![\"Schematic](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/oo_1570238.jpg?ssl=1\")
Guest blog post by Alberto Maceda-Veiga and Rosa Mart\u00ednez
\n\n\n\nReed, an invasive alien plant that is abundant on the banks of many rivers, ponds and canals, can encourage the growth of common mosquito populations in the absence of natural predators. When the plant's litter accumulates, the chemical properties of the water and the composition of the biological communities in the environment change radically, and this facilitates the development of mosquito larvae in freshwater ecosystems.
\n\n\n\nThis is one of the conclusions of a study published in the journal\u00a0NeoBiota\u00a0and led by Professor Alberto Maceda-Veiga, a member of the FORESTREAM Research Group at the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) at the University of Barcelona.
\n\n\n\nThe study, whose lead author is Oriol Cano-Rocabayera, involved collaboration from experts at the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA-UAB), the Mosquito Control Service (SCM) of El Baix Llobregat Regional Council, the University of Seville, the Do\u00f1ana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), the Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany), the University of Florida (United States) and the universities of Cardiff and Chester (United Kingdom).
\n\n\n\nThe ecological impacts of invasive riparian plants at the ecosystem level are not yet fully understood, beyond their impact on specific groups of organisms or on environmental conditions. In addition to altering biodiversity and the composition of the natural environment, exotic and invasive riparian vegetation can affect human well-being.
\n\n\n\nIn the study, the team used experimental aquariums (microcosms) to analyse the ecological impact of replacing native common reed (Phragmites australis) with giant reed (Arundo donax), a species classified as invasive and similar in appearance.
\n\n\n\nIn the presence of\u00a0A. donax, the mosquito larvae survived longer and grew larger and faster. Behind this increase lies the proportion of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0leaf litter, which altered the water's physicochemical properties and the composition of populations of organisms known as\u00a0microeukaryotes\u00a0\u2014 protozoa, fungi and other microscopic organisms – which are essential to the functioning of the ecosystem.
\n\n\n\nThe study highlights a dramatic ecological effect, even at low concentrations of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0compared with\u00a0P. australis. \"This effect was catalysed by changes in water quality and in the abundance of certain groups of microeukaryotes, such as flagellates and amoebae, which form part of the microbial food webs on which the larvae of the common mosquito\u00a0Culex pipiens\u00a0feed,\" says Professor Alberto Maceda-Veiga, from the UB's Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences.
\n\n\n\n\"It is important to remember \u2014 he continues \u2014 that the common mosquito can act as a vector for diseases of medical and veterinary significance. Identifying which plants encourage the proliferation of mosquitoes helps us to understand the complex relationships that species form in nature and, in turn, helps pest control services to predict where they are most likely to find larvae and to apply control measures, where necessary, due to the risk to human health.\"
\n\n\n\n![\"Giant](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-1.png?ssl=1\")
The reed, which can withstand high summer temperatures, typically produces a large amount of biomass and is even being used to generate alternative energy sources. Interestingly, in previous studies, the team had described the potential positive effects of the species, as it provides shelter and protection for native fish in rivers with typically poor coverage of riparian vegetation (Science of The Total Environment, 2025).
\n\n\n\nNow, the findings of this study shed light on an unexpected aspect of the ecological impact of this invasive plant in riparian areas.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn freshwater ecosystems most severely affected by chemical pollution, the natural aquatic predators of the larvae – such as fish and dragonflies – are often absent. Many larvae mean many adult mosquitoes, which can cause nuisance to humans and even pose health risks.
\n
In light of these new findings, the authors suggest prioritizing the initial eradication of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0in infested areas and restoring these sites with native vegetation such as\u00a0P. australis, as well as encouraging future studies to determine the breeding preferences of mosquitoes in these habitats and their interactions with their natural predators.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen the eradication of an invasive species is not feasible, we turn to mitigation measures to reduce its impact. In the case of mosquitoes, we must not give in to alarmism. Firstly, we must remember that in nature, mosquitoes have many predators, as they are a natural part of food webs. Secondly, we have some fantastic mosquito control services, such as the Baix Llobregat SCM participating in this study, which ensure that mosquitoes do not become a problem in areas with high human traffic, such as cities and the marshes of peri-urban environments.
\nconcludes Maceda-Veiga
Original source:
\n\n\n\nCano-Rocabayera O, Bonilla YY, Salvad\u00f3 H, Garcia-Bargall\u00f3 M, Sobhy IS, Berry C, Vil\u00e0 M, Sabater F, Aranda C, Maceda-Veiga A (2026) Invasive plant-induced shifts in water chemistry and microeukaryotes enhance mosquito development. NeoBiota 106: 265-286.\u00a0https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.106.167149
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/tv70f-2qh44","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18410","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-3.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781481600,"rid":"w6j5q-ckm91","summary":"Tweet Guest blog post by Alberto Maceda-Veiga and Rosa Mart\u00ednez Reed, an invasive alien plant that is abundant on the banks of many rivers, ponds and canals, can encourage the growth of common mosquito populations in the absence of natural predators.","tags":["Guest Blog Posts","Neobiota","Arundo Donax","Culex Pipiens","Phragmites Australis"],"title":"Invasive Reeds Can Promote The Proliferation Of Mosquitoes In Rivers, Canals And Ponds","updated_at":1789546885,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/15/invasive-reeds-can-promote-the-proliferation-of-mosquitoes-in-rivers-canals-and-ponds/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nThe crowd is roaring, the floodlights are blinding, and the pitch is absolutely pristine. Football fans and nature enthusiasts, welcome to our pre-match build-up!\n\n\n\n
We are just days away from the kickoff of the biggest show on Earth. That's right, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is commencing soon, and it is already breaking all the records. This year, we are looking at a historic 23rd edition of the tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, three powerhouse nations – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – are teaming up to host across 16 spectacular cities.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nBut hold onto your hats, because at Pensoft, we are launching our very own tournament to run right alongside the World Cup. While the world's best footballers are battling it out on the grass, we are hosting an equally fierce competition.
\n\n\n\nWe've scouted our journals, drafted the top talent, and placed different incredible species into a head-to-head knockout tournament.
\n\n\n\nThis biodiversity battle will rage throughout the World Cup season, with the grand finale taking place on the same week as the final. But who will lift the ultimate trophy of public affection? Only you can decide\u2026\u00a0
\n\n\n\nThe Match Schedule: How to play your part
\n\n\n\nWe need you, the fans, to act as the referee! Here is how the tournament layout looks:
\n\n\n\nThursday kickoff: Every Thursday, head over to our Instagram page where the latest head-to-head match will go live on our stories. You’ll have 24 hours to cast your vote in our poll for the species you want to win.
\n\n\n\nMonday post-match analysis: Every Monday, we will announce who won their corresponding match on our Instagram Story.
\n\n\n\nConsider this your ultimate pre-match scouting report. While you're backing your favorite species to lift the trophy, you'll also get the inside track on some of the most fascinating species described in our journals.
\n\n\n\nTournament disclaimer
\n\n\n\nBefore we kick-off, it is noteworthy that this tournament is purely for entertainment and a bit of good-natured fun. Narrowing down our roster to just 16 species was tough and we acknowledge that we’ve left some spectacular creatures on the bench.
\n\n\n\nTo ensure total fairness and transparency, our selection was based on the latest 2026 Altmetric data. This system tracks online mentions across news media, blogs, and social networks for articles published in Pensoft journals from 2010 onward.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nWe did our best to diversify the list as much as possible in terms of taxonomic groups. However, due to the visual-centric nature of social media, we gave preference to immediately attractive species.
\n\n\n\nAre you ready for the whistle?
\n\n\n\nMake sure you are following our Instagram page so you don’t miss out!
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/qxb2y-4xr12","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18844","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FIFA-World-Cup.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1780876800,"rid":"2qq81-zgp41","summary":"Tweet The crowd is roaring, the floodlights are blinding, and the pitch is absolutely pristine. Football fans and nature enthusiasts, welcome to our pre-match build-up! We are just days away from the kickoff of the biggest show on Earth. That's right, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is commencing soon, and it is already breaking all the records.","tags":["Alpine Entomology","Biodiversity Data Journal","MycoKeys","Phytokeys","Vertebrate Zoology"],"title":"Celebrating FIFA World Cup 2026: Live from the Pensoft Commentary Box","updated_at":1789546878,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/08/celebrating-fifa-world-cup-2026-live-from-the-pensoft-commentary-box/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nFor decades, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) has been considered one of the least-known carnivores in Latin America, and potentially one of the least-known canids in the world. Because of its highly secretive nature, acute hearing, and strong sense of smell, this cryptic creature has successfully avoided people, leaving biologists with very few direct sightings in the wild. However, a new study published in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation now offers insights into the life of this mysterious Amazonian predator.
\n\n\n\n![\"short-eared](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/G.-Ayala-M.E.-Viscarra-Camaras-trampaWCS-Bolivia-3.jpg?ssl=1\")
According to the study‘s lead author Robert Wallace, the turning point in their understanding of the ghost dog came with the advent of remote sensing. When researchers first started capturing pictures of the species with camera traps back in 2001, they knew they were onto something special and envisioned a comprehensive publication.
\n\n\n\nOver the span of nearly 25 years, scientists systematized 500 distributional records across Bolivia and conducted 34 intensive camera-trap surveys. These surveys took place across the lowland regions of Bolivia and Peru, primarily in the Greater Madidi-Tambopata and Llanos de Moxos Biocultural Landscapes.
