Biodiversity Data Journal

Euryeidon consideratum Dankittipakul & Jocqué, 2004 was described, based on a single female from Doi Luang National Park, Thailand and no additional specimens have been recorded since. Euryeidon consideratum is re-described and illustrated, based on new material from Xishuangbanna, China. The male is described and illustrated for the first time. In addition, this paper further illustrates the female and provides a supplementary description, confirming that the median plate of the epigyne is absent in this species, rather than broken off as suggested in the original publication. The distribution map of this species is given.

Temporal taxonomic shifts have been documented in bird communities within protected areas. However, the potential impact of these changes on functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity remains poorly understood. In this study, we monitored bird communities in Qiyunshan National Nature Reserve in southern China for nine years (2014-2022). We examined temporal trends in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics and compared observed phylogenetic diversity values with expected values to determine the mechanisms driving community assembly. Additionally, we evaluated the temporal trend of beta diversity. A total of 118 bird species were recorded, with the dominant species including Chestnut Bulbul ( Hemixos castanonotus ), Grey-cheeked Fulvetta ( Alcippe morrisonia ) and Great Tit ( Parus major ). We found that species turnover was the principal driver of temporal variations in species composition. However, species richness, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity fluctuated throughout the study period, showing no clear trend of increase or decrease. Our findings indicate that the composition of bird communities is shaped by environmental filtering and neutral processes. The changes in taxonomics may be due to changes in the availability of resources and random substitution arising from the dispersion process. Protected areas have the potential to attract new bird species with similar functional and genetic relationships to those already present. This leads to minimal changes to overall functional and phylogenetic diversity, suggesting a degree of functional redundancy amongst species that are replaced or added. Notably, we observed a persistent increase in species loss over time, raising concerns about the potential impact on the future functional stability of the system. We highlight that the asynchronous patterns of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds emphasise the importance of multidimensional diversity metrics. Consequently, we suggest that functional and phylogenetic diversity should be regarded as essential indicators alongside species richness when evaluating conservation outcomes in nature reserves. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of ecological communities and provides information for more effective conservation strategies.

Background The level of knowledge about the caddisfly fauna of Montenegro remains limited compared to that of some other countries in the Balkan Peninsula due to fewer systematic studies and historical gaps in data collection. New information Adult caddisfly specimens were collected from the Zeta River in Montenegro during July and October 2024. Additionally, caddisfly data from Montenegro derived from a small, previously unprocessed collection of specimens collected in 2017 were included. Thirteen species belonging to six caddisfly families were identified. Three species are reported for the first time from Montenegro: Hydroptila angustata Mosely, 1939, Hydropsyche bulbifera McLachlan, 1878 and Potamophylax goulandriourum Malicky, 1974. All these three species are reported for the first time from Ecoregion 5, Dinaric Western Balkans. Additionally, a few other rarely recorded species in the Western Balkans, such as Hydropsyche modesta Navàs, 1925, Limnephilus graecus Schmid, 1965, Odontocerum albicorne (Scopoli, 1763) and Hydroptila sparsa Curtis, 1834, were documented. Notably, Limnephilus graecus was found during autumn, despite previously being reported only in spring and summer, suggesting a potential shift in its adult emergence patterns. These findings enhance our understanding of the distribution and diversity of several rare caddisfly species, particularly with the new records for Montenegro and Ecoregion 5, Dinaric Western Balkans. They underscore the critical need for further research and conservation efforts to support freshwater biodiversity in this region.

Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 is a relatively large spider genus that currently comprises 141 species distributed worldwide. However, the genus remains inadequately studied because nearly half of the species are known from a single sex or juvenile specimens. Sinopoda curva Zhong, Jäger, Chen & Liu, 2019 was described, based on two male specimens from Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China and no additional specimens have been recorded since. Recently, new materials of huntsman spiders have been collected from Mt. Wuyishan, including specimens of both sexes. Several males were identified as S. curva , based on morphological comparison with the holotype. Based on morphological characters and DNA barcodes, we confidently matched the females and males as S. curva . Herein, S. curva is re-described, based on these new materials and the female is described and illustrated for the first time.

