Researchers have discovered eight new endemic polyester bee species in Chile, showcasing their adaptability across various habitats. The newly described species, including the Charizard bee, display unique characteristics such as snout-like faces and broad hind legs.
The Global Names project enables the rapid indexing of content using scientific names, improving the discovery of small data. The study found that name-matching was improved to almost 85% with simplified or canonical versions of names.
The EU-funded project EU BON provides conceptual and practical advice for implementing available data sharing and publishing tools. The report highlights two main challenges facing the biodiversity data community: a lack of unified user interfaces and gaps in data coverage and quality.
Researchers found that Australian small carpenter bee populations flourished in the wake of global warming following the last Ice Age. The study's findings suggest that bees have responded similarly to climate change globally, which could be a positive sign for their survival.
The first FORCE11 Scholarly Commons workshop aimed to restart scholarly communication using technology and business-enabled models. The report published in RIO Journal outlines five principles: open and sustainable, fair, credit for all endeavors, technology- and business-enabled, not -led, and governance and funding.
A new study highlights the importance of an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to climate change assessment to provide a more complete picture of impacts. Single sector studies often misrepresent the spatial pattern and magnitude of impacts due to omitted interdependencies within human and environmental systems.
The Unicorn platform aggregates open information from multiple databases to create tools for efficient policy studies, improving data collection, analysis, and modeling. It aims to support societal decision-making by providing quick, reliable, and efficient decision support.
Dr. Michael Skvarla's Ph.D. research at the University of Arkansas has discovered 30 previously unknown sawfly species in the state. The study highlights the vast natural history still to be explored about insects, with many species having large range extensions across hundreds of miles.
The Italian Botanical Society has launched an online open-access journal called Italian Botanist, which covers both Italian and international research in botany and mycology. The new journal is part of Pensoft's portfolio and aims to boost scientific value and international visibility.
The Open Neuroimaging Laboratory aims to aggregate annotated brain imaging data and develop a tool for distributed team collaboration. The project seeks to improve transparency, statistical power, and reproducibility in brain data analysis.
In a groundbreaking discovery, Czech researchers found the first case of ovoviviparity in long-horned beetles from Borneo, resulting in three new genera and four species descriptions. The study reveals high morphological diversity in this lineage, challenging current knowledge on beetle reproduction.
Shiny Cowbirds have been spotted in Quito, Ecuador at an altitude of 2,800m, expanding the species' distribution range by approximately 500m. This finding suggests human disturbances like forest fragmentation and climate change may be prompting the birds to breed in higher altitudes.
A new parasitic wasp species, Conobregma bradpitti, has been discovered in South Africa, measuring less than 2 mm and bearing a striking resemblance to Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The species belongs to a large group of wasps that lay eggs in moth or butterfly caterpillars.
A newly discovered Australian plant species has been named Solanum ossicruentum, based on characteristics of its unripened and mature fruits. The name was chosen from essay submissions by a class of US 7th graders who participated in the research project.
Biologist Dr Aldemaro Romero Jr explores how major religions have influenced evolutionists and their scientific thinking over the centuries. He challenges notions of predetermination and linearity in evolutionary theory by highlighting the importance of considering philosophical baggage in research conclusions.
A study by Emile Fiesler and Tracy Drake discovered 689 species of invertebrates in the Madrona Marsh Preserve, including flightless creatures such as camel crickets and velvet ants. The diversity was found to be surprisingly high despite urbanization pressures.
Researchers Warren Savary and Rob Bryson have discovered a new species of scorpion in the Sierra Nevada foothills, related to several previously described species from California. The discovery highlights the state's vast and underexplored biodiversity, with many scorpion species remaining to be described.
A new species of flightless beetle, Trigonopterus chewbacca, has been discovered in New Britain with its unique scales resembling Han Solo's loyal companion. The beetle genus thrives best in Melanesia, the Oceania subregion where Papua New Guinea is located.
Scientists describe a new Australian land snail species using micro-computed tomography, creating a 3D model of the genitalia without damaging the specimen. The novel method allows for species delimitation and identification of molluscs with reduced dissection, highlighting its potential as an alternative approach.
Researchers have discovered that dung beetles evolved from a single common ancestor, with the onthophagines and oniticellines tribes making up half of the world's dung beetle fauna. These beetles play a crucial role in ecosystems by recycling nutrients and reducing parasites.
The critically endangered Himalayan wolf is distinct from its European cousin and has a separate lineage that diverged thousands of years ago. Local herders view the wolves as a threat to their livelihoods, leading to persecution and killing.
A new development tool is being proposed based on the concept of 'software quality information needs'. The tool aims to provide developers with the right kind of information about the current state of and the effect of changes on software quality. Three case studies will be conducted to develop metrics and measurement techniques to det...
A lesser-known South African mountain endemic, Macowania revoluta, has been rediscovered and found to be an exceptionally important keystone species. Its ecological role in wetland functioning and soil protection is crucial for the ecosystem's balance.
A data sharing pilot project will report and reflect on data policy challenges in development research. The project, which involves 8 case studies, aims to develop a model open research data policy and implementation guidelines for funders.
A rare South African plant, Mrs Barber's Beauty, was rediscovered in the Great Winterberg mountains after 147 years. The plant is now recognized as Critically Endangered due to limited ecological conditions.
