New species of treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from the isolated Ivohiboro Protected Area in south-eastern Madagascar

Open MIND · 2026-02-25

We describe a new species of treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from Ivohiboro, a sacred forest in the Southeastof Madagascar and recently established protected area. Based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from DNA sequencesof the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, Boophis samuelsabini sp. n. is sister to the clade of B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus but differs from these species by genetic distances of 4.8–6.3%. The new species has an advertisement call consisting of various note types similar to its closest relatives, B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus, but is distinguishedmorphologically from them by smaller body size and presence of a pattern of reticulated dermal folds on the dorsum. Thisdiscovery highlights the poor state of exploration of remnant highland forests in the South East of Madagascar which canbe expected to harbour additional microendemic species in need of conservation measures.

New species of treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from the isolated Ivohiboro Protected Area in south-eastern Madagascar

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026-02-25

We describe a new species of treefrog of the Boophis goudotii group from Ivohiboro, a sacred forest in the Southeastof Madagascar and recently established protected area. Based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from DNA sequencesof the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, Boophis samuelsabini sp. n. is sister to the clade of B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus but differs from these species by genetic distances of 4.8–6.3%. The new species has an advertisement call consisting of various note types similar to its closest relatives, B. madagascariensis and B. roseipalmatus, but is distinguishedmorphologically from them by smaller body size and presence of a pattern of reticulated dermal folds on the dorsum. Thisdiscovery highlights the poor state of exploration of remnant highland forests in the South East of Madagascar which canbe expected to harbour additional microendemic species in need of conservation measures.

Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Self-Care in Palliative Nursing

2025-10-01

Abstract The palliative care workforce is affected by role-specific stressors, short-staffing, and organizational and management issues that contribute to burnout. Burnout in palliative care nurses is detrimental not only to individual nurses but to patients and organizations as well. Self-care strategies that promote individual well-being, reduce burnout, and prevent future occurrences are important for career longevity. Nurses are ethically obligated to care for themselves just as they would care for a patient. Organizations, too, have a responsibility to create and sustain healthy workplaces where nurses can thrive and provide care that aligns with best practice. In this chapter, stressors that contribute to burnout in palliative care nurses are discussed. Recommendations for both individual and organizational interventions to prevent burnout, and thereby staff turnover, are offered.

Mouse lemur cell atlas informs primate genes, physiology and disease

Nature · 2025-07-30 · 4 citations

, we performed large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing of 27 organs from mouse lemurs. We identified more than 750 molecular cell types, characterized their transcriptomic profiles and provided insight into primate evolution of cell types. Here we use the generated atlas to characterize mouse lemur genes, physiology, disease and mutations. We uncover thousands of previously unidentified lemur genes and hundreds of thousands of new splice junctions including over 85,000 primate splice junctions missing in mice. We systematically explore the lemur immune system by comparing global expression profiles of key immune genes in health and disease, and by mapping immune cell development, trafficking and activation. We characterize primate-specific and lemur-specific physiology and disease, including molecular features of the immune program, lemur adipocytes and metastatic endometrial cancer that resembles the human malignancy. We present expression patterns of more than 400 primate genes missing in mice, many with similar expression patterns to humans and some implicated in human disease. Finally, we provide an experimental framework for reverse genetic analysis by identifying naturally occurring nonsense mutations in three primate immune genes missing in mice and by analysing their transcriptional phenotypes. This work establishes a foundation for molecular and genetic analyses of mouse lemurs and prioritizes primate genes, isoforms, physiology and disease for future study.

A molecular cell atlas of mouse lemur, an emerging model primate

Nature · 2025-07-30 · 8 citations

Abstract Mouse lemurs are the smallest and fastest reproducing primates, as well as one of the most abundant, and they are emerging as a model organism for primate biology, behaviour, health and conservation. Although much has been learnt about their ecology and phylogeny in Madagascar and their physiology, little is known about their cellular and molecular biology. Here we used droplet-based and plate-based single-cell RNA sequencing to create Tabula Microcebus, a transcriptomic atlas of 226,000 cells from 27 mouse lemur organs opportunistically obtained from four donors clinically and histologically characterized. Using computational cell clustering, integration and expert cell annotation, we define and biologically organize more than 750 lemur molecular cell types and their full gene expression profiles. This includes cognates of most classical human cell types, including stem and progenitor cells, and differentiating cells along the developmental trajectories of spermatogenesis, haematopoiesis and other adult tissues. We also describe dozens of previously unidentified or sparsely characterized cell types. We globally compare expression profiles to define the molecular relationships of cell types across the body, and explore primate cell and gene expression evolution by comparing lemur transcriptomes to those of human, mouse and macaque. This reveals cell-type-specific patterns of primate specialization and many cell types and genes for which the mouse lemur provides a better human model than mouse 1 . The atlas provides a cellular and molecular foundation for studying this model primate and establishes a general approach for characterizing other emerging model organisms.

