Plants are under-represented in conservation efforts, with only 9% of described species published on the IUCN Red List. Biodiversity aggregators including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the more recent Botanical Information and Ecology Network (BIEN) contain a wealth of potentially useful occurrence data. We investigate the influence of these data in accelerating plant extinction risk assessments for 225 endemic, near-endemic, and socioeconomic Bolivian plant species. Geo-referenced herbarium voucher specimens verified by taxonomic experts comprised our control data set. Open-source data for 77 species was subjected to a two-stage cleaning protocol (using an automated R package followed by a manual clean) and threat categories were computed based on extent of occurrence thresholds. Accuracy was the highest using cleaned GBIF data (76%) and uncleaned BIEN data (79%). Sensitivity was the highest for cleaned GBIF (73%) and BIEN (80%) data suggesting our cleaning protocol was essential to maximize sensitivity rates. Comparisons between the control, GBIF and BIEN data sets revealed a paucity of occurrence data for 148 species (66%), 72% of which qualified for a threatened category. Balancing data quantity and accuracy must be considered when using opensource data. Filling data gaps for threatened species is a conservation priority to improve the coverage of threatened species within biodiversity aggregators.

Madagascar’s biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar’s past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique “living laboratory” for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth’s biodiversity.

Madagascar’s unique biota is heavily affected by human activity and is under intense threat. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the conservation status of Madagascar’s terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by presenting data and analyses on documented and predicted species-level conservation statuses, the most prevalent and relevant threats, ex situ collections and programs, and the coverage and comprehensiveness of protected areas. The existing terrestrial protected area network in Madagascar covers 10.4% of its land area and includes at least part of the range of the majority of described native species of vertebrates with known distributions (97.1% of freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals combined) and plants (67.7%). The overall figures are higher for threatened species (97.7% of threatened vertebrates and 79.6% of threatened plants occurring within at least one protected area). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments and Bayesian neural network analyses for plants identify overexploitation of biological resources and unsustainable agriculture as the most prominent threats to biodiversity. We highlight five opportunities for action at multiple levels to ensure that conservation and ecological restoration objectives, programs, and activities take account of complex underlying and interacting factors and produce tangible benefits for the biodiversity and people of Madagascar.

SummaryA taxonomic account of Jacquemontia Choisy in Bolivia and Peru is presented. All recognised species from the two countries are described and their distribution, ecology and conservation status are outlined. Separate keys to the species occurring in each country are also provided. All species are mapped and illustrated with line drawings and/or photographs. Five new species, Jacquemontia boliviana J.R.I.Wood, J. chuquisacensis J.R.I.Wood, J. cuspidata J.R.I.Wood, J. longipedunculata J.R.I.Wood and J. mairae J.R.I.Wood & R.Clegg are described from the Andes of Bolivia. Taxonomic notes are provided for many species, J. heterantha Nees & Mart. is treated as a synonym of J. cumanensis (Kunth) Kuntze and J. prominens Helwig of J. unilateralis (Roem. & Schult.) O’Donell. Lectotypes are chosen for Convolvulus agrestis Mart. ex Choisy, C. mucronatus Benth., Ipomoea selloi var. rufescens (Meisn.) Hallier f., Jacquemontia acuminata Rusby, J. azurea var. alba Seeman, J. corymbulosa Benth., J. densiflora Rusby, J. guayaquilensis Meisn., J. pedunculata Rusby, J. sphaerocephala Meisn. and J. violacea var. densiflora Meisn.

When drilling in shallow waters a pure Dynamic Positioning (DP) station keeping solution may not be sufficient for the small offset requirements, hence to increase the station keeping capacity a mooring system is required. In ice infested waters, with extreme ice conditions, the ability to quickly disconnect the mooring system and leave the location, as well as a short reconnection time, is of great importance for safety and productivity. To meet the industry need for exploration drilling in shallow water in the Arctic, an attachable turret mooring system for drillships, ATMOS (attachable mooring system), has been developed. Combining the ATMOS with a drillship´s DP system creates a thruster assisted mooring system and significantly increases the station keeping capacity of the drillship. This paper presents a drillship mooring system that has been designed specifically to meet the challenges of drilling in Arctic regions but also for operation in open water and/or harsh environment in both deep and shallow waters. Stena has spent a number of years developing and refining the ATMOS concept for use with an Arctic 6th Generation drillship. The development process has included engineering, concept approval by Class, and both open water and ice model testing.