Biodiversity Commons^™

Annotated Checklist And Distribution Of The Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Of Idaho, Luc Leblanc, Emma L. Eakins

Insecta Mundi

An annotated checklist of the 102 species of Buprestidae (Coleoptera) known to be present in the state of Idaho is provided, with photographs and detailed distribution maps for each species. The checklist is based on label data from 7,506 museum specimens, 21 observations obtained from iNaturalist.org and Bug-Guide.net, and 63 distribution records from published literature. Buprestis consularis Gory is a new record for Idaho, formerly reported as Buprestis nutalli Kirby, which is not known to occur in the state. Obscure past records of Anthaxia retifera LeConte and Melanophila occidentalis Obenberger published in the literature are regarded as dubious and are …

Three New Species Of Dichotomius Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) From Mexico And Central America, Ángel Solís, Burt Kohlmann

Insecta Mundi

Three new species assigned to the satanas species-group of Dichotomius Hope (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) are described from North and Central America: Dichotomius pisuicas Solís and Kohlmann, new species, from the Caribbean slope of Honduras to Panama; D. lucifer Solís and Kohlmann, new species, from the Costa Rican and Panamanian Pacific rainforests; and D. chamuco Solís and Kohlmann, new species, from Mexico to Honduras. A description, diagnosis, images, and distributional map are presented for each species.

The Millipede Genus Alocodesmus Silvestri, 1896 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Batodesmini): Description Of A New Species From Colombia And The Identity Of A. Hanseni (Silvestri, 1898), Juan Romero-Rincon, Santiago Alvear

Insecta Mundi

The genus Alocodesmus Silvestri, 1896 (Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae: Batodesmini) currently comprises six valid species, three of which are recorded for Colombia, including A. danielae Romero-Rincon and Alvear, new species, from Yondó, Antioquia Department. Two species are known from Panama and one from Venezuela. The new species differs from its congeners by having a spoon-shaped prefemoral process that is ventrally extended forming a conspicuous concave space with branch Z being shorter than branches X and Y. The identity of A. hanseni Silvestri, 1898, previously of uncertain status, is revised, and the species is herein proposed as a new synonymy …

Emergence Of Caenocoris Neri (Germar, 1847) On Fig Trees In The Oases Of Southeastern Algeria, Nacima Diab, Tesnim Deghiche, Khalila Bengouga, Vasily Vladimirovich Verkhoturov

Journal of Bioresource Management

The article considers materials related to current areas of fundamental research in the field of agricultural entomology in Algeria. The most important issues of agricultural entomology in Algeria include identifying patterns of general trends in the dynamics of geographic ranges of phyto-entomophagous under the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors, as well as studying the adaptation of insects to new habitats and food supply. In a notable discovery during insect sampling conducted in the oasis ecosystem during the summer of 2019, researchers recorded and identified individuals of the species Caenocoris nerii (Germar, 1847) for the first time. These insects were …

The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus Vanellus Linnaeus, 1758), A New Species In The List Of Charadriidae In The Western Steppes Of Algeria, Youcefi Ahmed Toufik, Litim Kouider

Journal of Bioresource Management

This manuscript aims to authenticate the presence of a species of wild bird: Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus Linnaeus, 1758), which represents a first in the western steppes areas of Algeria. The sighting was recorded in the treated wastewater treatment plant west of the municipality of Mécheria. The phonological status of this species can be classified as a passing visitor. This presence can be justified by the food rules of the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus Linnaeus, 1758) which is insectivorous and finds in this area prey on which it feeds.

The Link Between Environmental Change And Invasive Species, Marion Murray, Meg Kast

All Current Publications

Climate change and invasive species represent two pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. Each poses a threat to global biodiversity and ecosystem stability, and together, they amplify the impacts of the other. As global temperatures rise and ecosystems are disrupted, new conditions are created that allow invasive species to spread more easily, establish themselves in new areas, and outcompete native species.