\n\n\n\nAccumulating 594 independent photographic events, this monumental effort represents the largest collection of confirmed short-eared dog records anywhere within the species’ distribution. The lead author highlighted that this research is a:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWonderful example of how conservation technology and remote sensing – in this case the intensive use of camera traps – can provide substantial data on one of the least known species of the Amazonian rainforests.
\n
![\"short-eared](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/G.-Ayala-M.E.-Viscarra-Camaras-trampaWCS-Bolivia-5.jpg?ssl=1\")
What exactly does this ghost dog look like? The camera traps revealed a unique physical profile: a dark, dense coat ranging from blackish gray to reddish-brown, a large head with very small and rounded ears, short legs, and a long, bushy tail. Intriguingly, the species even boasts partially webbed paws, a trait that is completely unique among Amazonian canids.
\n\n\n\nThe biggest surprise, however, wasn’t its appearance.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe most surprising aspect of the results was that despite being an almost mythical beast, short-eared dogs are much more abundant than we had imagined.
\nnoted the researchers.
While they are by no means a common species, their camera-trap capture rates and an estimated density of 15 individuals per 100 square kilometers suggest they are not as rare as scientists once feared. The results allowed for the researchers to determine that the short-eared dogs are more abundant than larger carnivores like jaguars, though less abundant than medium-sized carnivores like ocelots. The study also highlighted a small aspect of these canids’ behavioral ecology: they are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day, with their activity peaking between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
\n\n\n\nSo, where are these ghost dogs hiding? The data points to intact forests. The short-eared dog is a true forest specialist, showing a strong preference for terra firme – upland forests away from rivers. This specialized, dense habitat requirement is a primary reason for the species’ reduced visibility to humans.
\n\n\n\nBecause their survival is intricately tied to continuous, intact forest cover, the conservation of the short-eared dog depends heavily on the creation and effective management of protected areas. The study found that the relative abundance of short-eared dogs was noticeably higher in national protected areas and Indigenous territories that overlap with these protected zones, compared to unprotected areas.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe most important management strategy is the protection of Amazonian forest canopy for which the creation and effective management of protected areas is the most important element, in combination with the sustainable management of Indigenous territories.
\nthe researchers explained.
While we now know that this elusive canid is secretly thriving in the deep forests of Bolivia and Peru, its future relies entirely on our ability to protect its home.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nWallace RB, Ayala G, Viscarra M, Porcel Z (2026) Unveiling the ghost: short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) distribution, activity patterns, habitat use, relative abundance, and occupancy in Bolivia. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 21(1): 49-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.21.e183324
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/fn41c-3qn97","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18398","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-2.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1780963200,"rid":"bswyw-3mj61","summary":"Tweet For decades, the short-eared dog ( Atelocynus microtis ) has been considered one of the least-known carnivores in Latin America, and potentially one of the least-known canids in the world. Because of its highly secretive nature, acute hearing, and strong sense of smell, this cryptic creature has successfully avoided people, leaving biologists with very few direct sightings in the wild.","tags":["Neotropical Biology And Conservation","Biodiversity","Camera Trap","Neotropical Ecology","Neotropics"],"title":"Chasing the Ghost Dog of the Amazon: New Insights into a Mythical Canid","updated_at":1789546874,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/09/chasing-the-ghost-dog-of-the-amazon-new-insights-into-a-mythical-canid/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nTokay geckos are among the most recognisable and popular reptiles in the pet trade, celebrated for their vibrant colours and vocal nature. Despite their popularity and frequent breeding in captivity, many questions about how their early environment influences their development have remained unanswered.
\n\n\n\nA recent study published in the open-access journal Herpetozoa by Dr. Birgit Szabo of the University of Ghent has shed light on these critical factors, offering valuable insights that could transform how we care for these lizards.
\n\n\n\nWhen asked about what inspired this investigation, they explained:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"As a very popular pet, Tokay geckos are frequently bred in captivity. It was surprising to me how little we know about very basic environmental factors that can influence development. I am very passionate about improving captive conditions for reptiles and my study provides very important basic data.\"
\n
The research focused on both pre-natal factors, such as incubation temperature and humidity, and post-natal factors, specifically whether juveniles are raised in isolation or within a family group. Dr. Szabo monitored sixteen breeding pairs, tracking where females chose to lay their eggs and how the resulting thirty hatchlings grew over their first six months of life.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/gecko-2.jpg?ssl=1\")
One of the most remarkable findings involved how temperature influences the sex of the geckos. Traditionally, Tokay geckos are understood to have a genetic sex-determination system with distinct sex chromosomes. However, the study revealed that higher incubation temperatures actually led to a higher proportion of male hatchlings.
\n\n\n\nReflecting on this discovery, Dr. Szabo shared:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"I was most surprised about the effect of temperature on sex development. Tokay geckos are reported to possess sex chromosomes. Therefore, I did not expect that temperature would have an effect on sex development.
\n\n\n\nHowever, after consulting the literature I found that sex determination is quite labile in lizards, but this is a severely understudied area of research. So, I am quite excited to have found this effect and plan further research on this topic.\"
\n
Beyond sex ratios, incubation temperature also significantly affected developmental timing and physical size. Eggs kept at warmer temperatures had a shorter incubation period, yet they produced larger hatchlings with a greater snout-vent length. Interestingly, incubation humidity did not appear to have a noticeable impact on these physical outcomes.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1651610-ezremove.png?ssl=1\")
The study also revealed that mother geckos actively chose nesting sites that offered warmer and less humid microclimates compared to other areas in the enclosure, demonstrating a preference for specific nesting conditions.
\n\n\n\nManaging such a detailed study was no small feat. Dr. Szabo noted,:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"The most challenging aspect was to set up the breeding and treatments after hatching. Tokay geckos are quite large lizards and need lots of space. Coordinating the different treatments under space limitations was quite the challenge.\"
\n
After hatching, the geckos were raised either alone or in family groups of varying sizes alongside their parents and siblings. Surprisingly, the post-natal social environment did not affect the young geckos’ growth, size, or body condition. Whether raised in isolation or in a busy family group, the juveniles grew at similar rates, suggesting that captive-bred Tokay geckos are highly adaptable in their early life stages.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/gecko-1.jpg?ssl=1\")
These findings have direct implications for reptile husbandry, emphasising the need to provide captive reptiles with choices that replicate natural gradients. Dr Szabo remarked:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"A better understanding of the thermal and humidity requirements and preferences of reptiles is one of the most important aspects of the environment that is often suboptimal in active conditions.
\n\n\n\nI hope my research will highlight their importance and lead to improved enclosure design in the future.\"
\n
Ultimately, this study challenges long-held assumptions about reptile behaviour and social structures, proving that there is much more to these creatures than meets the eye. Dr. Szabo concluded:\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Reptiles are still viewed as asocial creatures but sociality exists in this animal group. Tokay geckos perform biparental care and protect both eggs and their offspring after hatching. Despite this knowledge, there is still much to learn about their social organisation especially in respect to welfare.\"
\n
Original source:
\n\n\n\nSzabo B (2026) The influence of the pre- and post-natal environment on Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko, Squamata, Gekkonidae) development in captivity. Herpetozoa 39: 217-228. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e165454
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/r2wwf-1c628","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18832","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-82.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781222400,"rid":"shwsv-wx953","summary":"Tweet Tokay geckos are among the most recognisable and popular reptiles in the pet trade, celebrated for their vibrant colours and vocal nature. Despite their popularity and frequent breeding in captivity, many questions about how their early environment influences their development have remained unanswered.","tags":["Herpetozoa","Animal Welfare","Captive Breeding","Captive Reptiles","Captive Welfare"],"title":"Understanding Tokay Gecko Development: How Environment and Family Shape Captive Welfare","updated_at":1789546869,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/12/understanding-tokay-gecko-development-how-environment-and-family-shape-captive-welfare/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nWhile most of us imagine praying mantises as hunters of flying insects, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reveals a much slimier side to their diet.
\n\n\n\nResearchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time. This discovery shifts our understanding of mantis ecology from strict insectivores to opportunistic generalists capable of tackling unconventional prey.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/oo_1613289-1.jpg?ssl=1\")
Lead researcher Bianca Greyvenstein of North-West University in South Africa explains that this find was a major milestone for her team after a decade of studying these insects:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"We have been doing research on South African Mantodea species for about 10 years, and this was the first instance we noted of a mantis eating snails\".
\n
She notes that the team was very suprised that this behaviour also occurs in the wild and not just in captivity. While they attempted to see if other South African species would follow suit, none of the others showed any interest in snails as a food source.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/oo_1613288.jpg?ssl=1\")
The appearance of snail-eating behavior might seem like a new evolutionary trend, but the researchers suspect it is simply something we have missed until now. As Greyvenstein points out:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Very little information is available on mantis species in general, and especially on those in South Africa\".
\n
She believes the documentation of gastropod predation is more likely a reflection of gaps in research and knowledge rather than a sudden change in behaviour. As scientists dig deeper into these genera, they expect to find even more novel behaviours.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Mantodea-Mantid-Polyspilota-Newlands-forest-Mantids-Feb-2024-2837-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
The study also highlights that Polyspilota aeruginosa (common name: the Flag Mantis) is a remarkably flexible hunter. Beyond mollusks, these mantids have been observed eating geckos, proving they are not picky when a high-protein meal presents itself. Greyvenstein notes:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Praying mantises in general may have a far more varied diet and behavioural repertoire than many people realise\".