Flies (Diptera) are an ecologically important group that play a role in agriculture, public health and ecosystem functioning. As researchers continue to investigate this order, it is beneficial to link the growing occurrence data to biological traits. However, large-scale ecological trait data are not readily available for fly species. While some databases and datasets include fly data, many ecologically relevant traits for taxa of interest are not included. In this study, we create a dataset containing ecological traits (habitat and diet) for fly species of Canada and Greenland having occurrence records on the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). We present a dataset containing trait information from the literature for 981 Diptera species. Diptera species were chosen for the dataset, based on the occurrence records available for Diptera species from Canada and Greenland on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). Trait data were then compiled and digitised in a standardised format, based on 667 works from literature published before April 2024. Traits were assigned at the lowest taxonomic level available. Three biological traits were included: larval habitat, larval diet type and adult diet. The dataset contains traits for 981 species across 380 genera, 34 subfamilies and 61 families. This dataset allows for assignment of traits to occurrence data for Diptera species and can be used for further research into the ecology, evolution and conservation of this order.

The genus Monodontomerus Westwood, 1833 (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) is distributed throughout the Globe, mostly in the Holarctic Region. Members of this genus are prolific parasitoids of pollinators and some are economically important. The New World fauna includes 25 described species and was revised 25 years ago. Two new species of parasitoid wasp, Monodontomerus rhinokopia Chitty and Duran sp. nov. and Monodontomerus verdigris Chitty and Duran sp. nov. (Torymidae, Monodontomerinae) are described from the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Monodontomerus rhinokopia may be differentiated from other species in the genus by simultaneously possessing the following combination of characteristics: a face not bulging in profile, malar sulcus well defined and straight (Fig. 5), F1-F7 subquadrate (Fig. 7), longitudinal irregular carinae on its dorsellum (Fig. 8), sculpture of mesepimeron confined to ventral margin (Fig. 5), apical rim of scutellum produced posteriorly and not emarginate, costal cell on anterior margin above with row in distal half and lacking setae basally, dorsal admarginal setae reaching both marginal vein and parastigma (Fig. 6) and Mt1 reticulately sculptured dorsally. Monodontomerus verdigris may be differentiated from other members of the genus by simultaneously possessing the following characteristics: F1-F7 subquadrate (Fig. 3), striation in the anterodorsal corner of the mesepimeron which does not reach transepimeral sulcus (Fig. 1), carina of dorsellum which splits into two distinct carinae that form an open “V” (Fig. 4), median depression of propodeum narrowly triangular to nucha which it intercepts with nearly parallel lateral margins, a projecting rim of the scutellum which is not emarginated and a reticulately textured Mt1 (Fig. 2). A revised key to the New World species of Monodontomerus has been created to enable identification of these species.

Environmental Assessment is an essential tool for minimising the environmental impact of human development, generating huge amounts of biodiversity data. However, much of this information, also in Spain, remains inaccessible after being partially included in Records of Decision (RODs). As a result, these dark data remain under-utilised, limiting their potential to provide information for conservation efforts and decision-making processes. This dataset compiles 4,630 species records derived from RODs published in the Spanish Official State Gazette between 2013 and 2023, focusing on catalogued species listed in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species and the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime. The data were collected using automated text-mining techniques and manually curated to correct errors and classify records as primary biodiversity records (PBRs), absences or literature-based occurrences. A total of 1,290 PBRs, 170 absences and 3,391 literature-based records were identified. PBRs were georeferenced and standardised according to the Darwin Core Standard. This dataset offers valuable insights into the presence and distribution of 31 non-Chiroptera species and 28 Chiroptera species, including 12 endangered (EN), 31 vulnerable (VU) and 16 listed species. The publication of these data in a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) format via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility enhances their accessibility for future conservation planning and decision-making processes.

