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opencc-zeroJul 2023View details →

A major myna problem; invasive predator removal benefits female survival and population growth of a translocated island endemic

Invasive predators are a major driver of extinctions and continue to threaten native populations worldwide. Island eradications of (mostly mammalian) invasive predators have facilitated the reestablishment of numerous island-endemic populations. Other invasive taxa, such as some predatory birds, could pose a more persistent threat due to their ability to fly and actively re-invade even remote and isolated islands. However, the impact of invasive predatory birds has been largely overlooked. We report on a novel sex-specific impact of an invasive-nest predator, the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), on a reintroduced population of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis); translocated from Cousin Island to Denis Island in 2004. Regular post-translocation monitoring revealed that female mortality was 20 % higher than males, leading to a 60–70 % male-biased population sex-ratio between 2005 and 2015. This was attributed to common mynas inflicting severe injuries to incubating female Seychelles warblers while attempting to prey upon eggs in their nests. These effects likely contributed to the slower-than-expected population growth observed (relative to previous translocations of Seychelles warblers to other islands) over the same period. An eradication programme beginning in 2011 removed all common mynas from Denis by 2015. Subsequently, we observed a balancing of sex-specific survival and the population sex-ratio of Seychelles warblers and, consequently, accelerated population growth. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing the threat posed by all invasive taxa (not just mammals) to island conservation. Furthermore, we show how extended monitoring is needed to identify problems and develop solutions, post-translocation.

opencc-zeroJul 2023View details →

A secure future? Human urban and agricultural land use benefits a flightless island-endemic rail despite climate change

Identifying environmental characteristics that limit species' distributions is important for contemporary conservation and inferring responses to future environmental change. The Tasmanian native hen is an island-endemic flightless rail and a survivor of a prehistoric extirpation event. Little is known about the regional-scale environmental characteristics influencing the distribution of native hens, or how their future distribution might be impacted by environmental shifts (e.g., climate change). Using a combination of local fieldwork and species distribution modelling, we assess environmental factors shaping the contemporary distribution of the native hen, and project future distribution changes under predicted climate change. We find 37.2% of Tasmania is currently suitable for the native hens, owing to low summer precipitation, low elevation, human-modified vegetation, and urban areas. Moreover, in unsuitable regions, urban areas can create 'oases' of habitat, able to support populations with high breeding activity by providing resources and buffering against environmental constraints. Under climate change predictions, native hens were predicted to lose only 5% of their occupied range by 2055. We conclude that the species is resilient to climate change and benefits overall from anthropogenic landscape modifications. As such, this constitutes a rare example of a flightless rail to have adapted to human activity.

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Tempo-spatial evolution of seed plant endemism in Taiwan island

Aim: In Taiwan island, dispersal through recent land-bridge and oversea after the appearance of proto-Taiwan (<6.5 Ma) is responsible for its biodiversity assembly. While radiations have also been widely reported in mountain systems. So, the tempo-spatial route to the floral hotspot was determined through a meta-analysis of evolution of endemic plants. Location: Taiwan island and adjacent Asian regions. Taxon: Seed plants. Methods: Published dated phylogenies were compiled, and the stem ages were considered as origin times. Ancestral range shift pattern and/or distribution of sister lineage/species were used to determine the speciation mode, in situ origin or dispersal. The distributions of sister taxa were assigned to ten different biogeographical regions. Histograms quantifying the number of different origin mode events within 0.5 Ma bins were constructed. Possibility of long-distance dispersal (LDD) was evaluated. Results: The 125 sampled endemic plants originated between the late Eocene and late Pleistocene, with 111 species (88.8%) originating after the emergence of proto-Taiwan and 14 species (11.2%) before. Spatially, in situ speciation contributed more to the formation of endemism than dispersal (56.8% vs 43.2%). The mean ages of in situ origin species (1.83 Ma) are significantly younger than that of dispersal (6.34 Ma). The main regions from which dispersal occurred were south-central (n=29) and southeast China (n=28) (referred to as south China), followed by Japan (n=14). High ratio (60.8%) of LDD ability is found. Main conclusions: Spatially, recent land-bridge and oversea dispersal from the adjacent flora of Asia is supported and southwest and southeast China are the most important sources. In situ speciation that may be correlated with mountain uplift, monsoon intensification and Pleistocene climatic fluctuations exert greater contributions. Temporally, floral endemism is predominantly origin after the emergence of proto-Taiwan. Additional investigations with more sophisticated sampling and genetic data are needed in the future.