\n
![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/oo_1613290.jpg?ssl=1\")
She also emphasises that while people often view them solely as insect predators, observations such as gastropod predation show that there is still much to learn about even familiar animals.
\n\n\n\nA critical component of this research was the data provided by everyday people using platforms like iNaturalist. These citizen science contributions helped the team map the distribution of mantids and identify their varied prey.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Exciting discoveries are not limited to remote rainforests or deep oceans. There are fascinating behaviours waiting to be documented in local gardens and natural areas. We have really only begun to scratch the surface of these fascinating creatures\".
\nBianca Greyvenstein
![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Mantodea-Mantid-Polyspilota-Tugela-June-2024-3489-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
Original source:
\n\n\n\nGreyvenstein B, Janse van Rensburg P, Bellingan T, van den Berg J, Jordaens K, Stals R, Midgley J (2026) Snacking on snails: Novel prey and the distributions of Polyspilota praying mantids (Mantodea, Mantidae) in South Africa. Journal of Orthoptera Research 35(2): 251-258. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.35.187916
\n\n\n\nFor more interesting articles on orthoptera, visit the Journal of Orthoptera Research website and follow us on Bluesky and Facebook.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/xh94b-kqv13","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18323","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-70.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782172800,"rid":"5qr7k-c5583","summary":"Tweet While most of us imagine praying mantises as hunters of flying insects, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reveals a much slimier side to their diet. Researchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time.","tags":["Journal Of Orthoptera Research","Citizen Science","Ecology","Gastropod Predation","Mantis Diversity"],"title":"South African Mantids Caught Snacking on Snails","updated_at":1789546863,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/23/south-african-mantids-caught-snacking-on-snails/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nA new study published in the open-access journal BioRisk has highlighted a powerful wave of local support for wildlife conservation in the Hamer District of South Omo, Ethiopia, despite severe environmental pressures.
\n\n\n\nResearchers from the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, the Gullele Botanic Garden, and the University of Szczecin investigated the primary factors driving habitat degradation and evaluated whether communities are prepared to support future conservation strategies.
\n\n\n\nThe investigation, which was carried out through household surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations, revealed that local wildlife populations are under critical strain. An overwhelming majority of the surveyed residents, precisely 82.3 per cent, reported a noticeable decline in wild animal numbers within their vicinity.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1598563.jpg?ssl=1\")
Participants identified deforestation and overgrazing as the most significant hazards to local biodiversity, with 63.5 per cent selecting forest clearing as the primary threat and 50.0 per cent identifying livestock overgrazing as the secondary threat. These human-induced activities are exacerbated by recurrent droughts and changing climate patterns, forcing pastoralist communities to venture deeper into natural habitats to seek fodder and water for their livestock.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1598566.jpg?ssl=1\")
Despite facing these daily challenges for survival, the local community demonstrated a remarkable commitment to environmental stewardship. The researchers found that 90.6 per cent of the respondents expressed an explicit willingness to participate actively in future wildlife conservation initiatives.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1598564.jpg?ssl=1\")
Further, 96.9 per cent of those interviewed acknowledged that the responsibility to safeguard local species rests directly with the community itself, while 99 per cent stated that intervention programmes are an urgent necessity. Statistical modelling demonstrated that factors such as the specific locality, gender, marital status, and length of residence significantly influence an individual's openness to conservation efforts.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1598565.jpg?ssl=1\")
The study notes that local inhabitants traditionally interact with wildlife for various purposes, including utilising certain species for food, traditional remedies, or cultural decorations. However, these practices, combined with habitat loss, have pushed several animals to the brink, leaving the local presence of iconic species such as giraffes and ostriches highly uncertain.
\n\n\n\nTo foster sustainable coexistence between humans and wild animals, the authors recommend implementing managed livestock husbandry practices and constructing dedicated water ponds to alleviate resource competition during dry spells.
\n\n\n\nThey also advocate for the promotion of ecotourism, community-led management initiatives, and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to curb illegal hunting and habitat destruction in the region.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nTemesgen Z, Biru Y, Gibru A (2026) Anthropogenic threats and challenges of wildlife conservation in Hamer District, South Omo, Ethiopia. BioRisk 24: 69-84. https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.24.175449
\n\n\n\nFor more articles on biodiversity and ecosystem risk assessment, follow BioRisk on Facebook and Bluesky.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/cn9w6-7pm27","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19017","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-88.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782345600,"rid":"t3z2x-x9887","summary":"Tweet A new study published in the open-access journal BioRisk has highlighted a powerful wave of local support for wildlife conservation in the Hamer District of South Omo, Ethiopia, despite severe environmental pressures.","tags":["BioRisk","Conservation Strategies","Ecotourism","Environmental Stewardship","Environmentalism"],"title":"Research reveals strong community willingness to protect declining wildlife in southern Ethiopia","updated_at":1789546857,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/25/research-reveals-strong-community-willingness-to-protect-declining-wildlife-in-southern-ethiopia/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nThere is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in the western part of China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.
\n\n\n\nIn 2023 and 2024, Dr. Yitong Ma from Nantong University, China, collected springtail specimens from the Huaping Nature Reserve in Guilin and the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve in Chongqing.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpringtails are the most common arthropods living in the soil – you can find them in your yard, in the flowerpot, or on the lawn,
\nhe says.
\"Although they are very small, usually 2-3 mm in length, their density can be amazing. As decomposers, they can break down the organic matter and promote material cycling, so they play an important key role in soil ecosystems.\"
\n\n\n\nAfter checking the specimens from the two reserves under microscopes, Dr. Ma and his colleague from Nantong University, Xiaowei Qian, found rich biodiversity and about 80 different species of springtails. In a study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, they described five new scaled species belonging to three genera of the springtail family Entomobryidae.
\n\n\n\nThe genus Lepidodens contains five species, all found in China. The researchers find one new species, which is also the first species of the genus from the western part of China.
\n\n\n\n![\"Lepidodens](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1569973.jpg?ssl=1\")
They also report the first sighting in China of the genus Lepidosira, which thrives best in Oceania. In Huaping Nature Reserve and Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, they found three new species of the genus.
\n\n\n\nAmong the fifty species of the genus Willowsia in the world, about 30 species have been reported from China. However, the authors concluded this genus is not well represented in the two reserves, and only found one new species in Chongqing.
\n\n\n\n![\"Willowsia](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1569997.jpg?ssl=1\")
In the future, the researchers will further study those specimens collected from the two reserves.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGiven the subtropical monsoon climate, mountainous topography and little human disturbance of the reserves, it is likely that more new species will be found,
\nthey say.
Original source:
\n\n\n\nQian X-W, Ma Y-T (2026) Five new species of Entomobryinae (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from China. ZooKeys 1275: 81-115. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.158254
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/h2syw-84k40","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19054","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-19.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781740800,"rid":"xfscr-gh359","summary":"Tweet There is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in the western part of China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.","tags":["Zookeys","Biodiversity","Invertebrates","Lepidodens","New Species"],"title":"Beautiful Scenery, Rich Bodiversity: New Springtail Species Discovered In China","updated_at":1789546852,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/18/beautiful-scenery-rich-bodiversity-new-springtail-species-discovered-in-china/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nEuropean Science Editing, the official journal of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), has received its first Journal Impact Factor (JIF) from Clarivate’s Web of Science. Its 2025 JIF stands at 1.6, a key milestone for the journal and a recognition of its growing influence in the scholarly communication community.
\n\n\n\nFurther, the journal ranks in Q2 in Library and Information Science in the Web of Science Core Collection (ESCI).
\n\n\n\nPrior to this JIF, European Science Editing had already demonstrated strong and growing recognition in Scopus, with its 2025 CiteScore reaching 3.0, up from 2.3 in 2024, ranking in Q2 for Communication and Q3 for Health Informatics.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/big_1684731-1.jpg?ssl=1\")
A key metric released by Clarivate, the 2025 Journal Impact Factor reflects the number of times content published in a specific journal during 2023 and 2024 was cited in 2025. This total citation count is then divided by the number of citable articles (i.e., research and review articles) to estimate the JIF.
\n\n\n\n![\"European](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-19-112200.png?ssl=1\")
The journal’s history can be traced back to 1986 when it was published as a bulletin. Then, in 2003 European Science Editing was launched as a peer-reviewed journal published four times a year, dedicated to supporting research within the scope of the Association. In January 2020, the journal converted to Diamond Open Access with a rolling publication model on the ARPHA Platform, giving authors greater presence and impact across the membership and the wider scholarly publishing community.
\n\n\n\nThe journal is powered by the ARPHA Platform, a one-stop publishing solution developed by Pensoft that offers a seamless, end-to-end publishing experience encompassing all stages from manuscript submission through to publication, indexation, dissemination, and permanent archiving.
\n\n\n\nARPHA’s robust support for academic publishing also includes a variety of human-provided services and integrations with third-party providers, intended to maximise the reach and usability of scholarly knowledge published in European Science Editing.
\n\n\n\nOn this success, the Editor-in-Chief, Ksenija Bazdaric of Rijeka University, reflects:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs Editor-in-Chief of the European Science Editing journal, I am delighted by this result. With the support of ARPHA, we have received our very first impact factor of 1.6. Our Diamond Open Access journal is celebrating this big milestone and its editors and advisory board will work further on raising the journal quality by producing relevant and interesting content for our readership.