Landscape-level human disturbance results in loss and contraction of mammalian populations in tropical forests

PLoS Biology · 2025-02-13 · 17 citations

Tropical forests hold most of Earth's biodiversity and a higher concentration of threatened mammals than other biomes. As a result, some mammal species persist almost exclusively in protected areas, often within extensively transformed and heavily populated landscapes. Other species depend on remaining remote forested areas with sparse human populations. However, it remains unclear how mammalian communities in tropical forests respond to anthropogenic pressures in the broader landscape in which they are embedded. As governments commit to increasing the extent of global protected areas to prevent further biodiversity loss, identifying the landscape-level conditions supporting wildlife has become essential. Here, we assessed the relationship between mammal communities and anthropogenic threats in the broader landscape. We simultaneously modeled species richness and community occupancy as complementary metrics of community structure, using a state-of-the-art community model parameterized with a standardized pan-tropical data set of 239 mammal species from 37 forests across 3 continents. Forest loss and fragmentation within a 50-km buffer were associated with reduced occupancy in monitored communities, while species richness was unaffected by them. In contrast, landscape-scale human density was associated with reduced mammal richness but not occupancy, suggesting that sensitive species have been extirpated, while remaining taxa are relatively unaffected. Taken together, these results provide evidence of extinction filtering within tropical forests triggered by anthropogenic pressure occurring in the broader landscape. Therefore, existing and new reserves may not achieve the desired biodiversity outcomes without concurrent investment in addressing landscape-scale threats.

Cost-effective eDNA methods for monitoring wild crocodiles

Biodiversity and Conservation · 2025-10-01

eDNA sampling has emerged as an attractive, noninvasive method for monitoring the planet’s increasingly threatened biodiversity. Sophisticated technologies have been developed to maximize eDNA collection, yet some of these methods are cost prohibitive, demonstrating the need for accessible, creative collection methods. We use crocodiles as a system to demonstrate the utility of simplified collection strategies: water filtered through standard paper coffee filters, sediment samples, and more traditional eDNA water filters from Thermo Scientific. Crocodiles are top predators and widely revered across cultures. Therefore, monitoring them can pose logistical challenges, necessitating the development of effective noninvasive tools. We show that both coffee filters and sediment samples successfully collected amplifiable crocodile DNA from a field site in Madagascar. We also tested Thermo Fisher eDNA filters exclusively from different sites but did not retain detectable crocodile DNA from these samples. This study introduces an accessible option for researchers and conservation practitioners everywhere, while facilitating easy community engagement in the monitoring of a powerful, spiritually significant species.

Why Didn't the Sifaka Cross the Road? Divergence of <i>Propithecus edwardsi</i> Gut Microbiomes Across Geographic Barriers in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

American Journal of Primatology · 2025-02-01

This study uses a biogeographic framework to identify patterns of gut microbiome divergence in an endangered lemur species endemic to Madagascar's southeastern rainforests, the Milne-Edwards's sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi). Specifically, we tested the effects of (1) geographic barriers, (2) habitat disturbance, and (3) geographic distance on gut microbiome alpha and beta diversity. We selected 10 social groups from 4 sites in Ranomafana National Park with varied histories of selective logging. Sites were spaced between 4 and 17 km apart falling on either side of two parallel barriers to animal movement: the Namorona River and the RN25 highway. Using 16S rRNA metabarcoding, we found the greatest beta diversity differentiation to occur between social groups, with significant divisions on opposite sides of geographic barriers (road/river). Habitat disturbance had the most significant effect on alpha diversity, though, contrary to many other studies, disturbance was associated with higher microbial species richness. Without biomedical context, it is unclear whether microbiome differences observed herein are neutral, adaptive, or maladaptive. However, microbiome divergence associated with the road/river may be a symptom of reduced host gene flow, warranting further investigation and perhaps conservation action (e.g., construction of wildlife bridges). Finally, this work demonstrates that significant microbiome variation can accrue over small sampling areas, lending new insight into host-microbe-environmental interactions.

Building Resilience: Forest Resources Shape Rural Housing Security in Madagascar

SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

A primate model organism for cardiac arrhythmias identifies a magnesium transporter in pacemaker function

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-06-01 · 2 citations

ABSTRACT Cardiac arrhythmias afflict tens of millions of people, causing one-fifth of all deaths 1 . Although mouse models have aided understanding of some pacemaker genes and arrhythmias 2,3 , mice are not known to naturally acquire arrhythmias, and the substantial differences between mouse and human cardiac anatomy and physiology have limited their utility in preclinical studies and pharmacological testing 2,4 . To establish a primate genetic model organism for arrhythmias, we carried out an electrocardiographic (ECG) screen of over 350 lab and wild mouse lemurs ( Microcebus spp. ), an emerging model organism that is among the smallest, fastest-reproducing, and most abundant primates 5 . Twenty-two lemurs (6.2%) were identified with eight different naturally-occurring arrhythmias resembling human ECG pathologies (SSS, PACs, Afib, PVCs, NSVT, STD, iTWs, STE). Pedigree construction showed two were familial, premature atrial contractions (PACs)/atrial fibrillation (Afib) and sick sinus syndrome (SSS), an episodic bradycardia. Genome sequencing of the SSS pedigree mapped the disease locus to a 1.4 Mb interval on chromosome 7 and supported autosomal recessive Mendelian inheritance. The most appealing candidate gene in the interval was SLC41A2 , a little studied magnesium transporter 6,7 . SLC41A2 is expressed in human iPSC-derived sinoatrial node cells (iSANC) and localizes to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Although mouse SLC41A2 knockouts do not show a cardiac pacemaker phenotype 8 , CRISPR-mediated SLC41A2 knockout altered human iSANC magnesium dynamics and slowed their calcium transient firing rate. The results suggest SLC41A2 functions cell autonomously and primate-specifically in cardiac pacemaker cells, and that intracellular magnesium dynamics have a crucial but previously unappreciated role in setting pacemaker rate. Thus, mouse lemur is a valuable model for discovering new genes, molecules, and mechanisms of the primate pacemaker, and for identifying novel candidate genes and therapeutic targets for human arrhythmias. The approach can be used to elucidate other primate diseases and traits.