Tackling environmental crime is an international priority, as stated by many individual nations and by multinational organizations such as Europol. Quantifiable evidence to highlight efforts to address environmental crimes, however, remains scant. We use Interpol Red Notices, a global enforcement tool used to apprehend criminals, including environmental criminals, to examine how environmental crime is represented in this database. Notwithstanding the fact that these Notices have evidenced utility in apprehending environmental criminals, we find low application of this tool in apprehension of these criminals, with only 21 Red Notices of a sample of 4,464 (of the 7,010 active Notices) published as of 3 December 2023 being for catagorized as for environmental crimes. We argue this may indicate gaps or weaknesses in environmental enforcement pathways, and suggest that barriers to use of global enforcement tools should be addressed.

Evidence suggests that numbers of African rhinoceroses can increase when annual poaching rates remain below 3.5% of the continental population. In 2020, the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic coincided with a poaching rate of 2.3% (the lowest recorded since 2015) suggesting favourable conditions for recovery. This study had two aims: (1) to examine trends in continental poaching rates since 2020 as pandemic-related restrictions eased, and (2) to assess whether reduced poaching rates have translated into growth in rhinoceros numbers. We found that poaching rates remained relatively low during 2020–2023, ranging from 2.3 to 2.5% annually. During this period, the continental rhinoceros population increased at an average annual rate of 2.9% (95% CI 1.7–4.1%), reaching an estimated 23,995 individuals by the end of 2023. However, population trends varied by site, with some areas experiencing declines as a result of localized increases in poaching. These findings highlight the importance of continued efforts to mitigate poaching, address habitat fragmentation, and adapt to broader environmental changes to support the long-term recovery of African rhinoceroses.

The phylogeny of the highly diverse bivalve order Venerida can be traced back to the Triassic, thanks to the well-understood evolution of its hinge system. I here suggest that the Early or Middle to Late Triassic genus Pseudocorbula is at the root of this phylogenetic lineage. The hinge of Pseudocorbula is primitive relative to the Early Jurassic Eotrapezium in the lack of a chevron-shaped AII–2b complex below the umbo of the left valve. However, both Pseudocorbula and Eotrapezium lack cardinal tooth 3a in the right valve. It is suggested that this lack stimulated the evolution of cardinal tooth 1, which first appeared as a small tubercle at the posterior end of lateral tooth AI that fits below the AII–2b complex; this early stage evolved into the well-known veneroid hinge with a differentiated cardinal tooth 1 in the pivotal position below the umbo of the right valve and the 2a–2b pair of cardinal teeth in the left valve. Pseudocorbulinae new subfamily is proposed for taxa that represent the earliest stage of veneroid hinge evolution, which is placed in Isocyprinidae. This phylogenetic hypothesis extends the roots of Venerida back to the Early or early Middle Triassic, a time that also saw the first appearance of oysters and modern scallops.

UUID: http://zoobank.org/1ba1e7c4-a6c1-4fb2-9e4c-2c1097649365

Fishing has historically altered marine ecosystems around the Mediterranean, so that present assessments often reveal a distorted representation of past, pristine marine assemblages and food webs. Marine protected areas (MPAs), where fishing is restricted or prohibited, could provide reference information about the structure of fish assemblages under healthier (protected) conditions. Here, we collected rocky reef fish data using visual census at three MPAs in the Ligurian Sea (Bergeggi Island, Portofino, and Cinque Terre; NW Mediterranean) across a protection gradient: fully and partially protected conditions within the MPAs, and conditions open to fishing outside MPAs. Results show that: (i) fish assemblages’ structures (i.e. taxa composition and relative biomasses) change with the protection level; (ii) total fish biomass and the biomass of high-level fish predators are positively correlated with the level of protection; (iii) biomass of target species (i.e. Epinephelus marginatus, Sciaena umbra, Diplodus sargus, and D. vulgaris) are positively correlated with the protection level. In conclusion, this study shows that: (i) effective protection against fishing may allow the recovery of rocky reef fish assemblages; (ii) MPAs may enable us to better understand the structure of coastal assemblages, which are dominated in terms of biomass by high-level fish predators under healthier (protected) conditions. This study thus offers grounds for discussion of how important is the adoption of systematic ecological monitoring to assess the effectiveness of each individual MPA, but also, more importantly, to properly effectively achieve international conservation targets, such as the ‘30×30’ target, agreed by the international community.