\n
Follow EASE on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow ARPHA on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/q8g45-kj209","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19086","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Journal-IF-and-Scopus-Cite-Scores.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781827200,"rid":"fx6ha-ra128","summary":"Tweet European Science Editing , the official journal of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), has received its first Journal Impact Factor (JIF) from Clarivate's Web of Science. Its 2025 JIF stands at 1.6 , a key milestone for the journal and a recognition of its growing influence in the scholarly communication community.","tags":["European Science Editing","European Association Of Science Editors","Journal Impact Factor","Scholarly Publishing","Scopus"],"title":"First Journal Impact Factor for European Science Editing","updated_at":1789546846,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/19/first-journal-impact-factor-for-european-science-editing/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nTropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology.
\n\n\n\nThe new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of “vanishing”,\u00a0 honouring scientific pioneers while sounding an alarm about disappearing habitats. The research reveals that each \"sky island\" harbours its own, previously unknown chameleon species, and highlights the urgent need to conserve these fragile forest habitats.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThese mountains rise sharply from the surrounding savanna, trapping clouds and rain and creating cool, moist refuges in an otherwise dry landscape This results in each forest being isolated, making them true 'sky islands', and because of this isolation, many of their species occur nowhere else on Earth.
\nsays Prof. Tolley.
![\"Localities](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1601473.jpg?ssl=1\")
Until the 2000s, most of northern Mozambique's sky islands had been poorly surveyed, even compared with other remote parts of Africa. The team set out to investigate whether the isolated forests on each mountain hold unique reptile and amphibian species that evolved there in isolation. With tropical forests across Africa being rapidly cleared in favour of agriculture, the researchers were heavily motivated by a race against time – species could go extinct before they are even discovered.
\n\n\n\nThe team had to first carry out several different surveys of the remote mountains to assess and catalogue the different reptile and amphibian species present. Noting that there were populations of chameleons on each mountain, measurements and samples were taken. Back at the lab, the team used an approach called the General Lineage Species Concept.
\n\n\n\nThis combines different lines of evidence to identify species. In this case, they sequenced four genes (DNA sequences) from Sylvan Chameleon populations from different mountains and compared the genetic data among these. This was then combined with another type of evidence, body features, to come up with a 'balance of evidence' as to whether each mountain has its own species.\u00a0
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1601475.jpg?ssl=1\")
Although the chameleons look very similar between different mountains, the DNA told a different story. A phylogeny \u2013 a type of family tree built from the genetic data \u2013 showed that individuals clustered strictly by mountain. This indicates that each sky island population has been separated for millions of years and does not interbreed with populations on neighbouring peaks.
\n\n\n\nThe similar body shape across species reflects their shared adaptation to life in forest habitats, rather than them being the same species. According to Dr. Conradie \"In the same way, African and Asian elephants both look like 'elephants' but are distinct species that have evolved similar body forms for similar lifestyles.\"
\n\n\n\nBehind each of the three names lies a deliberate choice. Nadzikambia goodallae, from Mount Rib\u00e1u\u00e8, honours Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on African chimpanzees that has transformed our understanding of animal behaviour and inspired global conservation efforts. This chameleon is endemic to the region.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBefore Dr. Jane Goodall became a conservation icon, she spent decades in the forest observing how every species has a role to play in maintaining our fragile ecosystems. Naming this wonderfully unique Sylvan Chameleon for Jane is a fitting tribute to her advocacy and a reminder of the importance of protecting forest landscapes for all animals, including people.
\nsays Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA.
![\"Nadzikambia](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nadzikambia-franklinae-Mt-Namuli_Werner-Conradie-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
Nadzikambia franklinae, from Mount Namuli, recognises Rosalind Franklin, whose foundational work on DNA structure underpins the very genetic tools used to identify these species.
\n\n\n\n![\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nadzikambia-evanescens-Mount-Inago_Krystal-Tolley_DSC_2984-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
The third species from Mount Inago is named Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning \"vanishing\", to draw attention to its disappearing habitat and the many species worldwide that may be lost before they can be described.
\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nadzikambia-nubila_Mount-Chiperone_Krystal-Tolley_DSC_1877-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
The fourth species, The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila), was collected by a stream on Mount Chiperone and takes its name from the “Ciperoni” – the local term for the heavy, cloud-laden weather that brings orographic rainfall to the area. This persistent cloud cover sustains the mountain’s mid-elevation wet forest, and the epithet nubila derives from the Latin nubilus, meaning “cloudy”.
\n\n\n\n![\"Intact](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1601488.jpg?ssl=1\")
The discoveries come at a time when tropical forests, especially in Africa, are being cleared at alarming rates. The small, isolated forests on Mozambique's sky islands are particularly vulnerable. The study highlights that local community involvement can make a decisive difference.
\n\n\n\nOn Mount Chiperone, the forest is considered sacred, and cultural values have helped protect both the habitat and its wildlife. Mount Mabu has benefited from more than a decade of community-based conservation.
\n\n\n\nTogether, these two mountains hold the most intact forests surveyed in the study, showing that forest clearance is not an inevitable trade-off for local livelihoods when communities are empowered and supported, and their beliefs are in sync with conservation.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nTolley K, Conradie W (2026) Sky Islands of Mozambique harbour cryptic species of chameleons: Description of four new species of sylvan chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 207-246. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e178403
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/gvw8p-1ef39","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19109","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-Journal-comms-10.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782086400,"rid":"gj20b-8gq41","summary":"Tweet Tropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology. The new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of \"vanishing\",","tags":["Vertebrate Zoology","Afrotropics","Biodiversity","Chameleon","Chameleons"],"title":"Four New Chameleon Species Found on Mozambique's Mountaintop 'Sky Islands'","updated_at":1789546841,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/22/four-new-chameleon-species-found-on-mozambiques-mountaintop-sky-islands/","version":"v1"}},{"document":{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nAt the icy, wind-swept tip of South America lies In\u00fatil Bay, a remote marine environment in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago that has long guarded its underwater secrets due to severe logistical and meteorological challenges. A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay.
\n\n\n\nThe expedition, supported by the Marine Program of Rewilding Chile, brought together specialists from CADIC-CONICET and the Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) to conduct the first survey of benthic macroalgae in a region that had never been systematically studied before.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/mariano-rodriguez-expedicion-marina-15-bahia-inutil-seleccion-informe-mar2025-83.jpg?ssl=1\")
The findings from this survey, recently published in the Biodiversity Data Journal, provide a missing piece in the biogeographical puzzle of sub-Antarctic coastal environments. Benthic marine macroalgae act as important ecosystem engineers, modifying the physical structure of coastal habitats to create complex environments that support rich marine food webs and exceptionally high levels of biodiversity.
\n\n\n\nBeyond their role as local habitat providers, these extensive algal communities contribute significantly to global climate mitigation, while also serving as sensitive indicators of environmental health and human-induced disturbances.
\n\n\n\nOperating across six distinct sampling locations along both the northern and southern coasts of the Inutil bay, the research team deployed scientific diving techniques, including the use of 25-metre line transects and photo-quadrats to document all macroalgae species distributions.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/mariano-rodriguez-expedicion-marina-15-bahia-inutil-seleccion-informe-mar2025-12-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
This field methodology culminated in the documentation of 72 distinct macroalgal taxa, providing a major expansion of the known phytogeographic characterisation of the Magellanic region (Chile). The survey recorded 32 taxa in the variable intertidal zone and 58 taxa in the subtidal depths, comprising a diverse assortment of green, brown, and red algae.
\n\n\n\nWhile canopy-forming kelp species such as Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia flavicans dominated the underwater landscape alongside widespread species like Ptilonia magellanica, the researchers also catalogued rare and highly unusual specimens, for example, Microzonia velutina, a little brown macroalga.
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mariano-Rodriguez-Microzonia-velutina-1-scaled.jpg?ssl=1\")
All collected specimens are preserved at the Rewilding Chile Herbarium in Puerto Varas, ensuring that this dataset remains available to support future monitoring of these ecosystems, the detection of invasive species, and conservation planning in southern Patagonia.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAt the same time, we are making progress on a collaborative alliance with the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, where we have already deposited an icefish larva (Champsocephalus esox) collected on a previous expedition and the Microzonia velutina.
\nThe Research Team
Cover image:
\n\n\n\nMarine expedition to Bah\u00eda In\u00fatil (Intuil Bay). Credit: James Alfaro.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nKaminsky J, Palacios M, Rodr\u00edguez M, H\u00fcne M (2026) Sub-Antarctic subtidal and intertidal macroalgae in rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay, Tierra del Fuego in Southern Patagonia. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e183377. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e183377
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/fhgf3-6pw95","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19000","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-87.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782086400,"rid":"prffp-b4006","summary":"Tweet At the icy, wind-swept tip of South America lies In\u00fatil Bay, a remote marine environment in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago that has long guarded its underwater secrets due to severe logistical and meteorological challenges. A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay.","tags":["Biodiversity Data Journal","Algae","Algal Community","Archipelago","Expedition"],"title":"Underwater Expedition Charts Seaweed Forests in the Remote Waters of Southern Patagonia","updated_at":1789546835,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/22/underwater-expedition-charts-seaweed-forests-in-the-remote-waters-of-southern-patagonia/","version":"v1"}}],"items":[{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nGuest blog post by Alberto Maceda-Veiga and Rosa Mart\u00ednez
\n\n\n\nReed, an invasive alien plant that is abundant on the banks of many rivers, ponds and canals, can encourage the growth of common mosquito populations in the absence of natural predators. When the plant's litter accumulates, the chemical properties of the water and the composition of the biological communities in the environment change radically, and this facilitates the development of mosquito larvae in freshwater ecosystems.