Crayfish Microhabitats Provide A Close Association With Benthic Microbiomes To Support Cleaning Symbionts., Kyle J. Harris, John Hoverson, Matthew Becker, Matthew M. Cooke Mr

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

Stream ecosystems promote variable microhabitats along a longitudinal gradient. These microhabitats support dynamic biotic assemblages. One such microhabitat in freshwater streams involves the external surface of crayfish. We investigated the microbiome of crayfish exoskeletons and the surrounding environment (water and substrate) in association with the presence and abundance of crayfish cleaning ectosymbionts (branchiobdellidans). These ectosymbionts actively consume the biofilm on crayfish as they live and reproduce in association with crayfish microhabitats. Sequenced microbes of the environment and crayfish were compared for dominant taxa. While the sample types (water, substrate, and crayfish) had significantly different microbiomes, there was not a significant …

The Factors Affecting The Distribution Of Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpions) In Iran, Hassan Nasirian

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The distribution of scorpions is influenced by various factors that determine their presence and abundance in different regions. Understanding these factors is crucial for comprehending scorpion ecology and predicting their potential impact on ecosystems. Objective: These subtopics aim to provide an overview of the distribution of scorpions within Iran and the factors affecting their distribution, highlighting their ecological preferences and adaptations to different regions.

Methods: Forty-nine documents were collected from well-known indexing services, including Elsevier, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Springer, and Web of Science. After carefully studying the documents, they were classified into specific topics and discussed.

Results: …

Analyzing Human - Nonhuman Primate Conflict Mitigation Techniques In Mto Wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania, Lil Adams

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

Human-wildlife conflict is a widespread challenge faced by those living in regular contact with wildlife that can have profound impacts on livelihood outcomes for humans, wildlife, and their shared environment (Barua et al., 2013; Blackie, 2023). Human – non-human primate conflict is particularly crucial due to primates’ high capacity to live among human populations (Chapman & Chapman, 1990; Alberts & Altmann, 2006; Reader et al., 2011; Sinha & Vijayakrishnan, 2017), and is currently on the rise due to increasing contact between human and non-human primates (Hockings, 2016; Uddin et al., 2020). To characterize and analyze techniques currently being used to …

Patterns Of Late Holocene And Historical Extinctions On Madagascar, Laurie R. Godfrey, Zachary S. Klukkert, Brooke E. Crowley, Robin R. Dawson, Peterson Faina, Benjamin Z. Freed, Evon Hekkala, Cortni Borgerson, Harimanjaka A. M. Rasolonjatovo, Patricia C. Wright, Stephen J. Burns

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Around 1000 years ago, Madagascar experienced the collapse of populations of large vertebrates that ultimately resulted in many species going extinct. The factors that led to this collapse appear to have differed regionally, but in some ways, key processes were similar across the island. This review evaluates four hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the loss of large vertebrates on Madagascar: Overkill, aridification, synergy, and subsistence shift. We explore regional differences in the paths to extinction and the significance of a prolonged extinction window across the island. The data suggest that people who arrived early and depended on hunting, …

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

United Seas For Resilient Reefs: A Blueprint For Coral Conservation Through International Cooperation, John J. Bohorquez, Maoz Fine, Dana I. Grieco, David A. Gill, Ali Al-Swalimih, Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino, Isaiah W. Bolden, Margaux Hein, Callum Backstrom, Melanie Mcfield, Raphael Martinez, Benjamin Midberry, Fahd Al-Guthmy, Ellen K. Pikitch, Natalia Benejam, Chen Azulay, Britt Ronen, Oren Levy, Anne Mcelroy, Karine Kleinhaus

School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most vital and threatened ecosystems. They protect coastlines, generate billions of dollars of tourism revenue, support valuable fisheries, and contribute to the development of vital medicines. Yet half of the world's coral reefs have been lost in the last 50 years, and 90% of remaining reefs are projected to die off by the middle of this century, mainly due to warming seas from climate change.

