Bryophytes and lichens of Aldabra

Aldabra Atoll, in the Republic of Seychelles, lies 450 km to the north of Madagascar and 650 km to the east of the Tanzanian coast of Africa (9o24’S, 46o20’E). It is one of the largest atolls in the world, with four main islands and numerous islets, totalling 97 km2. The underlying limestone is slightly raised, but is generally less than 8 m in elevation, and varies substantially in texture due to erosion. The atoll has been elevated above sea level for at least 80,000 years. Soils are generally shallow and alkaline (Trudgill 1979). The geology and ecology are outlined in Westoll and Stoddart (1971), Stoddart and Westoll (1979), and Stoddart (1984)

Consequences Matter : Compassion in Conservation Means Caring for Individuals, Populations and Species

Funding This research received no external funding. Acknowledgments The manuscript benefitted from significant input from Dan Brockington, J.B. Callicott, Peter Coals, Tim Hodgetts, David Macdonald and Jeremy Wilson. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The false widow spider Steatoda nobilis is a notable invasive species.

Steatoda nobilis, a 'false widow' spider, has undergone massive population growth in southern Britain, at least since 1990, and is greatly under-recorded. Now often the dominant spider on and in buildings in the region, the species occurs on many items which increase a risk of bites to people - including household furniture, railings, handles, lighting and street furniture. There is a lack of awareness amongst the public, medics and arachnologists as to the likely bite rate and severity with this spider, and there is under-recording of bites. There is thus a possibility of bites being left without adequate rapid treatment and monitoring - with a low but non-trivial risk of necrosis, sepsis or anaphylactic shock. Further study of bite significance is urgently required but a typically precautionary approach should be adopted in the interim. A lag of over a century between introduction and the species rapidly becoming common in Britain indicates the risk of complacency over invasive species. Local eradication will be very difficult, so education is required on identification and response to possible bites. The species may become a widespread public health concern and a global conservation problem - particularly on islands with endemic invertebrates. Arachnologists typically have a conflict of interest which may result in understatement of risks. Research priorities include assays for venom cytotoxicity and microbial carriage, improved clinical surveillance for possible spider bites, and monitoring of the global distribution and ecological impacts. This paper aims to facilitate and stimulate inter-disciplinary knowledge exchange and gathering, to enable more appropriate and proportionate responses to bites, infestations and invasions

The human ecology of Covid 19: a zinc link?

Cultural factors (including religious, environmental and animal welfare ethics) affect an individual's zinc intake and absorption and hence their zinc status. I predict zinc deficiency is a widespread factor that elevates risk from Covid-19

Supplementary materials for Preprint: The false widow spider Steatoda nobilis is a notable invasive species.

videos 1 to 6 of Steatoda nobili

Sea ice and argon

1) Atmospheric argon on Earth and Mars cycles on a seasonal basis and abiotic factors will be particularly important drivers of this noble gas. 2) It is predicted and confirmed that there is similarity in the seasonality of sea ice and argon, with atmospheric argon in a Hemisphere often increasing fastest when sea ice in that Hemisphere is declining fastest. 3) There is some visual similarity between the detailed phenology of Greenland Sea ice extent and argon in some Northern Hemisphere sites, but formal analysis is required. 4) If causal, the mechanism is unclear but could involve argon bubble formation during freezing and bubble release in the spring melt. 5) Other variables with very similar phenology to sea ice, including high-latitude sea temperatures, should be investigated as potential drivers. 6) Cycling of argon by sea ice would strengthen the argument that seasonal cycling of carbon dioxide is in part driven abiotically

The 'Noble false widow' spider Steatoda nobilis is an emerging public health and ecological threat.

Steatoda nobilis, the 'Noble false widow' spider, has undergone massive population growth in southern Britain and Ireland, at least since 1990. It is greatly under-recorded in Britain and possibly globally. Now often the dominant spider on and in buildings in the region, the species occurs on many items which increase a risk of bites to people - including household furniture, railings, handles, lighting and street furniture. There is a lack of awareness amongst the public, medics and arachnologists as to the likely bite rate and severity with this spider, and there is under-recording of bites. There is thus a possibility of bites being left without adequate rapid treatment and monitoring - with a low but non-trivial risk of necrosis or sepsis. A plausible incident of anaphylactic shock is identified, requiring professional confirmation and case study. Further study of bite significance is urgently required but a typically precautionary approach should be adopted in the interim. A lag of over a century between introduction and the species rapidly becoming common in Britain indicates the risk of complacency over invasive species. Local eradication will be very difficult, so education is required on identification and response to possible bites. The species may become a widespread public health concern and a global conservation problem - particularly on islands with endemic invertebrates. Arachnologists typically have a conflict of interest which may result in understatement of risks. Research priorities include: assays for venom cytotoxicity and microbial carriage; improved immunological and clinical surveillance for possible spider bites; and monitoring of the global distribution and ecological impacts. This paper aims to facilitate and stimulate inter-disciplinary knowledge exchange and gathering, to enable more appropriate and proportionate responses to bites, infestations and invasions. Version 4 of this preprint has been peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Zoology (https://doi.org/10.24072/pci.zool.100001)

Extinction rates, extinction-prone habitats, and indicator groups in Britain and at larger scales

We present the first detailed comparison of extinction rates amongst a wide range of nonmarine groups, using data from Britain. For selected taxa, comparisons are made with rates in the United States and the globe. We estimate the overall extinction rate in Britain is 1-5% of the regional species list per century. Most of the groups of organisms assessed have very similar rates, with high rates in some groups which are aquatic, use dead wood or are on their climatic margin. In Britain, the extinction rate probably rose from the 19th to the 20th Century, and is projected to rise in the 21st Century. Habitat loss is the principal driver of extinctions. In Britain, birds are relatively good indicators of extinction rates and extinction-prone habitats, whilst butterflies are not. At larger scales, such as the USA and globally, birds, freshwater fish and amphibians show potential as indicators. Consideration of 'Possibly Extinct' species and monitoring of habitat area may provide more responsive measures of biodiversity loss.</p

Extinction rates, extinction-prone habitats, and indicator groups in Britain and at larger scales

We present the first detailed comparison of extinction rates amongst a wide range of nonmarine groups, using data from Britain. For selected taxa, comparisons are made with rates in the United States and the globe. We estimate the overall extinction rate in Britain is 1-5% of the regional species list per century. Most of the groups of organisms assessed have very similar rates, with high rates in some groups which are aquatic, use dead wood or are on their climatic margin. In Britain, the extinction rate probably rose from the 19th to the 20th Century, and is projected to rise in the 21st Century. Habitat loss is the principal driver of extinctions. In Britain, birds are relatively good indicators of extinction rates and extinction-prone habitats, whilst butterflies are not. At larger scales, such as the USA and globally, birds, freshwater fish and amphibians show potential as indicators. Consideration of 'Possibly Extinct' species and monitoring of habitat area may provide more responsive measures of biodiversity loss.</p