Visual methods of surveying snakes are subject to observer bias and their accuracy is often questioned. Data collection by non-specialists offers an alternative way to record sightings. We present citizen science as a valuable tool for surveying the viperid snake Lachesis rhombeata, yielding more data than a traditional visual census in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in north-east Brazil. From visits to local museum/university collections and a literature search, we obtained only 10 georeferenced historical records for this species in the study area dating from 1990 to 2020. In 218 h of visual field surveys during 2022 and 2023, covering 15,000 m2, we did not locate any L. rhombeata individuals, probably because their low population density and cryptic habits made their detection difficult. However, during the same period we acquired 110 georeferenced records through citizen science. The high number of records from citizen science underscores the value of this approach when working with an elusive and threatened snake. Lachesis rhombeata is often implicated in human–wildlife conflict but engaging local people in the project led to positive behavioural changes. Through citizen science we were able to examine live individuals, map the species’ current distribution, investigate threats to its survival and contribute data for studies on taxonomy, diet, home range, diseases and ethno-herpetology.

While blue fluorescence has previously been reported in several genera of carnivorous plants, green fluorescence has not been formally documented in previous literature. Here, we present the first confirmed record and qualitative documentation of vivid green biofluorescence in a member of the genus Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae). This study aims to examine this distinctive trait and interpret its ecological and taxonomic implications. The specimens exhibited intermediate morphological characteristics—including leaf margins lined with brown hairs, distinctly petiolated leaves, and a peristome bearing spike-like teeth—indicating a hybrid origin between two sympatric species, N. benstonei and N. rafflesiana. Under UV light (365 nm excitation), the peristomes of mature pitchers from the Nepenthes hybrid (N. benstonei × rafflesiana) exhibited intense green fluorescence. In contrast, both putative parental species emitted blue fluorescence: N. benstonei uniformly across its peristome, while N. rafflesiana displayed sparse yellow-green streaks on its peristome. The natural hybrid was discovered at elevations of 700–900 metres above sea level (MASL) in the Timur Range, Peninsular Malaysia, with only nine individuals recorded. In addition to providing preliminary data on the occurrence of an undescribed taxon, this represents the first recorded instance of green autofluorescence in Nepenthes—hitherto unobserved in the wild—that may contribute to its insect-luring strategy. Our findings underscore the rich biodiversity of the region’s rainforests and highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to safeguard these ecosystems, which may harbour as-yet-undiscovered taxa.

This study presents data on helminth communities from 93 Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix). The dataset includes historical and contemporary records from three localities in Ukraine with different levels of urbanisation: Kyiv, the Middle Dnipro River, and Polissya. Thirty-two helminth species were identified, including 14 trematodes, six cestodes, 11 nematodes, and one acanthocephalan. The nematodes Eufilariella delicata and Hadjelia truncata are documented in Hooded Crows for the first time. During the statistical analysis, it was revealed that the used dataset is insufficient for robust inference regarding the impact of urbanisation on helminth communities due to its temporal and spatial biases. Despite the limitation, the data offer information for future research on the influence of urbanisation on helminth biodiversity in avian hosts.

Food insecurity is a global issue. The objective is to summarise the literature identifying the main outcomes related to out-of-school hours interventions that provide food for low-income families with school-aged children, how they impact school-aged children and their families, and to identify gaps in knowledge. This review covered the main types and dimensions proposed in the literature. One author independently selected the studies, and an independent reviewer randomly reviewed them. Any paper meeting the inclusion criteria was considered regardless of geographical location. Papers were predominantly from the US, UK and Australia, including school-aged children from low-income families. Ninety-four articles were included relating to holiday clubs (n = 38), breakfast clubs (n = 45) and after-school clubs (n = 11). Key outcomes were healthy eating, academic, social, physical activity, nutritional education and financial outcomes. Clubs were consistent regarding the positive social and financial outcomes. There was variation in the primary aim, either to improve healthy eating or to feed children, regardless of nutritional quality. None of the studies reported children’s health outcomes. This review identified the key outcomes of interventions for low-income families outside of school hours in the literature. It highlights the consistent positive social outcomes across the three intervention types and the discrepancy in the nutritional value of the food provided. Few studies examined the attainment impact of holiday clubs, with no evidence on how they could impact term-time attendance. This highlights the need to analyse secondary data to understand further the attainment and attendance impact on children attending these interventions over time.