Despite these challenges there is reason for hope. Some coral reefs – such as in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba – have demonstrated remarkable resilience to …

Subalpine And Alpine Plant Community Turnover In Yosemite National Park Following 30 Years Of Climate Warming, Rachel Friesen

Master's Theses

Subalpine and alpine regions in California are warming more rapidly than lower elevations. In response, high-elevation plants may acclimate or adapt to the new climate, move to higher elevations or latitudes, persist in refugia, or go extinct. While models predict substantial declines in subalpine and alpine plant communities due to discontinuous population distributions and lack of upslope area, actual responses may vary due to lags in dispersal, establishment, and extinction. Although shifts in high-elevation plant communities have been documented in other regions of the world, such changes have not yet been studied in Yosemite National Park. To assess high-elevation plant …

One Health Interventions And Challenges Under Rural African Smallholder Farmer Settings: A Scoping Review, Evanson R. Omuse, Honest Machekano, Bonoukpoè M. Sokame, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Thomas Dubois, Sevgan Subramanian, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The global human population is rapidly increasing, escalating interactions of people, animals and the environment. This has led to more convoluted health challenges, for which African smallholder farmers bear the brunt. The One Health (OH) approach recognises the interconnectedness of these health challenges and thus follows a transdisciplinary approach involving diverse stakeholders to address them. Although there have recently been global concerted efforts and studies on OH, an information gap exists in Africa, particularly regarding smallholder farmers and their needs. Additionally, evaluation frameworks and outcome metrics for OH initiatives are still unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to critically map …

State And Transition Models For Mulga Rangelands Of Western Australia, Alison O'Donnell, Anna E. Richards, Suzanne Prober, Peter-Jon A. Waddell, Sarah Luxton, Ian Watson, Brett Abbott, Philip Thomas, Joshua E. Foster

Natural resources published reports

This report details a collaborative project between the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and CSIRO that focused on developing State and Transition Models (STMs) for mulga rangelands in Western Australia. The overarching aim of the project was to improve the common understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of mulga rangeland ecosystems and the expected impacts of management. Specifically, the project aimed to collate expert knowledge and monitoring information using a nationally consistent framework to develop quantitative and dynamic STMs. The geographic scope of the project covers the extensive mulga rangelands of Western Australia, particularly the Gascoyne …

Cohabitation At Threshold: Carpenter House Reimagined For Multispecies Living, Zhixiao Yang

Masters Theses

With the rapid growth of the human population, we are encroaching further into wildlife habitats, particularly those surrounding urban environments. This accelerating urbanization leads to biodiversity loss, the degradation of ecological services essential to human health and well-being, and a diminishing connection between city dwellers and the natural world.

Today, urban planners, architects, economists, and other advocates for the future of humanity and the health of the planet are actively questioning how we might build greener, more resilient cities. While much of the focus has been on large-scale interventions — such as the use of sustainable materials, the creation of …

Ecospiritual Entanglement, Ali Vedad Yüner

Masters Theses

Land breeds culture. It gives us the resources to thrive, and in that process we establish a relationship with its constituents. With a multitude of beings inhabiting the land, a complex web of relationships develop. Biology describes these relationships as food webs; the mass entanglement of organisms in a manner that each organism nourishes the other. These webs are not just mere scientific structures but rather an interpretation of existential connections that every organism in the world, humans included, are indebted to. Food webs are the first stepping stone in the formation of culture, as they account for the engagement …

Field Journal: The Excluded Middle, Carrie E. Kouts

Masters Theses

What does it look like to engage with organisms and landscapes at the periphery of anthropocentric value structures? How does one break the internalized myth that the “built” environment is excluded from the natural world? When does a hyper-mobile and hyper-commodified society confront the exponential crisis of animal death? Within this series of journal entries, field notes, collection observations, weird prose, and sensory musings, one will find questions on the nature of being human and the complex narratives of care we encounter in a world shared with more-than-humans. Each handwritten vignette and photograph from daily life weaves a non-linear and …

Four Synonyms Of Tetraleurodes Mori (Quaintance, 1899) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae), Natalia Von Ellenrieder, Raymond J. Gill, Ian C. Stocks

Insecta Mundi

Examination of type specimens of Aleyrodes errans Bemis, 1904, A. dorseyi Kotinsky, 1907 (replacement name for A. quaintancei Bemis, 1904), and A. splendens Bemis, 1904 and comparison with a large series of specimens of Tetraleurodes mori (Quaintance, 1899) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) confirms that the first four names represent new junior subjective synonyms of the latter species, since their types do not differ from it in any significant way and display the combination of diagnostic characters that identifies that species.

