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Abstract Even though Gerbillinae rodents represent an important part of the mammalian fauna in North Africa, many gaps remain in our understanding of the distribution, ecology, evolution, and systematics of some lesser known species in this family. We present in this study the most recent findings on two of these species. The first species, Gerbillus simoni Lataste, 1881, is a short-tailed, small gerbil, endemic to North Africa. In Morocco, it is present only in a small area in the northeast, where it has not been caught since 1970. In 2014, we captured a small gerbil in this region that was identified as G. simoni based on morphology and molecular data (cytochrome b gene sequencing). This study represents the first genetic characterization of G. simoni in Morocco and the first one outside Tunisia. Populations from Morocco and Tunisia (mainland and Kerkennah Islands) show very little genetic differentiation. The second species, Gerbillus henleyi de Winton, 1903, is a long-tailed small gerbil that lives in the Sahel and North Africa with an extension to the Middle East. In Morocco, this species was only known in the southwest. Between 2014 and 2015, we have captured four gerbils in the northeast of the country, which were confirmed genetically and morphologically as belonging to this species. This represents an extension of its known distribution of about 370 km to the northeast of the country. These new Moroccan specimens form a distinct lineage. High genetic diversity is observed throughout the geographic range of G. henleyi , suggesting the existence of several cryptic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global macadamia industry is growing rapidly, and the world's biggest macadamia nut producer, South Africa, is continuously expanding its production. Insect pest mitigation and research are mainly focused on the damage caused by heteropteran pest species, whereas the damage associated with lepidopteran tortricid moths in South African macadamia orchards is understudied. Here we explore the potential biocontrol of tortricid moths by natural predators through full exclosure of bats and birds, daytime only exclosure (birds), night exclosure (bats and possibly nocturnal birds), and control treatments. The exclusion experiment showed that bats and birds are effective natural predators, which can reduce tortricid moth damage by more than 35%. Impacts of biocontrol are higher at natural orchard edges next to natural or semi-natural vegetation, compared to human-modified edges (12.4% damage decrease in 2017, 10.6% in 2018). At the full exclosure, there was no difference in damage between natural orchard edges and human-modified edges, in both years of our study (56.5% vs. 56.6% in 2017, 19% vs. 18.5% in 2018). We recommend increased preservation efforts of more heterogeneity with semi-natural vegetation in agricultural landscapes to ensure the conservation of biocontrol services, as their loss can be expected to result in significant negative impact on macadamia production. This biological pest control can be used as part of integrated pest management to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides, so decreasing sustainability challenges. [Display omitted] • Insect pest mitigation and research in South African macadamia have mainly focused on Heteroptera, neglecting Lepidoptera. • We used an exclusion experiment to quantify how biocontrol of Tortricidae varied between bats, birds, and landscape context. • Bats and birds were effective natural predators that reduced tortricid husk damage by more than 35%. • Biocontrol impacts were higher at orchard edges bordering natural vegetation. • Maintaining remnant natural vegetation in agricultural landscapes can reduce crop losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guenfouda cave, located in eastern Morocco, has yielded an abundant macro- and microvertebrate fauna associated with a rich lithic industry attributed to several cultures (Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age and Neolithic). Among the microfauna, on the basis of new morphological and biometric data of the upper and lower first molars, we identified two gerbillines of the genus Gerbillus collected from the upper levels of an Holocene age. Gerbillus henleyi is here identified for the first time in the fossil record of North Africa, while G. campestris has been cited previously at this site and in many other Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Maghreb. The taphonomic study concluded that a medium-sized nocturnal predator (possibly Tyto alba) was likely to be the source of the accumulation of small mammals in the filling of the Guenfouda cave. The palaeoecological reconstruction based on the whole faunal spectrum indicates a semi-open steppic landscape, with patches of more wooded areas and water ponds or streams, which is also characteristic for this region at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many micromammals were shown to be vulnerable to metallic trace elements and are therefore suitable for biomonitoring. The objective of our research is to assess the concentration level of five trace elements (Cu, Pb, Cr, Fe and Zn) in small rodent Mus spretus organs (liver, kidneys and heart) from two Moroccan sites, Merja Zerga and Dayet Erroumi, threatened by massive fertilizer use. Tissue metal concentrations in this species varied widely with age, sex, sites and organs. The concentration of Cu in the liver was the highest among all the metals and was recorded in adult females of Merja Zerga with a maximum of 60 μg g−1; at Dayet Erroumi, it was around 14 μg g−1. At the same time, we found a similar trend for Fe, Pb, Cr and Zn in the three organs in males and females at the two sites. Highly significant differences between females at the two sites were recorded for the variables weight (W) and head to body length (TL) (t = -3.99; p < 0.001 and t = -2.24, p < 0.05), however, males showed equal values in the two sites. Spatiotemporal monitoring in small mammals must be studied, but requires the application of a non-lethal estimator as part of a multicriteria conservation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists have warned decision‐makers about the severe consequences of the global environmental crisis since the 1970s. Yet ecological degradation continues and little has been done to address climate change. We investigated early‐career conservation researchers' (ECR) perspectives on, and prioritization of, actions furthering sustainability. We conducted a survey (n = 67) and an interactive workshop (n = 35) for ECR attendees of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). Building on these data and discussions, we identified ongoing and forthcoming advances in conservation science. These include increased transdisciplinarity, science communication, advocacy in conservation, and adoption of a transformation‐oriented social–ecological systems approach to research. The respondents and participants had diverse perspectives on how to achieve sustainability. Reformist actions were emphasized as paving the way for more radical changes in the economic system and societal values linked to the environment and inequality. Our findings suggest that achieving sustainability requires a strategy that (1) incorporates the multiplicity of people's views, (2) places a greater value on nature, and (3) encourages systemic transformation across political, social, educational, and economic realms on multiple levels. We introduce a framework for ECRs to inspire their research and practice within conservation science to achieve real change in protecting biological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]