Knowledge of the fauna of jumping plant lice or psyllids in Bulgaria is rather scattered. So far, 113 species of psyllids have been recorded from Bulgaria in 51 publications. The aim of this study is to provide an up-to-date checklist of the Psylloidea species from Bulgaria, based on extensive fieldwork by the authors and examination of specimens mainly from the Zoological Collection of Sofia University (BFUS) and the Moravian Museum in Brno (MMBC). In addition, a thorough review of all relevant literature was undertaken to consolidate the existing records. Twenty-five species of jumping plant lice are recorded here from Bulgaria for the first time. Of these, two species represent new records for Europe: Dyspersa kantshavelii (Gegechkori, 1977) and Heterotrioza kochiae (Gegechkori, 1975); and three additional species represent new records for the Balkan Peninsula: Arytainilla spartiicola (Šulc, 1912), Craspedolepta araneosa Loginova, 1962 and Eryngiofaga babugani (Loginova, 1964). A new synonymy is proposed: Colposcenia osmanica Vondráček, 1953 = Colposcenia kiritshenkoi Loginova, 1960, syn. nov. A lectotype is designated for C. osmanica to stabilise the nomenclature. Original drawings or photographs of diagnostic characters on male and female terminalia are provided for C. osmanica , D. kantshavelii , Heterotrioza eurotiae (Loginova, 1960) and H. kochiae . Distributional maps summarising all known records from Bulgaria are provided for each species. Where available, photographs of live or mounted specimens and information on host plants are also provided, including new host plant records for 10 species. The previously published records of Aphalara sauteri Burckhardt, 1983, Bactericera acutipennis (Zetterstedt, 1828), B. reuteri (Šulc, 1913), Dyspersa apicalis (Foerster, 1848), D. viridula (Zetterstedt, 1828), Eryngiofaga mesomela (Flor, 1861) and Trioza dispar Löw, 1878 from Bulgaria are considered doubtful and these species are deleted from the list of the Bulgarian fauna, which now comprises 130 species from 33 genera and six families of jumping plant lice. This diversity is compared with the known data on Psylloidea in other countries of the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey and the Bulgarian psyllid fauna is discussed from the perspective of biogeography.

The three most north-eastern provinces of China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning) are rich in natural resources and have favourable geographical conditions, making them home to a large number of wild plant species. This paper summarises the distribution characteristics, endangerment degree and research status of nationally protected plants in these provinces based on online databases, literature review and field surveys. The results show that the north-eastern provinces have 31 families, 38 genera and 51 species of nationally protected plants. The endangered status includes both the endangered assessments made by China and those made globally. China has assessed 38 plant species as endangered, while 19 plant species are assessed as endangered globally. Currently, most of the protected plants have been studied, with in-situ and ex-situ conservation being the primary protective measures. In addition, this study also identified seven species of plants that are basically not covered by research and lack sufficient studies in the current literature and urgently need further in-depth investigation and long-term monitoring in order to improve the relevant conservation measures. This study provides a scientific basis for the conservation vacancies of plants under national key protection in the three north-eastern provinces, as well as a reference for formulating effective conservation policies and promoting further research.

Background The Yongding River, the largest river flowing through Beijing, is a major tributary of the Haihe River system. It holds significant ecological, economic and social importance in northern China. However, due to the climate change and anthropogenic activities, parts of the tributaries and lower mainstream of the Yongding River have dried up in recent decades. To alleviate the water scarcity crisis of the Yongding River, ecological water replenishment was initiated in 2020 based on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Wanjiazhai Yellow River Diversion Project. As a result, the fish population structure and diversity of the Yongding River may change accordingly. In this context, before large-scale water replenishment started, we conducted two field surveys in the summer and autumn of 2019 to assess fish diversity in the Yongding River Basin. New information This study provides information of 45 fish species belonging to nine orders, 18 families, seven subfamilies and 33 genera in the Yongding River Basin. Our study includes one dataset that presents taxonomy, distribution, water body and location for each species collected from the Yongding River. The provided data can assist other researchers in assessing the impact of water replenishment on aquatic biodiversity and the broader ecological environment of northern China.

Background Sabellid species are known to have a broad depth distribution and have been reported from various deep-sea habitats, including chemosynthetic systems. Despite this presence, only two species have been identified from deep water chemosynthetic habitats and only one has been identified to species. When examining hydrocarbon seep systems along the Upper Louisiana Slope in the Gulf of Mexico, we observed an abundant sabellid species new to science. The characters for the collected specimens did not match any existing genus. New information The description for the new sabellid genus and species are presented, supported by external morphology and DNA sequence data (cytochrome c oxidase I). Seepicola viridiplumi gen. nov., sp. nov. are gregarious, facultative hyper-epibionts within the examined methane seep communities and, seemingly, have a blend of morphological features of the genera Perkinsiana and Pseudopotamilla. Specimens also have several distinctive characters including the presence of a pair of peristomial chambers between the ventral lappets and parallel lamellae and the short, button-like shape of the radiolar tips. Abundance estimates for S. viridiplumi gen. nov., sp. nov. within the seep habitats are also presented.