Resumen

El análisis de ejemplares tipo de Aleyrodes errans Bemis, 1904, A. dorseyi Kotinsky, 1907 (nombre de …

A New Genus And New Synonyms For Liburnia Reducta Van Duzee, 1907 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacoidea: Delphacidae), Charles R. Bartlett, Adam M. Wallner

Insecta Mundi

The delphacid species Liburnia reducta Van Duzee is transferred to the new genus Calkinodelphax Bartlett and Wallner (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacoidea: Delphacidae) and is designated the type species of this genus under the name Calkinodelphax reductus (Van Duzee), new combination. Calkinodelphax reductus is broadly distributed from Florida, the Antilles, Central America, and northern South America. Calkinodelphax reductus is the subjective senior synonym of Pissonotus striolus Osborn, Delphacodes cornuta Beamer, and Euides fasciatella auct. (nec. Osborn). A new lectotype is designated for Liburnia reducta Van Duzee. The female holotype and male allotype of Liburniella fasciatella Osborn were reviewed and found to …

Contributions To The Taxonomy Of The Neotropical Millipede Genus Iulidesmus Silvestri, 1895 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae: Catharosomatini), Sergei I. Golavatch, Juan Romero-Rincon, Nesrine Akkari, Santiago Alvear

Insecta Mundi

Three new species of Iulidesmus Silvestri, 1895 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae), one of the most species-rich genera of Diplopoda globally that currently encompasses about 90 species, are described from the Andes: I. inga Golovatch, Romero-Rincon, Akkari and Alvear, new species, from Colombia. I. bilobus Golovatch, Romero-Rincon, Akkari and Alvear, new species, from Ecuador, and I. zakharovi Golovatch, Romero-Rincon, Akkari and Alvear, new species, from Peru. The following new combination is proposed: Iulidesmus alagoanus (Schubart, 1950), from Brazil, new combination, ex Habrodesmus Cook, 1896. The female holotypes of Strongylosoma glabrum Peters, 1865, from Colombia, and …

Melittological Notes From Guatemala (Hymenoptera: Anthophila), 2. New Country Records For Apidae (Anthophorini And Centridini) And Halictidae (Augochlorini), Ana Cristina Garcia-Cordon, José Monzón-Sierra, Richard S. Zack, Silas Bossert

Insecta Mundi

We report three new country records of bee species (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) from Guatemala: Centris flavifrons Fabricius and Deltoptila costaricensis Friese, both in the family Apidae, and Caenaugochlora costaricensis Friese, in the family Halictidae. We illustrate the species and discuss their present-day distribution. These new data contribute to the growing knowledge on native bee diversity from Central America, especially from Guatemala.

Resumen

Reportamos tres nuevos registros de abejas (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) en Guatemala, Centris flavifrons Fabricius y Deltoptila costaricensis Friese, ambas de la familia Apidae, y Caenaugochlora costaricensis Friese, de la familia Halictidae. Presentamos las especies y discutimos su distribución actual. Estos …

A New Species Of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz, 1829 And Synonymy Of Two Species Of Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, 1829 From Baja California Sur, Mexico (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Richard L. Westcott

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Buprestidae (Coleoptera), Chrysobothris bajacalifornica Westcott, is described from Baja California Sur, Mexico and discussed in relation to species I consider related to it. Acmaeodera lagunae Van Dyke, 1945 is newly synonymized under A. flavosticta Horn, 1878, and A. lucana Van Dyke, 1942 is newly synonymized under A. subbalteata LeConte, 1863. A lectotype is designated for A. flavosticta Horn.

Discovery Of Anisobas Irwini Claridge, New Species, And New Host And Distribution Records Of Anisobas Coloradensis (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae: Ichneumonini), Brandon R. Claridge, Kyri A. Forman

Insecta Mundi

Anisobas Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae: Ichneumonini) is a moderately diverse parasitoid wasp genus present in the Holarctic and Indo-Malaysian regions. Here, we advance taxonomic knowledge of western Nearctic Anisobas by documenting new rearing and distribution records for A. coloradensis (Cresson) and describe A. irwini Claridge, new species, from central Arizona. There are now seven known Nearctic Anisobas species.

