Aim To examine the species richness, distribution and macroecological patterns of elasmobranch assemblages across a broad latitudinal gradient in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). Location The study area encompasses the Pacific coast of the American continent, spanning from 65°N to 60°S, and extending from the coastline to approximately 1000 km offshore, encompassing the oceanic archipelagos. Taxon Elasmobranchs. Methods Utilis...

Plant–soil biodiversity interactions are fundamental for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, the existence of a set of globally distributed topsoil microbial and small invertebrate organisms consistently associated with land plants (i.e., their consistent soil‐borne microbiome), together with the environmental preferences and functional capabilities of these organisms, remains unknown. We conducted a standardized f...

Nature conservation policy is mainly concerned with aboveground terrestrial species and soil biodiversity has been largely ignored, resulting in a lack of information about the conservation status of most soil organisms and about the effects that nature conservation policies have on soil systems. Forests in Northern Portugal are characterized by a remarkable diversity of ecosystems and provide habitat for an enormous diversity...

Plants are the source of a large spectrum of phytochemicals, and the combined and concerted action of biologically active compounds lead to the potential beneficial properties of each plant matrix. A great attention is being addressed over the years toward herbs and medicinal plants. Dragon’s Blood is a reddish resin oil extracted from Croton lechleri tree. It has been extensively used by indigenous cultures of the Amazon Rive...

Gomortega keule (Mol.) Baillon, known locally as queule, is an endangered tree endemic to Chile. The literature states that the main uses of this species are fruit consumption and exploitation of the wood, but there are no in‐depth references to other uses. Some references mention that the fruit produces a putative psychoactive effect. Because non‐documented ethnobotanical knowledge may still be maintained by local people, thi...