Background Hydropsyche Pictet, 1834 is the largest genus of Hydropsychinae. In China, larval descriptions exist for only about 20 species. Although the number of Hydropsyche larvae described in China has increased rapidly in recent years, larvae of more than 75% of Chinese Hydropsyche species remain unknown. New information In this paper, we describe and illustrate the larvae of Hydropsyche briareus Malicky & Chantaramongkol, 2000 and Hydropsyche kozhantschikovi Martynov, 1924 for the first time. Neighbour-joining trees were reconstructed, based on known partial Hydropsyche species mtCOI barcodes.

Swollen Shoot is a viral disease affecting cocoa trees, transmitted by several species of mealybugs (Insecta, Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Pseudococcidae). These insects maintain trophobiotic relationships with a complex and species-rich assemblage of ants protecting them and natural enemies controlling their populations. Here, we provide a curated DNA barcode database to characterise this insect community. Systematic observation of 7,500 cocoa trees was conducted, coupled with the collection of mealybug colonies and associated insect communities (parasitoids, predators and ants). Natural enemies were reared from mealybug colonies collected from 1,430 cocoa trees. Specimens were identified morphologically and sequenced for fragments of the standard DNA barcode region of the COI. We recovered 17 species of mealybugs from the family Pseudococcidae. Amongst these species, eight are new to the Ivorian cocoa orchard: Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley, Ferrisia dasylirii (Cockerell), Maconellicoccus ugandae (Laing), Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Planococcus minor (Maskell), Pseudococcus concavocerarii James and Pseudococcus occiduus De Lotto. Three of these species were identified for the first time in cocoa orchards in Africa: D. neobrevipes, Fe. dasylirii and Ph. solenopsis. A total of 54 ant species were identified and represented the first record of these species associated with mealybug colonies in cocoa in Côte d’Ivoire. Amongst the species associated with the mealybugs, 22 primary parasitoids, eight hyperparasitoids, 11 ladybirds beetles (Coccinellidae), seven gall midges (Cecidomyidae), one predatory lepidopteran species and four spider species were identified. Nine species of mealybugs parasitoids are newly recorded in the African cocoa orchards: Acerophagus aff. dysmicocci, Aloencyrtus sp., Anagyrus kamali, Anagyrus aff. pseudococci, Aenasius advena, Clausenia aff. corrugata, Gyranusoidea aff. tebygi, Zaplatycerus aff. natalensis (Encyrtidae) and Coccophagus pulvinariae (Aphelinidae) and one hyperparasitoid, Pachyneuron muscarum (Pteromalidae). For Côte d’Ivoire in particular, besides the previously mentioned nine parasitoids and one hyperparasitoid, five additional species are recorded for the first time, including four primary parasitoids, Blepyrus insularis (Encyrtidae), Clausenia corrugata (Encyrtidae), Clausenia sp. (Encyrtidae), and Coccidoctonus pseudococci (Encyrtidae) and one hyperparasitoid, Cheiloneurus cyanonotus (Encyrtidae). These results significantly enhance the knowledge of the diversity of the entomofauna associated with Swollen Shoot disease and pave the way for developing control methods based on the natural regulation of its mealybug (Pseudococcidae) vectors.

Background Amolops himalayanus (Boulenger, 1888) is a poorly-known species which was originally described from north-eastern India over a hundred years ago. Currently, A. himalayanus is known only from India and Nepal and there is no reliable re-description or photos of this species reported. New information We record Amolops himalayanus (Boulenger, 1888) from China for the first time, based on one specimen collected from Yadong County, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. Although the specimen from China is a juvenile, however, phylogenetically, it was clustered with the syntype of A. himalayanus and the specimens of this species from Nepal with strong support and the genetic distance between the specimen from China and the syntype of A. himalayanus was only 0.7% in 16S gene sequences. We provide a description of the juvenile specimen and, in addition, we provide reliable photos of this species in life for the first time.