A team of entomologists has discovered 12 new scuttle fly species in Los Angeles, showcasing the city's impressive insect diversity. The BioSCAN project, launched in 2013, aims to document urban faunal collections, emphasizing the importance of constant scientific curiosity and attention to rapidly changing environments.
A new roundworm species discovered in India is a bridge between two genera, Acrostichus and Diplogastrellus. The species exhibits intermediate characteristics, such as a narrow mouth cavity and robust male copulatory organs, making it a transitional species.
The Nature Conservation journal has published a study on the illegal trade of Indian Star tortoises across Asia, which gained significant media attention. The journal has also seen a significant increase in publications, authors, and readers over the past four years.
A new grid-based design for butterfly monitoring has been shown to reduce habitat bias and cover previously underrepresented habitats, such as coniferous forests and wetlands. The study found that butterflies were abundant in these areas, highlighting the importance of systematic transects in improving data quality.
A collaborative collection development platform called Cobweb is proposed to support comprehensive web archiving by coordinating independent activities of the web archiving community. The platform will leverage existing tools and sources of archival information to retrieve holdings data from over 3,500 collections across 350 institutions.
Researchers found that pericardial window operation, a treatment for malignant pericardial effusion, is less effective in lung cancer cases compared to other types of cancer. The study suggests alternative, less invasive methods such as needle punctures may be more efficient over time.
The study investigates cultural tourists' attitudes towards visual advertising in Malta, applying research methods to attain original scientific results. Key findings include knowledge about Maltese tourists and their local advertising techniques, as well as recommendations for marketing decision makers.
Six new species of dragon millipedes have been discovered in Chinese caves, featuring unusually long legs and antennae. The species, which live exclusively in caves, exhibit extreme adaptations such as loss of pigmentation and elongated body parts, making them appear ghostly white and semi-transparent.
Scientists have discovered a new species of dark-winged fungus gnat in Germany's Alexander Koenig Museum garden, characterized by its unique reddish, black, and yellowish-white hues. The species was identified through DNA barcoding and shows strong connections to New Zealand relatives.
A new study published in Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation explores the use of satellite remote sensing to monitor species diversity. The research highlights the advantages of SRS methods, including complete spatial coverages and repeated measures, which can help track changes in plant species diversity.
A new proposal aims to improve cancer care for Indigenous Canadians by using visual arts and participatory dialogue with stakeholders. The project will involve healthcare professionals, administrators, and community leaders from Ontario's First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities.
A global data management advisory platform, Roadmap, combines the functionality of DMPTool and DMPonline to support open science initiatives. The platform aims to provide a framework for engaging with disciplinary communities, enhancing data sharing, reuse, and discoverability.
The invasive black wattle species has rapidly expanded around Kunming International Airport, posing a risk to bird strikes and local vegetation. The study highlights the need for urgent assessment of its potential invasion threat at other airports worldwide.
The EU-funded FP7 project EU BON shares stakeholder roundtable reports, providing insights on policy, citizen science, and local/regional stakeholders. The reports outline conclusions on biodiversity information, open-access availability, data workflows, and integration of citizen science.
A special issue of ZooKeys reports 303 new beetle records for New Brunswick, Canada, expanding the fauna by 13% over three years. The findings include 32 species new to science and contribute to a total of 3,062 known species in the region.
The EU BON project published guidelines for standardized, easy-to-find, re-shareable, and re-usable biodiversity data. The report aims to increase interoperability of data and make its re-use both easy and legal. EU BON also promotes the use of biodiversity data as a common resource for human society.
A new search function is presented to highlight the world's most undescribed fungi, with the aim of bridging knowledge gaps between fungal taxonomy and molecular ecology. The '50 Most Wanted Fungi' list provides genus-level clusters of fungal DNA sequences with unknown taxonomic affiliation.
Researchers found two new species of dung beetles in montane forests and cattle grazing sites across the Mexican mountains. The discovery highlights the importance of preserving disturbed ecosystems for species conservation.
A new global catalog, Paperity Central, aims to aggregate scholarly journals and make all publications openly accessible. The catalog will also incorporate features like manual curation, semantic linking, and deduplication to ensure accuracy and context.
The proposed platform, amanuens.is, integrates ContentMine and Hypothes.is prototypes to mine critical facts from scientific documents and make them publicly available. By combining machines and humans, it aims to reduce costs, increase transparency, and facilitate collaboration in biomedical research.
A new large fish species, Myloplus zorroi, has been discovered in the Amazonia region of Brazil. The fish is characterized by its distinctive teeth, specialized to crush seeds, and a reddish silver color with darker markings. It grows up to 47.5 cm in length and dwells in moderately to rapidly flowing clear rivers.
Scientists have developed an illustrated key to distinguish between 41 snout moth grass borers using genitalia analysis. This helps identify economically important pests that feed on crops like sugarcane and corn in the Western Hemisphere.
Akinori Teramura's Twitter post revealed the first recorded case of illegal bluegill fish release in Japan, sparking concerns about native aquatic insect biodiversity. The researchers concluded that the fish were likely released from an aquarium or home aquarist, highlighting the need for community awareness and improved reporting.
A team of scientists collected over 70 fertile/flowering orchid specimens from the field during the 6-week Lengguru 2014 expedition. Four new orchid species were identified among them, all collected in high-altitude forests above 1000 meters above sea level.
The newly discovered Rafflesia consueloae is the smallest of its kind, measuring only 9.73 cm in diameter, and has been named after Filipino conservationist Connie Lopez. The species was classified as Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, highlighting the need for continued protection.