Patterns of genetic diversity in three plant lineages endemic to the Cape Verde Islands

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Legado das coleções científicas do Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Universidade de Lisboa: uma revisão crítica e perspetivas

I Seminário Nacional de Conservação de Coleções Científicas, Marta C. Lourenço (ed.)The Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, University of Lisbon (II CT), Portugal, holds the most important scientific collections from Portuguese-speaking African countries, which include anthropological, archaeological, ethnographic, mineralogical, botanical and zoological collections, as well as libraries and historical archives. The aim of this paper is to document the advances in conservation and management of II CT collections between 2005 and 2015, namely how the implementation of institutional initiatives created new challenges for the scientific community. After an overview of the II CT's scientific heritage since the creation of the Cartography Commission in 1883, we characterise several recent actions aimed at preserving and providing access to the collections. Considerations on the current preservation of the II CT collections are presented. It is argued that these collections are unique for tropical science and of critical importance for scientific cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries in AfricaEm Portugal, o Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (II CT), na Universidade de Lisboa (UL) preserva as mais importantes coleções científicas dos países africanos de língua portuguesa, incluindo coleções antropológicas, arqueológicas, etnográficas, mineralógicas, botânicas e zoológicas, bem como bibliotecas e arquivos históricos. O objetivo deste estudo é documentar os avanços que foram realizados entre 2005 a 2015 na conservação e gestão das coleções do II CT e como a implementação de diferentes iniciativas institucionais criaram novos desafios para a comunidade científica. Começa-se por referir a herança científica do II CT, desde 1883 quando a Comissão de Cartografia foi estabelecida, passando-se a enumerar ações recentes que foram promovidas para conservar e permitir o acesso a essas coleções. Finalmente, são feitas algumas considerações sobre a preservação atual das coleções do II CT. Discute-se o papel que estas coleções têm para a ciência tropical e a sua importância para a cooperação científica com os países de língua portuguesainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implications of climate change on the distribution and conservation of Cabo Verde endemic trees

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges to biodiversity conservation, particularly in dry tropical islands, such as the Cabo Verde archipelago where only three endemic tree taxa occur – Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana, Phoenix atlantica and Sideroxylon marginatum – all classified as threatened. The main goal of this study was to predict the possible shifts in the climatically suitable habitat ranges for Cabo Verdean endemic tree species under different climate change scenarios. We applied species distribution models (SDMs) to the available occurrence data, and projected the distribution of the three taxa for 2050 and 2080, according to the expected climate change scenarios. The best models were obtained using the Random Forest algorithm; they showed that, by 2080, the suitable habitat for Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana and Sideroxylon marginatum will have decreased by 28% and 34%, respectively; conversely, the suitable habitat will have increased by 59% for Phoenix atlantica, the taxon best adapted to arid conditions. Additionally, Santo Antão is the island where endangered trees are more encompassed by protected areas. Overall, this study contributed with new integrated data to support the design and implementation of a strategic plan to promote the conservation and ecological value of Cabo Verde endemic trees in this climatically vulnerable country.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Editorial: Edible wild plants and fungi - resource to explore, preserve, and valuate

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Implications of climate change on the distribution and conservation of Cabo Verde endemic trees

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges to biodiversity conservation, particularly in dry tropical islands, such as the Cabo Verde archipelago where only three endemic tree taxa occur – Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana, Phoenix atlantica and Sideroxylon marginatum – all classified as threatened. The main goal of this study was to predict the possible shifts in the climatically suitable habitat ranges for Cabo Verdean endemic tree species under different climate change scenarios. We applied species distribution models (SDMs) to the available occurrence data, and projected the distribution of the three taxa for 2050 and 2080, according to the expected climate change scenarios. The best models were obtained using the Random Forest algorithm; they showed that, by 2080, the suitable habitat for Dracaena draco subsp. caboverdeana and Sideroxylon marginatum will have decreased by 28% and 34%, respectively; conversely, the suitable habitat will have increased by 59% for Phoenix atlantica, the taxon best adapted to arid conditions. Additionally, Santo Ant˜ao is the island where endangered trees are more encompassed by protected areas. Overall, this study contributed with new integrated data to support the design and implementation of a strategic plan to promote the conservation and ecological value of Cabo Verde endemic trees in this climatically vulnerable countryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Present and future distribution of Faidherbia albida in Cabo Verde as revealed by climatic modelling and LULC analysis

Climate change poses one of the most significant challenges to conserve biodiversity, especially in tropical dry islands, as is the case of Cabo Verde (northeast Atlantic Ocean). This archipelago has a low percentage of forest cover and hosts only seven native tree species, among them, Faidherbia albida (Delile) A.Chev. (Fabaceae). Therefore, protective afforestation is extremely important in Cabo Verde, one of the most vulnerable West African countries to climate change. With this work, we aimed to estimate the current distribution and potential shifts in suitable areas for F. albida under climate change, using species distribution models (i.e., random forest, generalized linear and additive models), covering its distribution range in Cabo Verde and mainland Africa. The best model was then projected for the studied area, at two different slice times, using Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Based on current bioclimatic variables, we estimated that almost two thirds of Cabo Verde’s territory is highly suitable for F. albida, which contrasts with its current occurrence. By overlaying the present habitat suitability with land use and land cover data, we concluded that habitat availability and suitability could be constrained by that factor. On average, the predicted suitable habitat for future distributions gradually decreases by 2080 under both scenarios compared with the current, with a smaller effect of RCP4.5 than of RCP8.5. Local authorities can benefit from this research and develop actions to promote sustainable reforestation in Cabo Verde, which should include native tree species that are best adapted to the local climate and could thus contribute to mitigate the effects of climate change.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing the conservation of Miombo timber species through an integrated index of anthropogenic and climatic threats

