Acoustic communication in anurans involves specialised structures associated with sound production and reception, including the vocal apparatus and tympanum, respectively. Sexual differences in these structures may reflect variation in overall body size or sex-specific structural differentiation. However, information regarding sexual dimorphism in acoustic-related morphology remains limited for Bornean ranids, particularly in Hylarana raniceps. This study investigated sexual dimorphism in the tympanum and vocal apparatus morphology of H. raniceps from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. A total of 24 individuals collected from Gunung Mulu National Park, Gunung Gading National Park, Ranchan Recreational Park, Kubah National Park, and Simunjan Forest Reserve were examined. Morphological observations and morphometric measurements were obtained for the tympanum, snout-vent length (SVL), and tibia length (TL). Five linear measurements of the vocal apparatus were obtained after histological processing using Haematoxylin and Eosin staining. Male H. raniceps exhibited larger vocal apparatus structures, whereas females possessed larger body size, tibia length, and tympanum dimensions. The sexual dimorphism index (SDI) indicated male-biased vocal apparatus measurements and female-biased body size and tympanum measurements. Histological observations revealed apparently greater development of the surrounding musculature in males; however, muscle thickness was not directly quantified. ANCOVA showed that tympanum morphology was strongly associated with SVL (p < 0.001), with significant sex × SVL interactions indicating sex-specific allometric relationships. Several vocal apparatus traits (PVPM and CPEP) remained significantly different between sexes after accounting for body size variation, providing evidence of sexual shape dimorphism. Principal component analysis showed that PC1 explained 92.17
Legacy natural-history collections can provide auditable faunal baselines, but the biodiversity patterns they contain may also reflect uneven collecting histories. Using taxonomically verified Sarcophagidae from the Lakes Region of southwestern Türkiye, we integrated voucher linkage, taxonomic and spatial harmonization, reconstruction of sampling history, and sensitivity analysis to determine what the collection documents, quantify how temporal sampling replication relates to recorded richness, and interpret associated faunal patterns within that sampling framework. The collection comprised 202 occurrence records and 300 preserved voucher specimens from 73 source-defined sampling locations and 57 canonical locality units across four provinces (Afyonkarahisar, Antalya, Burdur, and Isparta). Of these, 201 occurrences and 299 vouchers were identified to species, representing 37 species at 72 locations. Sampling was highly uneven: 80.7
Vultures play an indispensable ecological role in maintaining ecosystem balance through the rapid removal of carrion and the provision of critical ecosystem services. Of the 16 Old World vulture species, Africa supports 11, with eight species recorded in Ethiopia. However, urbanization and associated anthropogenic pressures may threaten these essential scavengers. This study assessed vulture species composition, observed abundance, seasonal variation, and conservation threats in Jimma City, southwestern Ethiopia, during the dry season (January–March) and wet season (May–July) of 2022. Data were collected through systematic field observations, questionnaire surveys, and key informant interviews and were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Four globally threatened species were recorded: hooded, white-backed, rüppell’s griffon, and lappet-faced vultures, underscoring the urgent need for targeted conservation interventions. Vulture counts varied significantly between seasons (P < 0.001), with higher counts recorded during the wet season. Mean dry-season counts were 264 ± 9 for hooded, 191 ± 29 for African white-backed, 17 ± 3 for Rüppell’s griffon, and 4 ± 1 for lappet-faced vultures. The corresponding wet-season counts were 408 ± 57, 266 ± 25, 29 ± 4, and 7 ± 1, respectively. The hooded vulture had the highest relative abundance, accounting for 57
Groundwater ecosystems host a diverse yet poorly understood fauna, largely due to their inaccessibility and the prevalence of cryptic species. These organisms often exhibit convergent adaptations (troglomorphy), such as loss of pigmentation and eyes, which can mask true phylogenetic relationships and impede species delimitation based solely on morphology. This study investigates the diversity of three populations of the stygobiont amphipod genus Niphargus from springs in Iran using an integrative taxonomic approach, combining molecular data (mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S rRNA genes) with traditional morphological analysis. Phylogenetic reconstructions placed all three populations within the N. alisadri subclade. Despite minimal differentiation in the 28S marker and only subtle morphological divergence, species delimitation analyses (ASAP and bPTP) of COI sequences and genetic distance calculations identified the populations as comprising two putative new species. We describe these as N. hamedanensis sp. nov. and N. arakensis sp. nov. The small but significant genetic and inferred functional differences between these species and N. alisadri suggest a recent evolutionary divergence, potentially driven by allopatric isolation in higher altitude refugia. This discovery of cryptic diversity highlights the necessity of molecular methods for uncovering groundwater biodiversity and presents a model system for studying the initial stages of speciation in subterranean environments.
Military zones (MZs) can provide important opportunities for conserving natural ecosystems. Gyeryongsan National Park contains both MZs and non-military zones (NMZs), offering a setting to assess the role of MZs in biodiversity conservation. To examine medium- and large-sized mammal distribution, we deployed 21 camera-traps from May to November 2021—six in the MZ and 15 in the NMZ—and compiled 36 environmental predictors across multiple spatial scales. Temporal activity patterns were compared between zones using kernel density estimation, and spatial habitat use was assessed with Bayesian single-species occupancy models. Community composition was broadly similar between zones; however, two disturbance-sensitive carnivores, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula), differed in their spatiotemporal responses. The leopard cat showed higher estimated occupancy in the MZ, whereas the marten exhibited zone-specific diel activity patterns. In contrast, several more disturbance-tolerant or generalist species, including water deer (Hydropotes inermis), wild boar (Sus scrofa), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), and Asian badger (Meles leucurus) were more strongly associated with the NMZ. Taken together, our results suggest that MZs can function as low-disturbance refuges for sensitive species and provide conservation value complementary to NMZs, although long-term, multi-site monitoring is needed to determine whether these findings can be generalized across military zones.
