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Showing 201 – 220 of 15962 publications

Camellia shangshii (Theaceae), a new species endemic to danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China

China Danxia — 2026 — WHE30118545E6

Researchers have identified Camellia shangshii, a new species of tea plant endemic to the danxia landscapes of Danxiashan Mountain, Guangdong Province, China. This discovery was confirmed through morphological analysis and phylogenetic studies using chloroplast genomes, revealing that C. shangshii is closely related to C. grijsii but distinguished by unique traits such as connate petals at the base, smaller leaves, and fewer bracteoles and sepals. The study integrates both genetic and physical characteristics to validate its recognition as a new species within the Camellia sect. Paracamellia. This finding contributes to the understanding of biodiversity in UNESCO-listed danxia landscapes and highlights the importance of these unique geological formations as hotspots for plant endemism.

Can dung pollen reveal livestock dietary preferences and grazing patterns in Central Mongolia?

Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape — 2026 — WHEE8B8BAC0A6

Seasonal vegetation dynamics play the dominant role in shaping livestock dietary preferences and grazing patterns in Central Mongolia, according to the first palynological analysis of dung samples from sheep, goats, horses, and cattle/yaks. The study, conducted across steppe and river-meadow habitats during spring, summer, and autumn 2021, revealed that pollen composition in dung varies significantly with season—Cyperaceae in spring, Amaranthaceae and Poaceae in summer, and Artemisia in autumn—while livestock species and habitat exert secondary but notable effects. Small ruminants exhibit higher dietary diversity than large grazers, underscoring the potential of dung pollen as a proxy for both modern grazing ecology and palaeoecological reconstruction. This research provides critical insights into rangeland degradation concerns linked to increasing livestock numbers in Mongolia.

Can safer livelihood practices strengthen human-tiger coexistence in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India?

Sundarbans National Park — 2026 — WHE81CA8349DA

Safer and energy-efficient livelihood practices, such as goat and poultry rearing and the adoption of improved cooking stoves (ICS), significantly reduce human-tiger negative interactions while increasing household income in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. A study across three villages found that forest visitation for fuelwood harvesting decreased by 70% per month and fuelwood harvesting by 30%, leading to a 46% reduction in annual human-tiger conflicts. Average household income rose by 20-25% monthly, indicating improved financial status. These findings suggest that community-based initiatives can strengthen social capacity for coexistence between humans and tigers, offering a scalable model for conservation efforts in densely populated biodiversity-rich areas like the Sundarban Tiger Reserve.

Canopy openings in the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt: Characteristics, distribution, and conservation relevance in a biosphere reserve

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — 2026 — WHE23E6EC8ACC

Canopy openings in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (MBBR) are more prevalent in core zones and Abies religiosa forests, with higher densities observed on gentle slopes and at extreme elevations. These openings, often linked to pest outbreaks, reflect a mix of natural and human-induced disturbances, particularly within ejidos where timber harvesting is permitted. The study used NDVI data and Google Earth imagery to quantify these patterns, revealing critical areas for conservation prioritization—such as core zones and A. religiosa forests—to safeguard forest integrity and monarch butterfly overwintering habitat.

Caravanserai as Semi-nodal Spatial-Economic Elements in the Urban Structure of Tabriz's Historical Bazaar: A Morphological Analysis Based on Spatial Syntax

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex — 2026 — WHE034A03ACAB

Caravanserais within Tabriz's historic bazaar function as semi-nodal spatio-economic elements, reinforcing trade hierarchies and movement patterns without independently shaping them. This study, using a hybrid approach of morphological analysis and spatial syntax, reveals that while caravanserais are strategically located along highly integrated routes and near key intersections, they do not consistently coincide with syntactic nodes. The research provides a measurable interpretation of traditional bazaar systems, contributing to urban morphology and heritage studies by advocating for their sustainable integration into contemporary urban contexts.

