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Biodiversity Journal 2024, 15 (4): 763-

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 765-771

    Esmail Shakman, Abdalaha Elmgwashi, Mohamed Hajaji, Abdalaha Karmous, Nairuz Bek Benghazi, Abdulfattah Elfituri, Yassine Sghaier & Khaled Etayeb
    Ecological importance of Al-Gara Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the eastern part of Sirte Gulf, Libya
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.765.771

    ABSTRACT
    Islands are important ecosystems for biodiversity and also represent a refuge area for many species, often threatened, that live on them. The Libyan coastline is characterized by the presence of many islands. In term of biodiversity hotspots, eight important sites have been identified in Libya. Al-Gara is one of these sites as important island ecosystem; it was declared as Marine Protected Area (MPA) according to the resolution of the Minister of Environment No. 272 of 2021, which includes the area surrounding the island. This island is annually hosting the biggest colony of the Lesser crested tern Thalasseus bengalensis (Lesson, 1831), the main breeding site for this species in the Mediterranean, and it is also a breeding ground for the European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Linnaeus, 1761). Fieldwork was conducted on February and May 2023. Eleven (11) species of Macrophytes have been collected during this study, 17 species of Molluscs, four Crustaceans and 16 Fish species including five non indigenous species. Illegal fishing and illegal fishing gears, fishing in critical ecosystems, invasive species, overfishing and oil pollution are the most important threats to Al-Gara MPA.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 773-776

    Spartaco Gippoliti
    Lost African paradises and biodiversity conservation: do not forget history!
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.773.776

    ABSTRACT
    The lack of a historical perspective may hinder awareness of an existing bias in our knowledge of the world’s mammalian diversity and conservation status. Sudan and South Sudan are here utilised as case-study of a huge region that was among the first to be explored by westerners and also saw the first steps of the international conservation movement. Post-colonialism instability exacerbated political and ethnical conflicts, slowing biodiversity research and moving Sudan away from the attention of international ecological research. Today there is a shy regrowth of interest for wildlife conservation in Sudan and South Sudan, and hidden historical data and natural history collections may furnish precious biodiversity information.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (4): 777-786

    Gianfranco Curletti & Uitsiann Ong
    Contribution to knowledge of the genus Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera Buprestidae) of Taiwan. Part 4.
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.4.777.786
    https://www.zoobank.org/CE56C5BE-3EE1-413F-A26A-41130570AD11

    ABSTRACT
    In this fourth contribution seven further new species of Agrilus Curtis, 1825 (Coleoptera Buprestidae) from Taiwan are described: Agrilus albicans n. sp., A. chientai n. sp., A. lidao n. sp., A. pespilosus n. sp., A. sanguinolentus n. sp., A. volubilis n. sp., A. yamadai n. sp.