Background Urbanisation leads to the degradation of ecosystems through various factors, such as the deterioration of water quality, changes in water and material cycles and the degradation of biological habitats. Amongst these, aquatic organisms are particularly affected by the loss of habitats due to river canalisation and the impacts of invasive species. It has been widely reported that, in regions where invasive species have been introduced and native species have declined, homogenisation of fish populations occurs, resulting in a significant reduction in biodiversity. This loss of diversity disrupts the ecosystem’s stability and resilience, further compounding the negative effects of urbanisation on aquatic environments. However, the impact of urbanisation on fish populations varies depending on the local ecosystem and the degree of urbanisation, necessitating the examination of ecosystem changes induced by urbanisation in each specific region. The Peninsula Malaysia, which is the focus of this study, is a global hotspot for freshwater biodiversity. However, the effects of urbanisation on fish populations in this region have been scarcely studied. The Masai River Basin, which is the subject of this investigation, is located in the Iskandar Development Region, an area undergoing rapid urbanisation. Understanding the consequences of urbanisation on the fish populations and broader ecosystems in this region is critical for providing information for future conservation and management strategies. New information A fish survey was conducted at 19 sites in the Masai River Basin, which is an urbanised watershed, focusing on river channels that have been straightened or converted into concrete-lined waterways. Additionally, fish surveys were conducted at eight sites in non-urbanised areas for comparison. The survey resulted in the collection of nine orders, 15 families, 28 genera, 32 species and a total of 3,007 individuals. In the urbanised sites, the proportion of native species in the total catch was extremely low, averaging only 10.4% across all sites, with invasive species making up the majority of the individuals captured. This indicates the significant shift in species composition due to urbanisation and the dominance of non-native species in these environments. On the other hand, in the non-urbanised areas, the proportion of native species was high at 88.7%, highlighting the significant impact of urbanisation on the invasion of non-native species. Particularly in the downstream areas of the urbanised watershed, species such as Poecilia sphenops, Mayaheros urophthalmus and Poecilia reticulata were frequently captured. In contrast, at sites in the upstream areas where forested habitats remained intact, native species listed on the IUCN Red List, such as Parambassis siamensis and Clarias batrachus, were captured. The study revealed that urbanisation and development in the targeted watershed are progressing rapidly, underscoring the urgent need for the conservation and restoration of habitats for these native species.

Background Ants (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae) are social insects and one of the most abundant groups of animals. Their colonies are established in a wide range of habitats, such as in cavities in the ground, litter on the forest floor or in rocky cracks. Currently, there are approximately 15,000 valid species of ants, of which about 6,000 are recorded from the Neotropical Region. The Atlantic Forest is one of the biomes with the greatest biodiversity, showing a high degree of endemism. However, it has suffered severe impacts and is now reduced to a fraction of the original area. One of the most significant remnants of the Atlantic Forest is the Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT), a protected area located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There is limited knowledge about the myrmecofauna of the PNT, with most research efforts focused on the Serra da Carioca sector. New information In the present study, we performed the first inventory of the mirmecofauna of the Floresta da Tijuca sector of the PNT, using pitfall traps and Winkler extractors in areas with three different degrees of preservation. In total, 80 species are recorded from Floresta da Tijuca, of which 18 are reported for the first time from this sector, 37 from the PNT, 10 from the State of Rio de Janeiro and one from the Atlantic Forest biome. These results increase the known diversity of ants of the PNT from 149 to 200 species. Furthermore, the known geographic distribution of Hypoponera viri (Santschi, 1923) is extended northwards, those of Holcoponera mina Brown, 1956 and Neocerapachys neotropicus Weber, 1939, southwards and Brachymyrmex bruchi Forel, 1912 and Hypoponera parva (Forel, 1909), eastwards. The most abundant species in our samples was Holcoponera moelleri (Forel, 1912), followed by Pachycondyla striata F. Smith, 1858, Strumigenys denticulata Mayr, 1887, Hypoponera trigona (Mayr, 1887), Megalomyrmex goeldii Forel, 1912 and Hylomyrma reitteri (Mayr, 1887). The primary forest area was the richest, followed by the disturbed and advanced restoration areas. The species richness was higher in the primary forest and advanced restoration areas during the dry season, while it was higher in the disturbed area during the rainy season.