Recently, functional foods have been considered as an effective approach in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This trial aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of date seed powder (DSP) on inflammation anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and tryptophan (TRP)–kynurenine (KYN) metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this trial, forty-three patients with type 2 diabetes were randomised to two groups: either 5 g/d of the DSP or placebo for 8 weeks. Depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality, quality of life (QoL), levels of fasting blood glucose, endotoxin, anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory biomarkers, hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis-associated biomarkers (including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), KYN, TRP, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. An independent t test was used for baseline comparisons, while ANCOVA was used for post-intervention between-group comparisons. The results showed that supplementation with DSP significantly improved depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality and QoL in comparison with placebo. In terms of biochemical parameters, the intervention group exhibited significantly reduced levels of endotoxin, and cortisol, KYN, KYN:TRP ratio as well as significantly elevated levels of IL-10, TRP concentrations and IL-10:IL-18 ratio compared to the placebo group. Changes in fasting sugar, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-18, ACTH, BDNF concentrations and cortisol:ACTH ratio were not different between groups. Supplementing with date seed may effectively improve anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and QoL by modulating metabolic endotoxemia, inflammation and HPA axis activity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The rapid spread of herbicide resistance in weeds, driven by gene flow through multiple pathways, poses an increasing challenge for agricultural systems. This review summarizes the extent and distance of pollen- and seed-mediated gene flow (PMGF and SMGF, respectively) in selected self-pollinated weeds and the environmental factors that influence PMGF. A comprehensive literature review was focused on assessing PMGF patterns, dispersal mechanisms, and influencing factors across self-pollinated weed species. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate correlations between PMGF and environmental variables, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and elevation. Self-pollinated weeds in the Asteraceae family show the highest PMGF (average 10.63%), with common groundsel showing 24% at 0.5 m from the pollen source. Solanaceae and Chenopodiaceae are plant families with the second and third highest PMGF (average 10.00% and 1.58%, respectively). Within Solanaceae, eastern black nightshade exhibited the maximum PMGF (17%), whereas in Chenopodiaceae, magenta spreen showed the highest gene flow, reaching 3% at 15 m from the pollen source. In contrast, the lowest mean PMGF was observed in Poaceae and Brassicaceae (average 1.87% and 0.33%, respectively). Furthermore, among environmental variables, only temperature showed a significant correlation (P < 0.05). Due to the limited number of studies, this correlation should be viewed cautiously, as it likely reflects general patterns rather than a causal link to PMGF. Bold-seeded grasses such as oat may disperse seeds at low frequency (14-18%), however, light-seeded species such as horseweed can disperse as high as 99% of their seeds. Understanding gene flow in self-pollinated weeds with high fecundity is vital to limiting herbicide resistance spread in such species.

The distribution and abundance of insect pests are influenced by landscape structure and composition, particularly through modifications to biocontrol services and the proportion of suitable habitats within the landscape. In addition, pest populations are affected by agricultural practices at different landscape scales, ranging from field-by-field to area-wide. Our study focuses on one of the world’s most invasive and polyphagous pests of fruits and vegetables: the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel, 1912) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We analysed how farmer practices, landscape composition, and mango varieties were related to B. dorsalis infestation in an insular tropical agroecosystem with disparate farming systems, where crop plots are of modest size and interconnected with various habitat types. Fruit infestations were regularly recorded during 18 months in different plots on all mango varieties of the study area. Agricultural practices were determined through semi-structured interviews and categorised according to the farm structure and practices related to B. dorsalis management. Landscape composition was determined from high-resolution satellite imagery and local surveys, and the area of landscape cover was calculated within a 500 m buffer around each sampled orchard plot. We demonstrate that both landscape and local factors influence the infestation indexes of B. dorsalis in mango orchards. At a landscape scale, B. dorsalis was favoured by habitat diversity, which probably provided complementary larval food resources and enabled populations to maintain throughout the year. On a local scale, individual farmers’ practices had a significant influence on infestation indexes. The proportion of infested fruits was lower in plots managed by farmers who practised sanitation.