New Species Of Phaea Newman (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Tetraopini), With Notes On Some Known Species And New Records, Antonio Santos-Silva, Frederick W. Skillman Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Four new species of Phaea Newman, 1840 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Tetraopini) are described: P. antiguaensis Santos-Silva and Skillman, new species, from Guatemala; P. autlanensis Santos- Silva and Skillman, new species, from Mexico (Jalisco); P. hildebranti Santos-Silva and Skillman, new species, from Mexico (Jalisco and Michoacán); and P. minatitleca Santos-Silva and Skillman, new species, from Mexico (Colima). Notes on the identity of Phaea vitticollis Bates, 1872 are provided. Phaea lingafelteri Heffern, Santos-Silva and Nascimento, 2018 is recorded from Honduras and Phaea quadrimaculata Wappes and Santos- Silva, 2021 is recorded from the Mexican state of Guerrero. Notes on the chromatic and morphological …

New Records Of Liparthrum Squamosum Blackman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Hypoborini) In Pennsylvania, Dani J. Firth, Lawrence E. Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Liparthrum squamosum Blackman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Hypoborini) is reported for the first time from Pennsylvania. A single specimen was found in 2015 and four subsequent specimens were collected in 2024 through several insect trap and lure combinations. These records increase the known range for this species in the eastern United States.

Learning That Sticks: How Students Remember Invasive Species Through Different Learning Methods, Francesco L. Miniello

Honors College Theses

This study aimed to determine which learning methods are most effective at helping students learn about invasive species. Research through literature reviews showed that active learning methods can best help students learn and retain information regarding aspects of the natural environment. This includes hands-on activities such as participating in discussions, making observations, playing games, and interacting with objects like animals. The experiment tested different active and passive learning methods. This included watching presentations under passive learning or reviewing information online through active learning. Results showed that participants felt more confident about learning the material through active learning and were more …

Impacts Of Land Development On Soil Microdiversity And Antibiotic Production, Dennis Guillen Castro, Robert Garcia, Jonathan Castro, Davida Smyth

Masters Theses (Archived)

The impact of land development on soil microbial diversity and antibiotic production is critical due to industrial expansion and the scarcity of effective antibiotics. Low Impact Development (LID) aims to preserve ecosystems, but its effectiveness in maintaining microbial diversity is uncertain. This study compares soil samples from nine sites: undisturbed (UD), residential (RD), and Madla Greenway (GW) within the VIDA development area and Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus. Isolated microbes were screened for antibiotic production and genetically characterized. Preliminary findings indicate that UD sites harbor greater microbial abundance, and a higher proportion of antibiotic-producing microbes compared to GW and RD …

Participatory Science Newsletter 2025_05_20, Mairi Poisson, Malin Clyde, Alyson L. Eberhardt

Participatory Science News

In this edition of the UNH Participatory Sciences Newsletter, we offer news and resources on The Power of Participatory Sciences. These include a story about UNH graduate student Lauren White's work using participatory science data about horseshoe crab spawning in the Great Bay. Another story highlights UNH's Coastal Research Volunteers Beach Profiling Project and another outlines how many UNH researchers at UNH are working with local communities to find solutions to environmental problems. A final article shares information about the 2025 conference for the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences and the poster presented by scholars and students from UNH.

Pollinator Plant Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Hanen Van Rossem

Master's Theses

Historically the fire-dependent and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem was the dominant ecosystem of the Southeastern US. This ecosystem’s range was massively reduced due to land conversion and fire exclusion, causing the decline of many native species. Efforts to restore and protect longleaf pine stands are now ongoing with the goal of expanding habitat and refuge for threatened species. Differences in restoration practices and prior land use may influence the extent to which restored habitat patches can support pollinators and their plants. This study compared pollinator plant biodiversity between restored neighboring montane longleaf pine stands that differed in …