Carbon stocks and biodiversity diverge between seasonally flooded and semi-evergreen tropical forests in the Yucatan Peninsula: implications for conservation in a threatened dry landscape

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche — 2026 — WHEC436341907

Research in the Calakmul region reveals that seasonally flooded lowland forests (SFLF) store significantly less carbon but exhibit higher biodiversity compared to semi-evergreen tropical forests (SETF). While SETFs showed greater basal area, canopy height, and carbon stocks (118.9 t C ha⁻¹ vs. 63.6 t C ha⁻¹), SFLFs demonstrated greater species diversity due to reduced competitive dominance from periodic flooding. Floristic composition differed entirely between the two forest types, with no overlap in species distribution. The study highlights the ecological importance of SFLFs and warns that projected drought trends could lead to landscape-scale carbon losses, which low-resolution global models may overlook. These findings underscore the need for nuanced conservation strategies that account for the unique ecological roles of seasonally flooded forests.

Carbon Storage Assessment of Changdeokgung Palace Forest Based on Biomass Allometric Equations†

Changdeokgung Palace Complex — 2026 — WHE3FD898BF46

Changdeokgung Palace Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ecosystem Conservation Area, stores approximately 7,905.26 tons of carbon across its canopy and sub-canopy layers. This finding underscores the significant ecological value of urban palace forests, particularly those dominated by large-diameter and ancient trees like Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino, which contributed the most to carbon storage despite being fewer in number. The study, conducted from 2020 to 2023 across 759 sample plots, used biomass allometric equations to quantify carbon storage in 7,988 trees, providing a baseline for assessing the functional value of historical landscapes. Dominant species varied by terrain, with xeric oaks thriving on ridges and slopes, while Quercus aliena Blume and others prevailed in valley areas. The research highlights the importance of preserving such forests not only for their cultural heritage but also for their critical role in urban carbon sequestration.

Career Pathway Interview: Aimee Mook, Curator of Contemporary Maritime at the National Maritime Museum—Connecting People, Collections, and Ocean Science

Maritime Greenwich — 2026 — WHE0C2E221A1C

Aimee Mook, Curator of Contemporary Maritime at the National Maritime Museum (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), bridges ocean science and public engagement to foster ocean literacy. Her role involves integrating scientific research—such as studies on ocean physics or biofouling—with storytelling to inspire broader understanding and appreciation of marine environments. This approach combines traditional maritime curation with modern ocean science, leveraging museum collections and interactive exhibits like 'The Ocean Map' to illustrate complex concepts in accessible ways. Mook's career transition from academic research to science communication underscores the value of interdisciplinary expertise in public engagement, challenging the notion that communicating science is less significant than primary research.

Carex brevicaulis Thouars

Gough and Inaccessible Islands — 2026 — WHE7E2F6A08B6

A taxonomic clarification of Carex brevicaulis Thouars, a sedge endemic to the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (Gough and Inaccessible Islands), reveals its nomenclatural history and morphological distinctiveness. The study designates lectotypes for both C. brevicaulis and Uncinia brevicaulis var. gracilior, resolving ambiguities in prior classifications. Key findings include detailed descriptions of the plant's inflorescence, utricles, and achenes, highlighting unique traits such as adpressed hairs on utricle sides and a deltoid beak. The research also addresses etymological confusion surrounding the species name, which was coined to describe short-stemmed plants despite reaching up to 61 cm in height. This work contributes to the clarification of sedge taxonomy in the South Atlantic, with implications for conservation efforts at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Carex moro-ortegae Garcia-Moro & Jim. Mejias 2026, sp. nov.

Gough and Inaccessible Islands — 2026 — WHEEC5A50F684

A new species of sedge, Carex moro-ortegae, has been discovered on the Gough and Inaccessible Islands within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tristan da Cunha archipelago. This species is distinguished from its closest relative, C. austrocompacta, by smaller utricles and achenes. The discovery highlights significant morphological variability across different habitats, suggesting potential in situ diversification or ecological adaptation. Future research may clarify whether multiple taxa exist within the archipelago. The species is named in honor of the author's mother, grandmother, and aunt, symbolizing their resilience and unconditional love.