Aim: Angolan Miombo woodlands, rich in timber species of the Leguminosae family, go through one of the highest rates of deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents, on the basis of updated information of the distribution of Leguminosae timber species native to Angola, an integrated index framing the main threats for trees, which aims to support new conservation measures. Location: Sub-Saharan Africa, Republic of Angola. Methods: The current distribution areas of six Leguminosae timber species (i.e., Afzelia quanzensis, Brachystegia spiciformis, Guibourtia coleosperma, Isoberlinia angolensis, Julbernardia paniculata, and Pterocarpus angolensis) were predicted through ensemble modeling techniques. The level of threat to each species was analyzed, comparing the species potential distribution with a threat index map and with the protected areas. The threat index of anthropogenic and climatic factors encompasses the effects of population density, agriculture, proximity to roads, loss of tree cover, overexploitation, trends in wildfires, and predicted changes in temperature and precipitation. Results: Our results revealed that about 0.5% of Angola's area is classified as of “Very high” threat, 23.9% as “High” threat, and 66.5% as “Moderate” threat. Three of the studied species require special conservation efforts, namely B. spiciformis and I. angolensis, which have a large fraction of predicted distribution in areas of high threat, and G. coleosperma since it has a restricted distribution area and is one of the most valuable species in international markets. The priority areas for the conservation of Leguminosae timber species were found in Benguela and Huíla.Main conclusions: This study provides updated data that should be applied to inform policymakers, contributing to national conservation planning and protection of native flora in Angola. Moreover, it presents a methodological approach for the predictions of species distribution and for the creation of a threat index map that can be applied in other poorly surveyed tropical regions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Controlling Physical Systems with Symmetries

Symmetry properties of the evolution equation and the state to be controlled are shown to determine the basic features of the linear control of unstable orbits. In particular, the selection of control parameters and their minimal number are determined by the irreducible representations of the symmetry group of the linearization about the orbit to be controlled. We use the general results to demonstrate the effect of symmetry on the control of two sample physical systems: a coupled map lattice and a particle in a symmetric potential.Comment: 6 page

Quasi-point separation of variables for the Henon-Heiles system and a system with quartic potential

We examine the problem of integrability of two-dimensional Hamiltonian systems by means of separation of variables. The systematic approach to construction of the special non-pure coordinate separation of variables for certain natural two-dimensional Hamiltonians is presented. The relations with SUSY quantum mechanics are discussed.Comment: 11 pages, Late

Global mangrove deforestation and its interacting social-ecological drivers: a systematic review and synthesis

Bhowmik, A. K., Padmanaban, R., Cabral, P., & Romeiras, M. M. (2022). Global mangrove deforestation and its interacting social-ecological drivers: a systematic review and synthesis. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(8), 1-24. [4433]. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202203.0052.v1, https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084433 ---------------------------------- Funding Information: Funding: This study was supported through the FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) under the projects PTDC/CTA-AMB/28438/2017—ASEBIO, UIDB/04152/2020—Centro de Investi- Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC), UIDB/04152/2020 Centro de Investigação em Gestão de Informação (MagIC) and UID/AGR/04129/2020 (LEAF/ISA).Globally mangrove forests are substantially declining and a globally synthesized database of the drivers of deforestation and drivers’ interaction is scarce. Here we synthesized the key social-ecological drivers of global mangrove deforestation by reviewing about two hundred published scientific studies over the last four decades (from 1980 to 2021). Our focus was on both natural and anthropogenic drivers with gradual and abrupt impacts and their geographic ranges of effects and how these drivers interact. We also summarized the patterns of global mangrove coverage decline between 1990 and 2020 and identified the threatened mangrove species and their geographic ranges. Our consolidated studies reported a 8,600 km2 decline in the global mangrove coverage between 1990 and 2020 with the highest decline occurring in South and Southeast Asia (3870 km2). We could identify 11 threatened mangrove species, two of which are critically endangered (Sonneratia griffithii and Bruguiera hainseii). Our reviewed studies pointed to aquaculture and agriculture as the predominant driver of global mangrove deforestation though the spatial distribution of their impacts varied. Gradual climate variations, i.e. seal-level rise, long-term precipitation and temperature changes and driven coastline erosion, constitute the second major group of drivers. Our findings underline a strong interaction across natural and anthropogenic drivers with the strongest interaction between the driver groups aquaculture and agriculture and industrialization and pollution. Our results suggest prioritizing globally coordinated empirical studies linking drivers and mangrove changes and a global development of policies for mangrove conservation.preprintpublishe