\n\n\n\nThis is one of the conclusions of a study published in the journal\u00a0NeoBiota\u00a0and led by Professor Alberto Maceda-Veiga, a member of the FORESTREAM Research Group at the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) at the University of Barcelona.
\n\n\n\nThe study, whose lead author is Oriol Cano-Rocabayera, involved collaboration from experts at the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA-UAB), the Mosquito Control Service (SCM) of El Baix Llobregat Regional Council, the University of Seville, the Do\u00f1ana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), the Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany), the University of Florida (United States) and the universities of Cardiff and Chester (United Kingdom).
\n\n\n\nThe ecological impacts of invasive riparian plants at the ecosystem level are not yet fully understood, beyond their impact on specific groups of organisms or on environmental conditions. In addition to altering biodiversity and the composition of the natural environment, exotic and invasive riparian vegetation can affect human well-being.
\n\n\n\nIn the study, the team used experimental aquariums (microcosms) to analyse the ecological impact of replacing native common reed (Phragmites australis) with giant reed (Arundo donax), a species classified as invasive and similar in appearance.
\n\n\n\nIn the presence of\u00a0A. donax, the mosquito larvae survived longer and grew larger and faster. Behind this increase lies the proportion of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0leaf litter, which altered the water's physicochemical properties and the composition of populations of organisms known as\u00a0microeukaryotes\u00a0\u2014 protozoa, fungi and other microscopic organisms – which are essential to the functioning of the ecosystem.
\n\n\n\nThe study highlights a dramatic ecological effect, even at low concentrations of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0compared with\u00a0P. australis. \"This effect was catalysed by changes in water quality and in the abundance of certain groups of microeukaryotes, such as flagellates and amoebae, which form part of the microbial food webs on which the larvae of the common mosquito\u00a0Culex pipiens\u00a0feed,\" says Professor Alberto Maceda-Veiga, from the UB's Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences.
\n\n\n\n\"It is important to remember \u2014 he continues \u2014 that the common mosquito can act as a vector for diseases of medical and veterinary significance. Identifying which plants encourage the proliferation of mosquitoes helps us to understand the complex relationships that species form in nature and, in turn, helps pest control services to predict where they are most likely to find larvae and to apply control measures, where necessary, due to the risk to human health.\"
\n\n\n\nThe reed, which can withstand high summer temperatures, typically produces a large amount of biomass and is even being used to generate alternative energy sources. Interestingly, in previous studies, the team had described the potential positive effects of the species, as it provides shelter and protection for native fish in rivers with typically poor coverage of riparian vegetation (Science of The Total Environment, 2025).
\n\n\n\nNow, the findings of this study shed light on an unexpected aspect of the ecological impact of this invasive plant in riparian areas.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn freshwater ecosystems most severely affected by chemical pollution, the natural aquatic predators of the larvae – such as fish and dragonflies – are often absent. Many larvae mean many adult mosquitoes, which can cause nuisance to humans and even pose health risks.
\n
In light of these new findings, the authors suggest prioritizing the initial eradication of\u00a0A. donax\u00a0in infested areas and restoring these sites with native vegetation such as\u00a0P. australis, as well as encouraging future studies to determine the breeding preferences of mosquitoes in these habitats and their interactions with their natural predators.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen the eradication of an invasive species is not feasible, we turn to mitigation measures to reduce its impact. In the case of mosquitoes, we must not give in to alarmism. Firstly, we must remember that in nature, mosquitoes have many predators, as they are a natural part of food webs. Secondly, we have some fantastic mosquito control services, such as the Baix Llobregat SCM participating in this study, which ensure that mosquitoes do not become a problem in areas with high human traffic, such as cities and the marshes of peri-urban environments.
\nconcludes Maceda-Veiga
Original source:
\n\n\n\nCano-Rocabayera O, Bonilla YY, Salvad\u00f3 H, Garcia-Bargall\u00f3 M, Sobhy IS, Berry C, Vil\u00e0 M, Sabater F, Aranda C, Maceda-Veiga A (2026) Invasive plant-induced shifts in water chemistry and microeukaryotes enhance mosquito development. NeoBiota 106: 265-286.\u00a0https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.106.167149
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/tv70f-2qh44","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18410","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-3.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781481600,"rid":"w6j5q-ckm91","summary":"Tweet Guest blog post by Alberto Maceda-Veiga and Rosa Mart\u00ednez Reed, an invasive alien plant that is abundant on the banks of many rivers, ponds and canals, can encourage the growth of common mosquito populations in the absence of natural predators.","tags":["Guest Blog Posts","Neobiota","Arundo Donax","Culex Pipiens","Phragmites Australis"],"title":"Invasive Reeds Can Promote The Proliferation Of Mosquitoes In Rivers, Canals And Ponds","updated_at":1789546885,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/15/invasive-reeds-can-promote-the-proliferation-of-mosquitoes-in-rivers-canals-and-ponds/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nThe crowd is roaring, the floodlights are blinding, and the pitch is absolutely pristine. Football fans and nature enthusiasts, welcome to our pre-match build-up!\n\n\n\n
We are just days away from the kickoff of the biggest show on Earth. That's right, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is commencing soon, and it is already breaking all the records. This year, we are looking at a historic 23rd edition of the tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, three powerhouse nations – the United States, Mexico, and Canada – are teaming up to host across 16 spectacular cities.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nBut hold onto your hats, because at Pensoft, we are launching our very own tournament to run right alongside the World Cup. While the world's best footballers are battling it out on the grass, we are hosting an equally fierce competition.
\n\n\n\nWe've scouted our journals, drafted the top talent, and placed different incredible species into a head-to-head knockout tournament.
\n\n\n\nThis biodiversity battle will rage throughout the World Cup season, with the grand finale taking place on the same week as the final. But who will lift the ultimate trophy of public affection? Only you can decide\u2026\u00a0
\n\n\n\nThe Match Schedule: How to play your part
\n\n\n\nWe need you, the fans, to act as the referee! Here is how the tournament layout looks:
\n\n\n\nThursday kickoff: Every Thursday, head over to our Instagram page where the latest head-to-head match will go live on our stories. You’ll have 24 hours to cast your vote in our poll for the species you want to win.
\n\n\n\nMonday post-match analysis: Every Monday, we will announce who won their corresponding match on our Instagram Story.
\n\n\n\nConsider this your ultimate pre-match scouting report. While you're backing your favorite species to lift the trophy, you'll also get the inside track on some of the most fascinating species described in our journals.
\n\n\n\nTournament disclaimer
\n\n\n\nBefore we kick-off, it is noteworthy that this tournament is purely for entertainment and a bit of good-natured fun. Narrowing down our roster to just 16 species was tough and we acknowledge that we’ve left some spectacular creatures on the bench.
\n\n\n\nTo ensure total fairness and transparency, our selection was based on the latest 2026 Altmetric data. This system tracks online mentions across news media, blogs, and social networks for articles published in Pensoft journals from 2010 onward.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nWe did our best to diversify the list as much as possible in terms of taxonomic groups. However, due to the visual-centric nature of social media, we gave preference to immediately attractive species.
\n\n\n\nAre you ready for the whistle?
\n\n\n\nMake sure you are following our Instagram page so you don’t miss out!
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/qxb2y-4xr12","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18844","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FIFA-World-Cup.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1780876800,"rid":"2qq81-zgp41","summary":"Tweet The crowd is roaring, the floodlights are blinding, and the pitch is absolutely pristine. Football fans and nature enthusiasts, welcome to our pre-match build-up! We are just days away from the kickoff of the biggest show on Earth. That's right, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is commencing soon, and it is already breaking all the records.","tags":["Alpine Entomology","Biodiversity Data Journal","MycoKeys","Phytokeys","Vertebrate Zoology"],"title":"Celebrating FIFA World Cup 2026: Live from the Pensoft Commentary Box","updated_at":1789546878,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/08/celebrating-fifa-world-cup-2026-live-from-the-pensoft-commentary-box/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nFor decades, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) has been considered one of the least-known carnivores in Latin America, and potentially one of the least-known canids in the world. Because of its highly secretive nature, acute hearing, and strong sense of smell, this cryptic creature has successfully avoided people, leaving biologists with very few direct sightings in the wild. However, a new study published in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation now offers insights into the life of this mysterious Amazonian predator.
\n\n\n\nAccording to the study‘s lead author Robert Wallace, the turning point in their understanding of the ghost dog came with the advent of remote sensing. When researchers first started capturing pictures of the species with camera traps back in 2001, they knew they were onto something special and envisioned a comprehensive publication.
\n\n\n\nOver the span of nearly 25 years, scientists systematized 500 distributional records across Bolivia and conducted 34 intensive camera-trap surveys. These surveys took place across the lowland regions of Bolivia and Peru, primarily in the Greater Madidi-Tambopata and Llanos de Moxos Biocultural Landscapes.
\n\n\n\nAccumulating 594 independent photographic events, this monumental effort represents the largest collection of confirmed short-eared dog records anywhere within the species’ distribution. The lead author highlighted that this research is a:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWonderful example of how conservation technology and remote sensing – in this case the intensive use of camera traps – can provide substantial data on one of the least known species of the Amazonian rainforests.
\n
What exactly does this ghost dog look like? The camera traps revealed a unique physical profile: a dark, dense coat ranging from blackish gray to reddish-brown, a large head with very small and rounded ears, short legs, and a long, bushy tail. Intriguingly, the species even boasts partially webbed paws, a trait that is completely unique among Amazonian canids.