Cartographies of heritage routes: networks and territorial reconfigurations of the Qhapaq Ñan – Andean road system

Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System — 2026 — WHE5F4243F931

Despite significant fragmentation, the Qhapaq Ñan—Andean road system retains localized functional and symbolic relevance in contemporary Andean landscapes. This study reveals that while the original capillary network, which once connected settlements to an imperial center, has been largely lost due to historical destruction, preserved stretches still hold cultural significance for rural communities. Using a multiscale cartographic analysis, researchers compared historical and modern routes of the Qhapaq Ñan, leveraging open-access georeferenced data from SIGDA alongside historical scholarship and official documentation. The findings challenge the dominant archaeological perspective by emphasizing the system's spatial inscription and ongoing socio-spatial dynamics in the region.

Caryanda beybienkoi Storozhenko 2005

Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex — 2026 — WHEA775EBE92D

Scientists have discovered and described the female of Caryanda beybienkoi, a species of orthopteran insect previously known only from its male holotype found in Thailand's Kaeng Krachan National Park. This finding, based on specimens collected from Ratchaburi Province, confirms the species' conspecific status through key morphological traits such as bright red antennae and distinctive bicolor hind tibiae (blue basally, red apically). The study employed detailed anatomical comparisons, including measurements of body structures like the pronotum, tegmen, and ovipositor, to characterize the female's morphology—previously unknown. Habitat observations revealed the species perching on grasses in open grassland areas. This discovery enhances our understanding of Caryanda diversity within Thailand's UNESCO-listed Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex.

Case Report: Neurological and pulmonary angiostrongylosis in a Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata) on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2026 — WHEB492F98377

A Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata) on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, exhibited neurological and pulmonary symptoms of angiostrongylosis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The case highlights the potential for this endangered rodent to manifest both neurological and respiratory disease manifestations due to infection with the ac1 lineage of A. cantonensis, distinct from lineages found on nearby islands. Gross and histopathological examinations revealed nematodes in the brain, lungs, and heart, accompanied by severe inflammation, hemorrhage, edema, thrombosis, necrosis, and concurrent Aspergillus infection. This finding underscores the need for further epidemiological studies to clarify transmission dynamics involving invasive rodents, terrestrial gastropods, and potential paratenic hosts within the Amami Islands.

Case Study: The Bikini Atoll Magnetic Anomaly Forensic Prediction of Helical Remagnetization from Vacuum Stiffness Collapse

Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site — 2026 — WHE0779CAD0B2

A novel forensic prediction suggests that the Castle Bravo nuclear test of 1954 at Bikini Atoll may have left a permanent signature in the local geomagnetic field. The study, rooted in the Axiomatic Physical Homeostasis (APH) framework, proposes that the test's anomalous yield and fallout resulted from a transient collapse of the Vacuum Geometric Stiffness, followed by a rapid re-crystallization process. This violent restoration is theorized to have generated a Torsional Electromagnetic Pulse—a chiral shockwave distinct from conventional electromagnetic pulses—which could have induced Helical Remagnetization in ferromagnetic minerals on the crater floor and fused fallout material (Sedenion Slag). The research derives the expected field topology and outlines a paleomagnetic core sampling protocol to verify the existence of this 'Bravo Helix' signature, offering a new avenue for investigating the long-term magnetic effects of nuclear tests.

Catastrophe at St Kilda: Vulnerability and Resilience in an Island Community

St Kilda — 2026 — WHEB9E5B7572E

St Kilda's cultural continuity may have been disrupted by two catastrophic events, which depleted its population and led to repopulation from the MacLeods' domains. This repopulation introduced Hebridean folklore, Norse words for seabirds and boats, and toponyms related to key seascape features, potentially forming a lingua franca that aided cultural resilience during major population renewals. The study suggests that St Kilda's relatively well-documented ethnography can provide insights into the broader, less recorded Hebridean region. It examines how economic and political motivations for repopulation, combined with vulnerability to disease and violence, shaped island communities' resilience.

