Biodiversity and Conservation

13 July 2018

Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered basal angiosperm Brasenia schreberi (Cabombaceae) in China

Zhi-Zhong Li, Andrew W. Gichira, Qing-Feng Wang, Jin-Ming Chen

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Alastair Culham –– This is thoprough research on a generally neglected topic. Aquatic macrophytes are under-studied with molecular techniques due to the risks of contamination from aquatic algae. The combination of population genetics, geographic pattern analysis and conservation make this paper novel and particularly interesting.

11 July 2018

Genetic flow among olive populations within the Mediterranean basin

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Marion Röder –– The authors present results about the genetic diversity, gene flow and population structure of olive trees in the Mediterranean region.

9 July 2018

A Pan-Amazonian species delimitation: high species diversity within the genus Amazophrynella (Anura: Bufonidae)

Section Editor rating: 8 / 10

Patricia Gandini –– The paper contribute to the knowledge of an the Amazonian Biodiversity and of an unknown Amazonian anfibia

5 July 2018

Who bears the cost of forest conservation?

Section Editor rating: 7 / 10

Patricia Gandini –– Critical an important issue worldwide

3 July 2018

Spatial changes in zooplankton communities in a strong human-mediated river ecosystem

Section Editor rating: 7 / 10

Patricia Gandini –– New findings in an important and scarce investigated subject

22 June 2018

Low resolution scans can provide a sufficiently accurate, cost- and time-effective alternative to high resolution scans for 3D shape analyses

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Philip Cox –– The many different scanning methodologies now available are being used across many different research fields. Thus, the results of this study of high interest to researchers in a variety of disciplines.

20 June 2018

Effects of anthropogenic wildfire in low-elevation Pacific island vegetation communities in French Polynesia

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Bruno Marino –– The impact of anthropogenic wildfire on islands is increasingly important in the context of expanding human presence and climate change. The study considers factors controlling wildfire for the Pacific islands including southeastern Polynesia. The study brings together wildfire impacts and coeval changes in native vegetation and for invasive species. The study provides a key baseline community resource for fire management on the Pacific Islands studied.

15 June 2018

Primates in peril: the significance of Brazil, Madagascar, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for global primate conservation

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Kara Hoover –– Comprehensive approach to reviewing literature and available data focused on primate conservation in critical zones.

13 June 2018

Can non-destructive DNA extraction of bulk invertebrate samples be used for metabarcoding?

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Xavier Pochon –– This study developed and described a new DNA extraction methods that facilitates rapid bulk extraction of freshwater invertebrate samples for metabarcoding, while enabling the same samples to be used for individual DNA barcoding and taxonomic identification. This approach will be of great use to researchers aiming to conduct morpho-molecular analyses of freshwater invertebrates in a rapidly advancing field.

12 June 2018

The restoration of the endangered Sambucus palmensis after 30 years of conservation actions in the Garajonay National Park: genetic assessment and niche modeling

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Paolo Giordani –– A good example of concrete output of a modeling approach, with very concrete information for conservation planning of a highly endangered tree species from the Canary laurel forest.