\n\n\n\nThe biggest surprise, however, wasn’t its appearance.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe most surprising aspect of the results was that despite being an almost mythical beast, short-eared dogs are much more abundant than we had imagined.
\nnoted the researchers.
While they are by no means a common species, their camera-trap capture rates and an estimated density of 15 individuals per 100 square kilometers suggest they are not as rare as scientists once feared. The results allowed for the researchers to determine that the short-eared dogs are more abundant than larger carnivores like jaguars, though less abundant than medium-sized carnivores like ocelots. The study also highlighted a small aspect of these canids’ behavioral ecology: they are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during the day, with their activity peaking between 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
\n\n\n\nSo, where are these ghost dogs hiding? The data points to intact forests. The short-eared dog is a true forest specialist, showing a strong preference for terra firme – upland forests away from rivers. This specialized, dense habitat requirement is a primary reason for the species’ reduced visibility to humans.
\n\n\n\nBecause their survival is intricately tied to continuous, intact forest cover, the conservation of the short-eared dog depends heavily on the creation and effective management of protected areas. The study found that the relative abundance of short-eared dogs was noticeably higher in national protected areas and Indigenous territories that overlap with these protected zones, compared to unprotected areas.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe most important management strategy is the protection of Amazonian forest canopy for which the creation and effective management of protected areas is the most important element, in combination with the sustainable management of Indigenous territories.
\nthe researchers explained.
While we now know that this elusive canid is secretly thriving in the deep forests of Bolivia and Peru, its future relies entirely on our ability to protect its home.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nWallace RB, Ayala G, Viscarra M, Porcel Z (2026) Unveiling the ghost: short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) distribution, activity patterns, habitat use, relative abundance, and occupancy in Bolivia. Neotropical Biology and Conservation 21(1): 49-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.21.e183324
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/fn41c-3qn97","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18398","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-2.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1780963200,"rid":"bswyw-3mj61","summary":"Tweet For decades, the short-eared dog ( Atelocynus microtis ) has been considered one of the least-known carnivores in Latin America, and potentially one of the least-known canids in the world. Because of its highly secretive nature, acute hearing, and strong sense of smell, this cryptic creature has successfully avoided people, leaving biologists with very few direct sightings in the wild.","tags":["Neotropical Biology And Conservation","Biodiversity","Camera Trap","Neotropical Ecology","Neotropics"],"title":"Chasing the Ghost Dog of the Amazon: New Insights into a Mythical Canid","updated_at":1789546874,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/09/chasing-the-ghost-dog-of-the-amazon-new-insights-into-a-mythical-canid/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nTokay geckos are among the most recognisable and popular reptiles in the pet trade, celebrated for their vibrant colours and vocal nature. Despite their popularity and frequent breeding in captivity, many questions about how their early environment influences their development have remained unanswered.
\n\n\n\nA recent study published in the open-access journal Herpetozoa by Dr. Birgit Szabo of the University of Ghent has shed light on these critical factors, offering valuable insights that could transform how we care for these lizards.
\n\n\n\nWhen asked about what inspired this investigation, they explained:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"As a very popular pet, Tokay geckos are frequently bred in captivity. It was surprising to me how little we know about very basic environmental factors that can influence development. I am very passionate about improving captive conditions for reptiles and my study provides very important basic data.\"
\n
The research focused on both pre-natal factors, such as incubation temperature and humidity, and post-natal factors, specifically whether juveniles are raised in isolation or within a family group. Dr. Szabo monitored sixteen breeding pairs, tracking where females chose to lay their eggs and how the resulting thirty hatchlings grew over their first six months of life.
\n\n\n\nOne of the most remarkable findings involved how temperature influences the sex of the geckos. Traditionally, Tokay geckos are understood to have a genetic sex-determination system with distinct sex chromosomes. However, the study revealed that higher incubation temperatures actually led to a higher proportion of male hatchlings.
\n\n\n\nReflecting on this discovery, Dr. Szabo shared:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"I was most surprised about the effect of temperature on sex development. Tokay geckos are reported to possess sex chromosomes. Therefore, I did not expect that temperature would have an effect on sex development.
\n\n\n\nHowever, after consulting the literature I found that sex determination is quite labile in lizards, but this is a severely understudied area of research. So, I am quite excited to have found this effect and plan further research on this topic.\"
\n
Beyond sex ratios, incubation temperature also significantly affected developmental timing and physical size. Eggs kept at warmer temperatures had a shorter incubation period, yet they produced larger hatchlings with a greater snout-vent length. Interestingly, incubation humidity did not appear to have a noticeable impact on these physical outcomes.
\n\n\n\nThe study also revealed that mother geckos actively chose nesting sites that offered warmer and less humid microclimates compared to other areas in the enclosure, demonstrating a preference for specific nesting conditions.
\n\n\n\nManaging such a detailed study was no small feat. Dr. Szabo noted,:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"The most challenging aspect was to set up the breeding and treatments after hatching. Tokay geckos are quite large lizards and need lots of space. Coordinating the different treatments under space limitations was quite the challenge.\"
\n
After hatching, the geckos were raised either alone or in family groups of varying sizes alongside their parents and siblings. Surprisingly, the post-natal social environment did not affect the young geckos’ growth, size, or body condition. Whether raised in isolation or in a busy family group, the juveniles grew at similar rates, suggesting that captive-bred Tokay geckos are highly adaptable in their early life stages.
\n\n\n\nThese findings have direct implications for reptile husbandry, emphasising the need to provide captive reptiles with choices that replicate natural gradients. Dr Szabo remarked:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"A better understanding of the thermal and humidity requirements and preferences of reptiles is one of the most important aspects of the environment that is often suboptimal in active conditions.
\n\n\n\nI hope my research will highlight their importance and lead to improved enclosure design in the future.\"
\n
Ultimately, this study challenges long-held assumptions about reptile behaviour and social structures, proving that there is much more to these creatures than meets the eye. Dr. Szabo concluded:\u00a0
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Reptiles are still viewed as asocial creatures but sociality exists in this animal group. Tokay geckos perform biparental care and protect both eggs and their offspring after hatching. Despite this knowledge, there is still much to learn about their social organisation especially in respect to welfare.\"
\n
Original source:
\n\n\n\nSzabo B (2026) The influence of the pre- and post-natal environment on Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko, Squamata, Gekkonidae) development in captivity. Herpetozoa 39: 217-228. https://doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.39.e165454
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/r2wwf-1c628","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18832","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-82.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781222400,"rid":"shwsv-wx953","summary":"Tweet Tokay geckos are among the most recognisable and popular reptiles in the pet trade, celebrated for their vibrant colours and vocal nature. Despite their popularity and frequent breeding in captivity, many questions about how their early environment influences their development have remained unanswered.","tags":["Herpetozoa","Animal Welfare","Captive Breeding","Captive Reptiles","Captive Welfare"],"title":"Understanding Tokay Gecko Development: How Environment and Family Shape Captive Welfare","updated_at":1789546869,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/12/understanding-tokay-gecko-development-how-environment-and-family-shape-captive-welfare/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nWhile most of us imagine praying mantises as hunters of flying insects, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reveals a much slimier side to their diet.
\n\n\n\nResearchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time. This discovery shifts our understanding of mantis ecology from strict insectivores to opportunistic generalists capable of tackling unconventional prey.
\n\n\n\nLead researcher Bianca Greyvenstein of North-West University in South Africa explains that this find was a major milestone for her team after a decade of studying these insects:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"We have been doing research on South African Mantodea species for about 10 years, and this was the first instance we noted of a mantis eating snails\".
\n
She notes that the team was very suprised that this behaviour also occurs in the wild and not just in captivity. While they attempted to see if other South African species would follow suit, none of the others showed any interest in snails as a food source.
\n\n\n\nThe appearance of snail-eating behavior might seem like a new evolutionary trend, but the researchers suspect it is simply something we have missed until now. As Greyvenstein points out:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Very little information is available on mantis species in general, and especially on those in South Africa\".
\n
She believes the documentation of gastropod predation is more likely a reflection of gaps in research and knowledge rather than a sudden change in behaviour. As scientists dig deeper into these genera, they expect to find even more novel behaviours.
\n\n\n\nThe study also highlights that Polyspilota aeruginosa (common name: the Flag Mantis) is a remarkably flexible hunter. Beyond mollusks, these mantids have been observed eating geckos, proving they are not picky when a high-protein meal presents itself. Greyvenstein notes:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Praying mantises in general may have a far more varied diet and behavioural repertoire than many people realise\".
\n
She also emphasises that while people often view them solely as insect predators, observations such as gastropod predation show that there is still much to learn about even familiar animals.
\n\n\n\nA critical component of this research was the data provided by everyday people using platforms like iNaturalist. These citizen science contributions helped the team map the distribution of mantids and identify their varied prey.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"Exciting discoveries are not limited to remote rainforests or deep oceans. There are fascinating behaviours waiting to be documented in local gardens and natural areas. We have really only begun to scratch the surface of these fascinating creatures\".