Cave of Altamira (Spain): UAV-Based SLAM Mapping, Digital Twin and Segmentation-Driven Crack Detection for Preventive Conservation in Paleolithic Rock-Art Environments

Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain — 2026 — WHEB5047B9560

Researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of using UAV-based SLAM mapping, videogrammetry, and deep learning segmentation to detect active fractures and structural risks in the Cave of Altamira, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This innovative approach overcomes traditional survey limitations in confined subterranean environments, enabling high-resolution documentation of inaccessible ledges and sediment accumulations. The study employed twelve autonomous and assisted UAV flights equipped with LiDAR, generating dense point clouds and video sequences processed into 3D meshes. A Mask R-CNN model was trained for automated crack detection under variable conditions, revealing critical structural instability in the cave's sensitive sectors. All datasets were integrated into a digital twin platform, facilitating multitemporal comparison and collaborative annotation. This workflow establishes a reproducible baseline for preventive conservation and future monitoring of Paleolithic rock-art environments.

Cazadores-recolectores, uso del espacio y umbrales de marginalidad en sectores occidentales del sur de Patagonia. El caso de Estancia Cristina, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

Los Glaciares National Park — 2026 — WHE93FF836E65

Hunter-gatherer groups in southern Patagonia utilized the western sectors of Los Glaciares National Park, including Estancia Cristina, as an additional resource-bearing space within their extended foraging range. This late Holocene incorporation of the area, characterized by redundancy and residential components, challenges traditional notions of marginality thresholds in these landscapes. The study identifies three contiguous sectors—Catarina River valley, Cerro Carnero corridor, and Carnero Bay—as having been used in complementary ways, with potential access routes discussed. By evaluating one such route in the upper basin of the Guanaco River, the research sheds light on the variability of archaeological records in open Nothofagus forests and contributes to the preservation of this UNESCO World Heritage Site's archaeological heritage.

Centruroides bicolor

Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection — 2026 — WHEC77A847F2C

Centruroides bicolor, a scorpion species native to Panama and Costa Rica, exhibits significant ecological diversity within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection. This study documents its distribution across multiple provinces in Panama, including Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Veraguas, highlighting its adaptability to various microhabitats such as intradomiciliary spaces, under stones, logs, and within dry tree trunks. The research compiles extensive material examined from over 200 specimens collected between 1975 and 2026, providing critical data on the species' habitat preferences and geographic range. Notably, C. bicolor's presence in Coiba Island underscores its role in marine-protected areas, contributing to biodiversity studies in tropical ecosystems.

Ceramic assemblages from late antique destruction deposits at Campanaio (Sicily)

Archaeological Area of Agrigento — 2026 — WHEA0DD23BA2F

A new dataset from the rural settlement of Campanaio in Sicily reveals a significant increase in African imports, particularly amphorae, during the fifth century CE. This finding challenges established models of Late Antique economic patterns in rural Sicily by suggesting a shift from a production-focused agricultural economy to one centered on consumption of imported goods. The study, part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship project, analyzed previously unpublished ceramic material from well-preserved destruction deposits. The legacy archive, originally collected by Roberta Tomber and restudied by Fabrizio Ducati, has been standardized into a structured dataset adhering to FAIR data principles, enabling broader archaeological interpretation.

Ceramic production, recipes and technological choices in early medieval Walīla (Volubilis, Morocco)

Archaeological Site of Volubilis — 2026 — WHEAAFBCB931F

A comprehensive archaeometric analysis of early medieval ceramics from the site of Walīla (Volubilis, Morocco) reveals diverse technological choices and local production strategies. The study identifies distinct clay recipes for handmade cooking pots and wheelmade transport/service ceramics, using low-calcareous, alumina-enriched clays, while wheelmade tableware and jars relied on highly calcareous deposits. This finding underscores the complexity of urban ceramic production in early Islamic North Africa (7th–10th centuries), with limited evidence of regional or interregional trade beyond a few imports, such as Egyptian amphorae. The research combines petrographic and chemical analyses (LA-ICP-MS) to advance understanding of local ceramic economies in an understudied period.