opencc-zeroSep 2023View details →

Endemic species of ectomycorrhizal fungi support the exceptional productivity of a temperate rainforest

Endemic species of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can be found throughout many forest biomes, but it is unclear whether their localized distribution is dictated by deterministic processes or geographical barriers to dispersal. We investigated the adaptive characteristics and prevalence of endemic versus cosmopolitan EMF species in perhumid temperate rainforests of southwestern Vancouver Island (Canada), characterized by moist, acidic soils with high nitrogen (N) supply alongside low phosphorus (P) and cation availability. Endemic EMF species, representing almost half of the community, had significantly higher sporocarp N (24% increase), potassium (+16%), and magnesium (+17%) concentrations than cosmopolitan species. Sporocarp P concentrations were low overall, reflecting limited soil P availability, and did not differ by fungal range. However, sporocarp N% and P% were well correlated, and species with higher N concentrations showed an increasing N:P ratio, supporting evidence for the N allocation required to produce organic P-acquiring enzymes. Endemics were also more likely to occur on Tsuga heterophylla (a disjunct host genus) than Picea sitchensis (a circumpolar genus), but pairwise comparisons indicated no differences in abundance by fungal range for either host. Endemics represented a diverse group, with moderate dispersion across the phylogeny. The Inocybaceae and Thelephoraceae families had high proportions of endemic taxa, while Cortinariaceae was largely cosmopolitan, highlighting some niche conservatism in certain lineages but not as an overall pattern. We conclude that superior adaptive traits in relation to perhumid soils were skewed towards the endemic community, underscoring the important contribution of these localized fungi to rainforest nutrition and productivity.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Data for: A new endemic Smilax (Smilacaceae) from Tafelberg, Suriname, supported by morphometric and phylogenetic evidence

Taxonomy of Smilax in the Neotropics is poorly known with many undescribed species, unresolved synonymy, and regional treatments with conflicting taxon concepts. This issue is amplified in the Guiana Shield, which has arguably received the least amount of taxonomic research over the years. Here, we investigate multiple specimens from Tafelberg, Suriname that we hypothesized to represent an undescribed species. We used univariate and multivariate morphometrics to analyze linear measurements and leaf outlines to test if and how Tafelberg specimens differ from those of morphologically similar species in the Guiana Shield, Smilax lasseriana and S. maypurensis. We used a genome skimming approach to sequence and assemble plastomes, which also allowed us to extract loci previously employed in Sanger-based studies and place the putative new species in a phylogeny with expanded taxon sampling. We recovered the Smilax from Tafelberg as more closely related to species with ranges centered in eastern Brazil than to its morphologically hypothesized congeners, S. lasseriana and S. maypurensis. We describe this new species as Smilax tafelbergensis with detailed morphological comparisons to similar taxa, a distribution map, and illustration.

controlledIPD-YESFeb 2026View details →

Reducing the Risk of P. Vivax After Falciparum Infections in Co-endemic Areas

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT03916003. IPD Sharing: YES. Countries: 3. Publications: 2.

Long Term Immunity and Safety Following Vaccination With the JEV IC51 (IXIARO®, JESPECT®) in Pediatric Population In Non Endemic Countries. Uncontrolled, Ph3 FU-Study

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT01246479. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 3. Publications: 1.

Endemic Mycoses Treatment With SUBA-itraconazole vs Itraconazole

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT03572049. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 2. Publications: 2.

Prevalence of Hookworm Infection and Community Preparedness for Hookworm Vaccine Trials in Endemic Areas of Brazil

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT00939198. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 3.

A Double-Blind Placebo-Control Dose Escalating Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of dmLT by Oral, Sublingual and Intradermal Vaccination in Adults Residing in an Endemic Area

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT03548064. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 2. Publications: 1.

controlledIPD-YESFeb 2026View details →

Immunogenicity and Safety of Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine (TDV) in Adolescents in Non-Endemic Area(s)

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT03341637. IPD Sharing: YES. Countries: 1. Publications: 2.

controlledIPD-YESFeb 2026View details →

Examine Safety and Immune Responses of GSK 257049 Vaccine When Administered to Infants Living in a Malaria-endemic Region

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT00197028. IPD Sharing: YES. Countries: 1. Publications: 2.

Characterization of Skin Immunity to Aedes Aegypti Saliva in Dengue-endemic Participants in Cambodia

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT04350905. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 3.

A Cohort Study to Determine the Incidence of Dengue Fever and to Build Capacity for Dengue Vaccine Trials in Dengue-endemic Regions of South Asia

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT02570152. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 1.