Background Despite limited access and rather deficient sampling in many lowland areas of eastern Ecuador, scientists have been able to demonstrate that this specific region of Amazonia houses extraordinarily high concentrations of species within several taxa – terrestrial and aquatic, plant and animal, vertebrate and invertebrate. New information In this work, we developed an updated list of the ichthyofauna of the Yasuní National Park (YNP), based on an extensive literature review and databases of the most representative ichthyological collections from Ecuador. Our results yielded 458 species of freshwater fishes distributed in 47 families and 13 orders. This number exceeded previous fish lists from YNP and accounts for a considerable proportion of species inhabiting the Napo River Basin as well as the entire Amazon River Basin. The higher-than-previously-reported species diversity within this protected area, the services these species provide to humans and the absence of invasive species underscore the need for greater efforts and investment in protecting and managing western Amazonian lands and waters.

Background There is an urgent need to develop global observation networks to quantify biodiversity trends for evaluating achievements of targets of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Camera traps are a commonly used tool, with the potential to enhance global observation networks for monitoring wildlife population trends and has the capacity to constitute global observation networks by applying a unified sampling protocol. The Snapshot protocol is simple and easy for camera trapping which is applied in North America and Europe. However, there is no regional camera-trap network with the Snapshot protocol in Asia. New information We present the first dataset from a collaborative camera-trap survey using the Snapshot protocol in Japan conducted in 2023. We collected data at 90 locations across nine arrays for a total of 6162 trap-nights of survey effort. The total number of sequences with mammals and birds was 7967, including 20 mammal species and 23 avian species. Apart from humans, wild boar, sika deer and rodents were the most commonly observed taxa on the camera traps, covering 57.9% of all the animal individuals. We provide the dataset with a standard format of Wildlife Insights, but also with Camtrap DP 1.0 format. Our dataset can be used for a part of the global dataset for comparing relative abundances of wildlife and for a baseline of wildlife population trends in Japan. It can also used for training machine-learning models for automatic species identifications.

Background The Catalogue of Crane Flies of the World accounts for 196 recent species of subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 distributed in Nearctic, Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Oosterbroek 2024). The current paper provides taxonomic review of T. (V.) balioptera with designation of two new synonyms. New information Tipula (Vestiplex) perretti Alexander, 1928 is designated as junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera Loew, 1863. Tipula (V.) bo Mannheims, 1967 is removed from synonymy with T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934 and designated as the second junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera. Tipula (V.) tchuckhi Alexander, 1934 is exluded from the list of fauna of Norway, Sweden and Finland and from West Palaearctic Region subsequently.

The European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) is an initiative of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) to establish a persistent genomic observatory amongst designated European coastal marine sites, sharing the same protocols for sampling and data curation. Environmental samples are collected from the water column and, at some sites, soft sediments and hard substrates (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures - ARMS), together with a set of mandatory and discretionary metadata (including Essential Ocean Variables - EOVs). Samples are collected following standardised protocols at regular and specified intervals and sequenced in large six-monthly batches at a centralised sequencing facility. The use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) during data collection, library preparation and sequencing aims to provide uniformity amongst the data collected from the sites. Coupled with strict adherence to open and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles, this ensures maximum comparability amongst samples and enhances reusability and interoperability of the data with other data sources. The observatory network was launched in June 2021, when the first sampling campaign took place.

Background In response to the ongoing biodiversity crisis amongst arthropods, it is essential to implement efficient conservation strategies to safeguard both species diversity and the vital ecosystem services they provide. Developing such strategies requires reliable predictive models that can identify the species that are the most vulnerable to current and future threats, including those posed by climate and land-use change. Species life histories are central to these models, as they influence both population dynamics and spread rates. New information To support this effort, we compiled a dataset with key traits for arthropods based on several literature sources and expert knowledge. The dataset contains data on body size, life history, thermal niche and ecology for 4874 northwestern European species across 10 different orders. By gathering these essential trait data, we aim to create a robust foundation for predicting species vulnerability and anticipating shifts in arthropod communities in response to global change.

Conservation and research of highly diverse plant taxa can be a considerable challenge due to unmanageable numbers of species with potentially complex relationships often resulting in difficulties in species identification. Cyrtandra, the largest genus of the family Gesneriaceae, exemplifies these challenges. The lack of identification resources for the ca. 170 species of Bornean Cyrtandra has left many specimens unidentified, slowing down the research efforts in the area. This project addresses this by constructing the first taxonomic key to all Bornean Cyrtandra and by describing the workflow of creating identification resources for highly diverse taxa, using the online biodiversity data management platform Xper3 (https://app.xper3.fr/). The key is now published and freely accessible online. Online multi-access taxonomic keys provide a promising tool for biodiversity research by combining an accessible user-friendly platform with dynamic tools for taxonomic research, making them particularly well suited for tackling highly diverse taxonomic groups.

