Known <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> occurrence points in South Africa used for predictive distribution modelling (<i>Bd</i>+ = infected).

*<p>each species was counted in every province that it occurred.</p><p>EC = Eastern Cape; FS = Free State; GP = Gauteng Province; KZN = KwaZulu-Natal; LP = Limpopo Province; MP = Mpumalanga Province; NC = Northern Cape; NW = North West Province; WC = Western Cape.</p

<i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> infection data from threatened (Red List 2010) South African frog species.

<p><i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> infection data from threatened (Red List 2010) South African frog species.</p

Locality data for <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> testing in threatened South African frog species, by province.

<p>EC = Eastern Cape; KZN = KwaZulu-Natal; LP = Limpopo Province; NC = Northern Cape; WC = Western Cape.</p><p>NR = Nature Reserve.</p

Probability threshold map for predicted occurrence of <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> in South Africa.

<p>Grey indicates areas of medium to high probability of occurrence at a 10% threshold.</p

Environmental variables, and their percentage contribution, included in the final MaxEnt niche model for predicted distribution of <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> in South Africa.

<p>Environmental variables, and their percentage contribution, included in the final MaxEnt niche model for predicted distribution of <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> in South Africa.</p

Map showing <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> swab sample sites for threatened species in South Africa.

<p>Pie-charts represent prevalence (black = positive samples, white = negative); size gives an indication of sample size.</p

<i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> (<i>Bd</i>) occurrence records (1938–2012) from frog genera in South Africa used in the MaxEnt model.

*<p>Geo-referenced localities (GPS co-ordinates) include duplicates (multiple records from same locality).</p

Using an Artificial intelligence chatbot to critically review the scientific literature on the use of Artificial intelligence in Environmental Impact Assessment

There is considerable uncertainty about the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) might play in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including into research. AI large language model (LLM) chatbots have the potential to increase the efficiency of EIA research, but their outputs can create concerns. This paper investigates the potential time savings achievable using LLM chatbots to undertake a critical review of literature focussing on the use of AI in EIA. Using a combination of ChatGPT and Elicit, literature was reviewed to identify 12 key issues associated with the use of AI in EIA and this paper was prepared in three and a half days from initial conception. A protocol is developed to assist researchers in fact checking evidence delivered through Elicit (or other machine learning tools) which serves as a novel outcome of this research. Using comments from three peer reviewers allowed some more objective reflection on the credibility of the LLM chatbot-derived output, on the appropriateness of the time savings, and on the future research needed on the application of LLM chatbots in this context.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Assessing the Likelihood of Gene Flow From Sugarcane (Saccharum Hybrids) to Wild Relatives in South Africa.ZIP

<p>Pre-commercialization studies on environmental biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops are necessary to evaluate the potential for sexual hybridization with related plant species that occur in the release area. The aim of the study was a preliminary assessment of factors that may contribute to gene flow from sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids) to indigenous relatives in the sugarcane production regions of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, South Africa. In the first instance, an assessment of Saccharum wild relatives was conducted based on existing phylogenies and literature surveys. The prevalence, spatial overlap, proximity, distribution potential, and flowering times of wild relatives in sugarcane production regions based on the above, and on herbaria records and field surveys were conducted for Imperata, Sorghum, Cleistachne, and Miscanthidium species. Eleven species were selected for spatial analyses based on their presence within the sugarcane cultivation region: four species in the Saccharinae and seven in the Sorghinae. Secondly, fragments of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the 5.8s ribosomal gene and two chloroplast genes, ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL), and maturase K (matK) were sequenced or assembled from short read data to confirm relatedness between Saccharum hybrids and its wild relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS cassette showed that the closest wild relative species to commercial sugarcane were Miscanthidium capense, Miscanthidium junceum, and Narenga porphyrocoma. Sorghum was found to be more distantly related to Saccharum than previously described. Based on the phylogeny described in our study, the only species to highlight in terms of evolutionary divergence times from Saccharum are those within the genus Miscanthidium, most especially M. capense, and M. junceum which are only 3 million years divergent from Saccharum. Field assessment of pollen viability of 13 commercial sugarcane cultivars using two stains, iodine potassium iodide (IKI) and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, showed decreasing pollen viability (from 85 to 0%) from the north to the south eastern regions of the study area. Future work will include other aspects influencing gene flow such as cytological compatibility and introgression between sugarcane and Miscanthidium species.</p

Image_1_Assessing the Likelihood of Gene Flow From Sugarcane (Saccharum Hybrids) to Wild Relatives in South Africa.pdf

<p>Pre-commercialization studies on environmental biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops are necessary to evaluate the potential for sexual hybridization with related plant species that occur in the release area. The aim of the study was a preliminary assessment of factors that may contribute to gene flow from sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids) to indigenous relatives in the sugarcane production regions of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, South Africa. In the first instance, an assessment of Saccharum wild relatives was conducted based on existing phylogenies and literature surveys. The prevalence, spatial overlap, proximity, distribution potential, and flowering times of wild relatives in sugarcane production regions based on the above, and on herbaria records and field surveys were conducted for Imperata, Sorghum, Cleistachne, and Miscanthidium species. Eleven species were selected for spatial analyses based on their presence within the sugarcane cultivation region: four species in the Saccharinae and seven in the Sorghinae. Secondly, fragments of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the 5.8s ribosomal gene and two chloroplast genes, ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL), and maturase K (matK) were sequenced or assembled from short read data to confirm relatedness between Saccharum hybrids and its wild relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS cassette showed that the closest wild relative species to commercial sugarcane were Miscanthidium capense, Miscanthidium junceum, and Narenga porphyrocoma. Sorghum was found to be more distantly related to Saccharum than previously described. Based on the phylogeny described in our study, the only species to highlight in terms of evolutionary divergence times from Saccharum are those within the genus Miscanthidium, most especially M. capense, and M. junceum which are only 3 million years divergent from Saccharum. Field assessment of pollen viability of 13 commercial sugarcane cultivars using two stains, iodine potassium iodide (IKI) and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, showed decreasing pollen viability (from 85 to 0%) from the north to the south eastern regions of the study area. Future work will include other aspects influencing gene flow such as cytological compatibility and introgression between sugarcane and Miscanthidium species.</p