Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC’s Post

Madagascar, a hub of biodiversity for plants and animals alike, is home to the famed Darwin's star orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale), a peculiar flower which Darwin theorized was pollinated by a specialized moth; 41 years later, that moth was first recorded. Now, an all-new orchid species discovered in Madagascar through the work of scientists from NYBG and beyond is turning heads in the botany community. Learn more about Solenangis impraedicta—an unexpected case of parallel evolution with Darwin's orchid with even more extreme features—and the people who located and recorded this fascinating plant.

The Picasso Bug (Sphaerocoris annulus) is a species of shield-backed bugs that belongs to the family Scutelleridae. It is native to tropical and subtropical Africa, where it feeds on various plants, some of which are economically important crops. It has a distinctive appearance, with a green background and eleven ring-shaped spots on the scutellum. The colors and the design of these bugs serve as a warning to predators, and they also emit a noxious odor when disturbed. The species is monovoltine, meaning it has one generation per year, and reproduces at the beginning of the dry season. Some information sources for this insect are: - [Wikipedia article], which provides a general overview of the species, its description, distribution, and ecology. - [Our Breathing Planet article], which describes the physical features, behavior, and habitat of the bug, and also includes some photos. - [Zobodat paper], which reports a recent record of the species in Zambia, and gives additional information on its distribution and ecology. - [Sphaerocoris annulus, Limited Edition Print], which is an original artwork by Flora Borsi, inspired by the bug's colorful pattern.. Also registered in Cameron according to this paper Journal article : Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 2000 Vol.105 No.1 pp.23-30 ref.35 Abstract : In Cameroon, Sphaerocoris annulus is a monovoltine species that reproduces at the beginning of the dry season (November-December) on Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae). After the imaginal moulting, the adults spend the wet season, that is a period of 6 to 8 months, without any reproductive activity. They feed on various plants and accumulate great reserves of fats. Mating and egg-laying are observed in November. The females lay their eggs on the lower side of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina. When hatched, the young nymphs migrate into the flowers where they feed and complete their development. From the egg to the adult, the development lasts 56 days. The flowers of coffee plants and those of other plants, including several Asteraceae, Source: Conversation with Bing, 02/11/2023

Urgent call to save the world’s largest flower 🌺 , the Rafflesia, from extinction. A group of scientists, including botanists at the University of Oxford’s Botanic Garden led by Chris Thorogood, has issued an urgent call for coordinated action to save the 42 severely threatened species of the Rafflesia.  Only one of these is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species. The Rafflesia can measure more than 1 metre in width and weigh up to 10 kg. The plant is a parasite that infects tropical vines in jungles across Southeast Asia (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand). It is devoid of leaves, shoots and roots. This intriguing five-lobed “flower” produces a foul scent of rotting meat to attract pollinating flies, earning it the name ‘corpse flower.’ The scientific team propose an action plan for governments, research centres and conservation organisations, including greater protection of Rafflesia habitats. Southeast Asia has one of the fastest disappearing forests on the planet, and many of the known Rafflesia populations are perilously close to growing human settlements. Scientists say that Rafflesia conservation programmes are far more likely to be successful if they engage local communities. Rafflesia has the potential to be a new icon for conservation in the Asian tropics. Some readers may wonder whether the flower’s name has a connection with Stamford Raffles, the founder of the British colony of Singapore.  Yes: a British naturalist working under Raffles identified the flower in 1818, though according to some sources it was in fact a local servant who pointed it out. The real (Western) discoverer did not get any credit: apparently more than 20 years earlier,  French botanist Louis Auguste Deschamps was the first westerner to spot the flower in 1797. One his return trip to France the British seized his ship - yes, the 2 countries were at war, yet again- and confiscated his specimens and field notes. The British beat the French to the naming rights…. #conservation #biodiversity #raffles #rainforest

My #SpeciesOfTheWeek are orchids. Did you know that in the 19th century, competitive orchid hunters ventured into cemeteries in South East Asia, finding new species attached to bones? It's a captivating tale of destruction, exploration, extinction & obsession. I’m growing one from a skull to represent this story💀. Speaking of exploration, I’ve included images from my visit to the breathtaking Monteverde Orchid Garden in Costa Rica where I encountered a myriad of species, including miniature orchids nestled in their natural habitat. I’ve also included an image by Philip Giordano from our book 'A Jungle in Your Living Room'. 🌸 Orchid Facts: * Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants, boasting over 25,000 species! * Did you know that about 70% of orchid species grow on trees? They're epiphytes, not parasites, using trees for support. * Unfortunately, 50% of wild orchids are under threat from climate change & habitat destruction. * From tiny 3mm wonders to sprawling 20m vines like the vanilla orchid, the diversity is astounding! * Some tropical orchids have really tiny seeds (as light as 1/1000th of a gram) so they can float in the forest breeze to a suitable place to grow * Closer to home, the UK is home to over 50 species of native orchids. * Orchids are masters of deception, with nearly 60% tricking pollinators into assisting in their reproduction. * They're also nature's alarm bells, sensitive to environmental changes & serving as indicators of ecosystem health. Let's marvel at these intricate wonders & work towards their conservation. 🌍 #Orchids #symbiosis #orchidaceae #botany #ecology#JungleInYourLivingRoom #MonteverdiOrchidGarden #Conservation #Nature #Explore #VanillaOrchid #KewGardens #ClimateChange #costarica #HabitatDestruction #Pollinators #EcosystemHealth⚕️