Background The subfamily Tersilochinae is a small taxon that accounts for about 60 species in Italy. However, the current checklist of the group is incomplete and listed records are often imprecise. New information An updated checklist of the Italian Tersilochinae is provided. Three species are new additions to the Italian fauna, while three others are first records for southern Italy. Additionally, Aneuclis pusilla Masi, 1933 is reported as a junior synonym of Aneuclis melanaria (Holmgren, 1860) syn. nov. This update raises the total number of Tersilochinae species in Italy to 77.

Background In any ecosystems, seasonality is a key factor conditioning the temporal variation on an annual scale in combination with differences in the organism phenology. This seasonality is marked in the Mediterranean Region with four contrasting seasons: a hot, dry summer, a mild winter and sometimes a very rainy spring and autumn. With a large surface area and its large range of habitats from seaside to alpine biotopes, Corsica Island represents a biodiversity hotspot with a high rate of endemism. Amongst diverse groups, insects, notably the main orders of pollinators composed of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, represent a large proportion of the insular richness. New information Our sampling effort focused on the insects from these four orders visiting flowers in a characteristic thermo-Mediterranean vegetation. Our database is an insight into the Corsican anthophilous insects biodiversity from three sites separated by a few kilometres in the region of Ajaccio (SW Corsica) during nine consecutive months in 2023, completing our database for the year 2022 published in this journal. In total, 3714 specimens were sampled in 2023 and 311 species or morpho-species identified from 154 genera and 50 families. Coleoptera were by far the most abundant order representing about 54% of the sampled specimens. The most diverse order was the Hymenoptera representing 44% of the species. Our continuous survey has shown that these orders vary between seasons both in terms of abundance and diversity, resulting in changing communities.

Background We continue the series of detailed treatments of alien vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan. The complete background for every species occurrence (herbarium specimens, documented observations, published literature) is uncovered and critically evaluated in a wide context of plant invasions in Central Asia with a reference to Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, based on events in the political and economic history. Complete point distribution maps are provided for each species in Central Asia, in general and Kyrgyzstan, in particular. New information All records of Hesperis matronalis in Central Asia (including Kyrgyzstan) belong to H. pycnotricha; the latter species is newly reported as a locally naturalised alien in Kazakhstan. The previous record of Sisymbrium irio from Kyrgyzstan is rejected as based on a misidentified specimen of S. loeselii, but the species is newly recorded here as a recent casual alien. Hirschfeldia incana is presumably native in south-western Turkmenistan; its second record in Central Asia was caused by the import of contaminated wheat grain in the times of the Soviet grain crisis and its recent expansion may be linked to the increasing import of forage grain. The introduction of Crambe orientalis was connected with its cultivation for fodder and as an ornamental plant and its further broad dispersal was aided by winds. Rorippa austriaca is native in the steppes of north-western Kazakhstan, but alien in the mountains of Central Asia. The occurrences of three alien species originated directly from cultivation (Hesperis pycnotricha as an ornamental, Armoracia rusticana as an edible plant, Crambe orientalis as an ornamental and fodder plant), three species (Hirschfeldia incana, Mutarda arvensis, Sisymbrium irio) were imported as grain contaminants, whereas two others (Rorippa austriaca, R. sylvestris) have arrived with contaminated soil on ornamental plants or arboreous saplings. The arrival period is inferred as the Neolithic period (Mutarda arvensis), the Imperial times (Armoracia rusticana, Hesperis pycnotricha), the post-war Soviet times (Crambe orientalis, Rorippa austriaca, R. sylvestris) and the independence times (Hirschfeldia incana, Sisymbrium irio). All the treated species, but two, increase their frequency in Kyrgyzstan; Mutarda arvensis has already reached its complete distribution, being an ubiquitous weed, whereas Armoracia rusticana experiences a projected decline because its common cultivation has ceased. No species is invasive in natural habitats. A new combination, Mutarda arvensis var. orientalis (L.) Sennikov, is proposed for a variant with pubescent pods.