction of robust biomass models. As a result, tree and shrub biomass can serve as integral indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of carbon sequestration projects, incorporating key factors such as diameter, height and plantation density. By establishing reliable biomass estimation models, it becomes possible to enhance the monitoring and verification of carbon storage, thereby providing a scientific basis for the planning, management and policy-making of carbon sink initiatives. This approach contributes significantly to ecological restoration and climate change mitigation efforts.

New information: This study presents two dendrometric datasets of individual trees and shrub bushes from carbon sequestration projects in north-western China, covering sites in Xining and Haidong (Qinghai Province), Tianshui (Gansu Province) and Aba (Sichuan Province). Specifically, the tree dataset comprises measurements of canopy breadth (in two perpendicular directions), height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and base perimeter for 2084 individuals across 25 species. The shrub dataset includes crown diameter (in two perpendicular directions), height and basal perimeter for 998 bushes across 36 species. These dendrometric traits serve as key parameters in biomass estimation equations. Furthermore, as the diameter and height of trees and shrubs significantly influence understorey plant diversity - primarily through their effects on stand density, species interactions and community composition - these datasets are valuable for advancing biomass modelling and assessing plant diversity outcomes under conservation management.

Background: The study of oceanic cephalopods off the Azores Archipelago began decades ago with the analysis of stomach contents from sperm whales that were hunted for the whaling industry. The identification of numerous cephalopod species contributed significantly to cephalopod taxonomy, as well as enhancing understanding of the sperm whale diet. In the 1990s, the shift from whaling to whale-watching created new opportunities to continue studying deep-ocean ecology: participatory research involving the actors of the new industry.

New information: MONICEPH (MONItoring CEPHalopods during whale-watching activity in the Azores) is a collaborative platform designed to collect, organise and disseminate cephalopod occurrence data gathered by whale-watching companies in the Azores. From 2020 to 2024, cephalopod remains found at the water's surface during sightings of cetaceans were collected in partnership with companies from four islands: São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Faial. The deep-ocean cephalopod remains at the water's surface were likely brought up by their predators during feeding activity. We assume that sperm whales, in particular, occasionally release cephalopods at the surface due to incomplete consumption during a hunt or for feeding of their calves. Trained staff collected the samples, which were subsequently identified using DNA barcoding and/or morphological characteristics. The dataset includes 182 cephalopod records across 16 species. One species, Onykia carriboea Lesueur, 182, has been newly identified in the region, expanding the list of species previously documented in the published data for the Northeast Atlantic.

Background: The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a unique transitional ecosystem between land and sea and represents a significant wetland area in southern Vietnam. Despite being recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, its butterfly fauna remains poorly documented.

New information: In this study, the Pollard Walk method was employed across 72 sampling events in 12 fixed transects, presenting the first comprehensive checklist and diversity assessment of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) from this region. A total of 46 species, belonging to five families and 37 genera, were recorded through systematic field surveys conducted across 12 sites during both dry and rainy seasons from 2024 to 2025. The family Nymphalidae exhibited the highest species richness (19 species), followed by Lycaenidae (9 species), Pieridae (7 species), Hesperiidae (7 species) and Papilionidae (4 species). Two species of the most abundant were identified: Catopsilia pomona and Ixias pyrene. Our findings reveal that the butterfly community in Can Gio is moderately diverse (H' = 1.66 ± 0.52) and exhibits seasonal variation in species composition and abundance. The study provides baseline data for future biodiversity monitoring and highlights the importance of preserving the mosaic of habitats within this mangrove biosphere reserve.

The R package commecometrics provides an accessible, open-access framework for modelling trait-environment relationships using community-level trait data from modern and ancient species. Ecometrics links the trait distributions of communities to their local environmental variables, enabling the reconstruction of past conditions and the prediction of community responses under future climate change. Existing tools for functional trait analysis often lack palaeontological integration or are limited to specific taxa. commecometrics addresses these gaps by offering a suite of functions to summarise trait distributions, construct ecometric models, visualise trait-environment relationships, assess model robustness and reconstruct environmental conditions. The package is designed for broad applicability across ecological and palaeoecological studies and includes tools for trait-based biodiversity analysis beyond ecometrics. Through a worked example using carnassial tooth relative blade length (RBL) in carnivoran mammals, we demonstrate the package's capabilities for analysing trait-environment dynamics across space and time.