Today, I had the opportunity to undertake targeted species surveys of the Yellow Bartsia (Parentucellia viscosa) and the European Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) during a site visit with Atkins. The P. viscosa grows up to a height of approximately 60-70mm and has an erect appearance. It has yellow (but sometimes white) two-lipped flowers that are viewable between June and September. The upper lip is hooded, while the lower lip has three lobes. The stem and leaves are covered in viscuous hairs, from which part of its name is derived. According to the BSBI species map, it is largely restricted to the far north and soutwest of the island (https://lnkd.in/eG4sbwZq). It grows primarily on disturbed/re-seeded ground and in open/scrubby grassland, particularly sections that border pastures and pathways. The species is not listed under the Flora Protection Order or in EU legislation, but is categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the ‘Ireland Red List No. 10: Vascular Plants’ due to declines in its area of occurrence (NPWS, 2016). The M. pulegium grows up to a height of 40cm and has a slightly different stature depending on the subspecies. The introduced M. pulegium erecta (pictured) grows much more erect than the native M. pulegium decumbens. It has small purple flowers that form tightly-packed, globular whorls which flower from June to as late as September at the species’ northernmost extent. The plant has a distinct scent which intensifies when any part of the plant is crushed. According to the BSBI species map, it is mostly found in the south and southwest of the island (https://lnkd.in/ey4mRWKF). It grows primarily in seasonally-inundated grassland and disturbed sites, although the introduced subspecies can grow in drier soils. The species is listed under Schedule A: Vascular Plants of the Flora Protection Order (S.I. 235/2022). #atkins #botany #ecology #ecologyconsultant #ecologicalconsultancy #ecologist #flora #flowers

𝐃𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧? 🟣During the travels of this cold season (December 2023–January 2024) for projects located in Southern Dobrogea, a species of crocus which blossoms during the autumn-winter period has been identified. In the cold season this species has only flowers, while in the spring its leaves grow as well. Numerous specimens were identified in the meadows of the investigated area. 🟣The name of the species described above is 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒊, an endangered plant species according to the 𝑅𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 (Dihoru & Negrean, 2009), a rare species according to the 𝑅𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 (Oltean et al., 1994) and the 𝑅𝑒𝑑 𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝐸𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑, 𝑉𝑢𝑙𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 (Boșcaiu et al., 1994), and it falls into the NT sozological category according to the 𝐶𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑉𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 (Oprea, 2005).

The world’s botanic gardens conserve ex situ at least 30% of all known plant species, including 41% of all those classed as threatened. In recent decades, Cote d’Ivoire’s botanic gardens and reserves have been woefully overlooked. But that is changing: recognition of the value of botany and the importance of rare and endangered species is on the rise. In 2023, a project was launched for the restoration of a precious but degraded forest called Divo Botanical Reserve. The Botanical Garden is one of seven botanical entities that were identified to be part of the Growing threatened trees’ restoration capacity in Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa landscapes project, which is led by CIFOR-ICRAF. Funded by the UK government’s Darwin Initiative, the project is supporting these entities to join the 800-strong network of botanical gardens and plant conservation institutes that are members of project partner Botanic Gardens Conservation International. This will give them access to grants, training, learning resources and eventual accreditation. Currently, not a single Ivorian botanical institution is a member: it is a big leap forward. Read more: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dqviSz2a Biodiversity Challenge Funds | Botanic Gardens Conservation International | Cathy Watson | #TreesPeoplePlanet

An interesting work that predicts the extinction risk of all angiosperms, utilizing Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) with predictors related to range size, human footprint, climate, and evolutionary history. It also quantifies the uncertainty of each species-level prediction, offering valuable insights on prioritizing species-specific conservation efforts and areas requiring further research. This data-driven approach both confirms and refines existing knowledge. The study reveals that 45.1% of all angiosperms are threatened, and identifies spatial hotspots of extinction risk, including Madagascar and Hawaii. Notably, it highlights the high threat to epiphytes, with a 53.9% elevated extinction risk. [Bachman et al, New Phytologist, 2024]

Nesocodon mauritianus, an absolutely stunning endangered species from Mauritius. Adults produce these amazing purple bell-shaped flowers containing bright red nectar inside! A crazy fun fact about this species is that it is gecko pollinated - something that works well for us as we have geckos down in our greenhouses that are prolific pollinators! (The seed for all of these seedlings came from the greenhouse.) I'm flasking on 1/2 MS and 1/2 agar. Total plant count is 550 and the goal is to trial multiple acclimation conditions to successfully bring this species out of TC. #planttissueculture #tissueculture #stem #science #conservation #nesocodon #nesocodonmauritianus #mauritianflora #mauritius #microprop #micropropagation #horticulture #conservation #horticulture #rareplantconservation #rareplants #endangeredspecies #islandspecies #scicomm https://lnkd.in/gKW8uhrC