\nBianca Greyvenstein
Original source:
\n\n\n\nGreyvenstein B, Janse van Rensburg P, Bellingan T, van den Berg J, Jordaens K, Stals R, Midgley J (2026) Snacking on snails: Novel prey and the distributions of Polyspilota praying mantids (Mantodea, Mantidae) in South Africa. Journal of Orthoptera Research 35(2): 251-258. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.35.187916
\n\n\n\nFor more interesting articles on orthoptera, visit the Journal of Orthoptera Research website and follow us on Bluesky and Facebook.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/xh94b-kqv13","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=18323","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-70.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782172800,"rid":"5qr7k-c5583","summary":"Tweet While most of us imagine praying mantises as hunters of flying insects, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reveals a much slimier side to their diet. Researchers documenting the Polyspilota genus in South Africa have recorded these predators hunting and consuming snails and slugs in the wild for the first time.","tags":["Journal Of Orthoptera Research","Citizen Science","Ecology","Gastropod Predation","Mantis Diversity"],"title":"South African Mantids Caught Snacking on Snails","updated_at":1789546863,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/23/south-african-mantids-caught-snacking-on-snails/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nA new study published in the open-access journal BioRisk has highlighted a powerful wave of local support for wildlife conservation in the Hamer District of South Omo, Ethiopia, despite severe environmental pressures.
\n\n\n\nResearchers from the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, the Gullele Botanic Garden, and the University of Szczecin investigated the primary factors driving habitat degradation and evaluated whether communities are prepared to support future conservation strategies.
\n\n\n\nThe investigation, which was carried out through household surveys, focus group discussions, and field observations, revealed that local wildlife populations are under critical strain. An overwhelming majority of the surveyed residents, precisely 82.3 per cent, reported a noticeable decline in wild animal numbers within their vicinity.
\n\n\n\nParticipants identified deforestation and overgrazing as the most significant hazards to local biodiversity, with 63.5 per cent selecting forest clearing as the primary threat and 50.0 per cent identifying livestock overgrazing as the secondary threat. These human-induced activities are exacerbated by recurrent droughts and changing climate patterns, forcing pastoralist communities to venture deeper into natural habitats to seek fodder and water for their livestock.
\n\n\n\nDespite facing these daily challenges for survival, the local community demonstrated a remarkable commitment to environmental stewardship. The researchers found that 90.6 per cent of the respondents expressed an explicit willingness to participate actively in future wildlife conservation initiatives.
\n\n\n\nFurther, 96.9 per cent of those interviewed acknowledged that the responsibility to safeguard local species rests directly with the community itself, while 99 per cent stated that intervention programmes are an urgent necessity. Statistical modelling demonstrated that factors such as the specific locality, gender, marital status, and length of residence significantly influence an individual's openness to conservation efforts.
\n\n\n\nThe study notes that local inhabitants traditionally interact with wildlife for various purposes, including utilising certain species for food, traditional remedies, or cultural decorations. However, these practices, combined with habitat loss, have pushed several animals to the brink, leaving the local presence of iconic species such as giraffes and ostriches highly uncertain.
\n\n\n\nTo foster sustainable coexistence between humans and wild animals, the authors recommend implementing managed livestock husbandry practices and constructing dedicated water ponds to alleviate resource competition during dry spells.
\n\n\n\nThey also advocate for the promotion of ecotourism, community-led management initiatives, and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to curb illegal hunting and habitat destruction in the region.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nTemesgen Z, Biru Y, Gibru A (2026) Anthropogenic threats and challenges of wildlife conservation in Hamer District, South Omo, Ethiopia. BioRisk 24: 69-84. https://doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.24.175449
\n\n\n\nFor more articles on biodiversity and ecosystem risk assessment, follow BioRisk on Facebook and Bluesky.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/cn9w6-7pm27","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19017","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-88.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782345600,"rid":"t3z2x-x9887","summary":"Tweet A new study published in the open-access journal BioRisk has highlighted a powerful wave of local support for wildlife conservation in the Hamer District of South Omo, Ethiopia, despite severe environmental pressures.","tags":["BioRisk","Conservation Strategies","Ecotourism","Environmental Stewardship","Environmentalism"],"title":"Research reveals strong community willingness to protect declining wildlife in southern Ethiopia","updated_at":1789546857,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/25/research-reveals-strong-community-willingness-to-protect-declining-wildlife-in-southern-ethiopia/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nThere is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in the western part of China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.
\n\n\n\nIn 2023 and 2024, Dr. Yitong Ma from Nantong University, China, collected springtail specimens from the Huaping Nature Reserve in Guilin and the Yintiaoling Nature Reserve in Chongqing.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpringtails are the most common arthropods living in the soil – you can find them in your yard, in the flowerpot, or on the lawn,
\nhe says.
\"Although they are very small, usually 2-3 mm in length, their density can be amazing. As decomposers, they can break down the organic matter and promote material cycling, so they play an important key role in soil ecosystems.\"
\n\n\n\nAfter checking the specimens from the two reserves under microscopes, Dr. Ma and his colleague from Nantong University, Xiaowei Qian, found rich biodiversity and about 80 different species of springtails. In a study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, they described five new scaled species belonging to three genera of the springtail family Entomobryidae.
\n\n\n\nThe genus Lepidodens contains five species, all found in China. The researchers find one new species, which is also the first species of the genus from the western part of China.
\n\n\n\nThey also report the first sighting in China of the genus Lepidosira, which thrives best in Oceania. In Huaping Nature Reserve and Yintiaoling Nature Reserve, they found three new species of the genus.
\n\n\n\nAmong the fifty species of the genus Willowsia in the world, about 30 species have been reported from China. However, the authors concluded this genus is not well represented in the two reserves, and only found one new species in Chongqing.
\n\n\n\nIn the future, the researchers will further study those specimens collected from the two reserves.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGiven the subtropical monsoon climate, mountainous topography and little human disturbance of the reserves, it is likely that more new species will be found,
\nthey say.
Original source:
\n\n\n\nQian X-W, Ma Y-T (2026) Five new species of Entomobryinae (Collembola, Entomobryidae) from China. ZooKeys 1275: 81-115. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1275.158254
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/h2syw-84k40","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19054","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Annual-Awards-Editors-Choice-2025-19.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781740800,"rid":"xfscr-gh359","summary":"Tweet There is a Chinese saying that east or west, Guilin scenery is the best. Guilin and Chongqing, located in the western part of China, are famous for their many mountains and rivers. They also harbor unique flora and fauna, such as the scaly-sided merganser, a globally endangered species restricted to eastern Asia.","tags":["Zookeys","Biodiversity","Invertebrates","Lepidodens","New Species"],"title":"Beautiful Scenery, Rich Bodiversity: New Springtail Species Discovered In China","updated_at":1789546852,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/18/beautiful-scenery-rich-bodiversity-new-springtail-species-discovered-in-china/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nEuropean Science Editing, the official journal of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), has received its first Journal Impact Factor (JIF) from Clarivate’s Web of Science. Its 2025 JIF stands at 1.6, a key milestone for the journal and a recognition of its growing influence in the scholarly communication community.
\n\n\n\nFurther, the journal ranks in Q2 in Library and Information Science in the Web of Science Core Collection (ESCI).
\n\n\n\nPrior to this JIF, European Science Editing had already demonstrated strong and growing recognition in Scopus, with its 2025 CiteScore reaching 3.0, up from 2.3 in 2024, ranking in Q2 for Communication and Q3 for Health Informatics.
\n\n\n\nA key metric released by Clarivate, the 2025 Journal Impact Factor reflects the number of times content published in a specific journal during 2023 and 2024 was cited in 2025. This total citation count is then divided by the number of citable articles (i.e., research and review articles) to estimate the JIF.
\n\n\n\nThe journal’s history can be traced back to 1986 when it was published as a bulletin. Then, in 2003 European Science Editing was launched as a peer-reviewed journal published four times a year, dedicated to supporting research within the scope of the Association. In January 2020, the journal converted to Diamond Open Access with a rolling publication model on the ARPHA Platform, giving authors greater presence and impact across the membership and the wider scholarly publishing community.
\n\n\n\nThe journal is powered by the ARPHA Platform, a one-stop publishing solution developed by Pensoft that offers a seamless, end-to-end publishing experience encompassing all stages from manuscript submission through to publication, indexation, dissemination, and permanent archiving.
\n\n\n\nARPHA’s robust support for academic publishing also includes a variety of human-provided services and integrations with third-party providers, intended to maximise the reach and usability of scholarly knowledge published in European Science Editing.
\n\n\n\nOn this success, the Editor-in-Chief, Ksenija Bazdaric of Rijeka University, reflects:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs Editor-in-Chief of the European Science Editing journal, I am delighted by this result. With the support of ARPHA, we have received our very first impact factor of 1.6. Our Diamond Open Access journal is celebrating this big milestone and its editors and advisory board will work further on raising the journal quality by producing relevant and interesting content for our readership.
\n
Follow EASE on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram. You can also follow ARPHA on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/q8g45-kj209","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19086","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Journal-IF-and-Scopus-Cite-Scores.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1781827200,"rid":"fx6ha-ra128","summary":"Tweet European Science Editing , the official journal of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE), has received its first Journal Impact Factor (JIF) from Clarivate's Web of Science. Its 2025 JIF stands at 1.6 , a key milestone for the journal and a recognition of its growing influence in the scholarly communication community.","tags":["European Science Editing","European Association Of Science Editors","Journal Impact Factor","Scholarly Publishing","Scopus"],"title":"First Journal Impact Factor for European Science Editing","updated_at":1789546846,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/19/first-journal-impact-factor-for-european-science-editing/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nTropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology.
\n\n\n\nThe new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of “vanishing”,\u00a0 honouring scientific pioneers while sounding an alarm about disappearing habitats. The research reveals that each \"sky island\" harbours its own, previously unknown chameleon species, and highlights the urgent need to conserve these fragile forest habitats.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThese mountains rise sharply from the surrounding savanna, trapping clouds and rain and creating cool, moist refuges in an otherwise dry landscape This results in each forest being isolated, making them true 'sky islands', and because of this isolation, many of their species occur nowhere else on Earth.
\nsays Prof. Tolley.
Until the 2000s, most of northern Mozambique's sky islands had been poorly surveyed, even compared with other remote parts of Africa. The team set out to investigate whether the isolated forests on each mountain hold unique reptile and amphibian species that evolved there in isolation. With tropical forests across Africa being rapidly cleared in favour of agriculture, the researchers were heavily motivated by a race against time – species could go extinct before they are even discovered.
\n\n\n\nThe team had to first carry out several different surveys of the remote mountains to assess and catalogue the different reptile and amphibian species present. Noting that there were populations of chameleons on each mountain, measurements and samples were taken. Back at the lab, the team used an approach called the General Lineage Species Concept.
\n\n\n\nThis combines different lines of evidence to identify species. In this case, they sequenced four genes (DNA sequences) from Sylvan Chameleon populations from different mountains and compared the genetic data among these. This was then combined with another type of evidence, body features, to come up with a 'balance of evidence' as to whether each mountain has its own species.\u00a0
\n\n\n\nAlthough the chameleons look very similar between different mountains, the DNA told a different story. A phylogeny \u2013 a type of family tree built from the genetic data \u2013 showed that individuals clustered strictly by mountain. This indicates that each sky island population has been separated for millions of years and does not interbreed with populations on neighbouring peaks.
\n\n\n\nThe similar body shape across species reflects their shared adaptation to life in forest habitats, rather than them being the same species. According to Dr. Conradie \"In the same way, African and Asian elephants both look like 'elephants' but are distinct species that have evolved similar body forms for similar lifestyles.\"
\n\n\n\nBehind each of the three names lies a deliberate choice. Nadzikambia goodallae, from Mount Rib\u00e1u\u00e8, honours Dr. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on African chimpanzees that has transformed our understanding of animal behaviour and inspired global conservation efforts. This chameleon is endemic to the region.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBefore Dr. Jane Goodall became a conservation icon, she spent decades in the forest observing how every species has a role to play in maintaining our fragile ecosystems. Naming this wonderfully unique Sylvan Chameleon for Jane is a fitting tribute to her advocacy and a reminder of the importance of protecting forest landscapes for all animals, including people.
\nsays Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA.
Nadzikambia franklinae, from Mount Namuli, recognises Rosalind Franklin, whose foundational work on DNA structure underpins the very genetic tools used to identify these species.
\n\n\n\nThe third species from Mount Inago is named Nadzikambia evanescens, meaning \"vanishing\", to draw attention to its disappearing habitat and the many species worldwide that may be lost before they can be described.
\n\n\n\nThe fourth species, The Chiperone sylvan chameleon (Nadzikambia nubila), was collected by a stream on Mount Chiperone and takes its name from the “Ciperoni” – the local term for the heavy, cloud-laden weather that brings orographic rainfall to the area. This persistent cloud cover sustains the mountain’s mid-elevation wet forest, and the epithet nubila derives from the Latin nubilus, meaning “cloudy”.
\n\n\n\nThe discoveries come at a time when tropical forests, especially in Africa, are being cleared at alarming rates. The small, isolated forests on Mozambique's sky islands are particularly vulnerable. The study highlights that local community involvement can make a decisive difference.
\n\n\n\nOn Mount Chiperone, the forest is considered sacred, and cultural values have helped protect both the habitat and its wildlife. Mount Mabu has benefited from more than a decade of community-based conservation.
\n\n\n\nTogether, these two mountains hold the most intact forests surveyed in the study, showing that forest clearance is not an inevitable trade-off for local livelihoods when communities are empowered and supported, and their beliefs are in sync with conservation.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nTolley K, Conradie W (2026) Sky Islands of Mozambique harbour cryptic species of chameleons: Description of four new species of sylvan chameleons (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia Tilbury, Tolley & Branch, 2006). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 207-246. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e178403
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/gvw8p-1ef39","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19109","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/169-Journal-comms-10.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782086400,"rid":"gj20b-8gq41","summary":"Tweet Tropical rainforest patches perched on isolated granite mountains in northern Mozambique have yielded four new species of Sylvan Chameleons, according to a new study by Prof. Krystal A. Tolley and Dr. Werner Conradie, recently published in Vertebrate Zoology. The new species have been named after the animal behavior scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall, the chemist Rosalind Franklin, and the concept of \"vanishing\",","tags":["Vertebrate Zoology","Afrotropics","Biodiversity","Chameleon","Chameleons"],"title":"Four New Chameleon Species Found on Mozambique's Mountaintop 'Sky Islands'","updated_at":1789546841,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/22/four-new-chameleon-species-found-on-mozambiques-mountaintop-sky-islands/","version":"v1"},{"authors":[{"contributor_roles":[],"name":"Pensoft Editorial Team"}],"blog":{"authors":null,"community_id":"1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c","created":1789516800,"current_feed_url":null,"description":null,"doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/pensoft","favicon":"https://rogue-scholar.org/api/communities/1e54953c-587a-4743-89af-ebd2cb45660c/logo","feed_format":"application/atom+xml","feed_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/feed/atom/","filter":null,"generator":"WordPress","home_page_url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/","issn":null,"language":"eng","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","prefix":"10.59350","relative_url":null,"secure":true,"slug":"pensoft","status":"active","subfield":"2303","title":"Pensoft Blog","updated":1789481786,"use_api":true},"blog_name":"Pensoft Blog","blog_slug":"pensoft","content_html":"\n\nAt the icy, wind-swept tip of South America lies In\u00fatil Bay, a remote marine environment in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago that has long guarded its underwater secrets due to severe logistical and meteorological challenges. A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay.
\n\n\n\nThe expedition, supported by the Marine Program of Rewilding Chile, brought together specialists from CADIC-CONICET and the Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) to conduct the first survey of benthic macroalgae in a region that had never been systematically studied before.
\n\n\n\nThe findings from this survey, recently published in the Biodiversity Data Journal, provide a missing piece in the biogeographical puzzle of sub-Antarctic coastal environments. Benthic marine macroalgae act as important ecosystem engineers, modifying the physical structure of coastal habitats to create complex environments that support rich marine food webs and exceptionally high levels of biodiversity.
\n\n\n\nBeyond their role as local habitat providers, these extensive algal communities contribute significantly to global climate mitigation, while also serving as sensitive indicators of environmental health and human-induced disturbances.
\n\n\n\nOperating across six distinct sampling locations along both the northern and southern coasts of the Inutil bay, the research team deployed scientific diving techniques, including the use of 25-metre line transects and photo-quadrats to document all macroalgae species distributions.
\n\n\n\nThis field methodology culminated in the documentation of 72 distinct macroalgal taxa, providing a major expansion of the known phytogeographic characterisation of the Magellanic region (Chile). The survey recorded 32 taxa in the variable intertidal zone and 58 taxa in the subtidal depths, comprising a diverse assortment of green, brown, and red algae.
\n\n\n\nWhile canopy-forming kelp species such as Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia flavicans dominated the underwater landscape alongside widespread species like Ptilonia magellanica, the researchers also catalogued rare and highly unusual specimens, for example, Microzonia velutina, a little brown macroalga.
\n\n\n\nAll collected specimens are preserved at the Rewilding Chile Herbarium in Puerto Varas, ensuring that this dataset remains available to support future monitoring of these ecosystems, the detection of invasive species, and conservation planning in southern Patagonia.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAt the same time, we are making progress on a collaborative alliance with the National Museum of Natural History of Chile, where we have already deposited an icefish larva (Champsocephalus esox) collected on a previous expedition and the Microzonia velutina.
\nThe Research Team
Cover image:
\n\n\n\nMarine expedition to Bah\u00eda In\u00fatil (Intuil Bay). Credit: James Alfaro.
\n\n\n\nOriginal source:
\n\n\n\nKaminsky J, Palacios M, Rodr\u00edguez M, H\u00fcne M (2026) Sub-Antarctic subtidal and intertidal macroalgae in rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay, Tierra del Fuego in Southern Patagonia. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e183377. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e183377
\n\n","doi":"https://doi.org/10.59350/fhgf3-6pw95","guid":"https://blog.pensoft.net/?p=19000","image":"https://blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SciComm-PR-2026-Instagram-87.png","language":"en","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","published_at":1782086400,"rid":"prffp-b4006","summary":"Tweet At the icy, wind-swept tip of South America lies In\u00fatil Bay, a remote marine environment in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago that has long guarded its underwater secrets due to severe logistical and meteorological challenges. A multi-institutional team of researchers have successfully conducted the first comprehensive exploration of the intertidal and subtidal rocky ecosystems of In\u00fatil Bay.","tags":["Biodiversity Data Journal","Algae","Algal Community","Archipelago","Expedition"],"title":"Underwater Expedition Charts Seaweed Forests in the Remote Waters of Southern Patagonia","updated_at":1789546835,"url":"https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/06/22/underwater-expedition-charts-seaweed-forests-in-the-remote-waters-of-southern-patagonia/","version":"v1"}],"out_of":55936,"page":1,"per_page":10,"total-results":55936}![\"Lepidosira](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1569979-1.jpg?resize=840%2C499\")
![\"Lepidosira](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1569985-1.jpg?resize=840%2C1031\")
![\"Lepidosira](\"https://i0.wp.com/blog.pensoft.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oo_1569991.jpg?resize=840%2C607\")
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