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Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation

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  Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation Abstract Illegal wildlife trade represents a major global threat to biodiversity, with tarantulas among the most heavily trafficked invertebrate groups due to increasing demand in the international pet market, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulatory frameworks and reliable specimen-level traceability systems to distinguish legally bred individuals from illegally sourced ones. Individual identification is essential to support legal trade, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and reduce illegal trafficking; therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility and safety of passive integrated transponder microchip (PIT TAG) implantation for individual identification in multiple tarantula species under controlled laboratory conditions. Post-implantation parameters assessed included anaesthesia recovery time, feeding behaviour, ecdysis frequency, PIT TAG retention across successive moults...

Ecological Niche Modelling and Distribution of Scorpion Fauna in Central Morocco: A MaxEnt Study

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Ecological Niche Modelling and Distribution of Scorpion Fauna in Central Morocco: A MaxEnt Study

Abstract

Ecological niche modelling (ENM) is a powerful analytical approach for predicting species distribution by elucidating their environmental requirements. The present study used the MaxEnt approach, integrating high-resolution environmental data and extensive in situ observations, to create habitat suitability maps for 19 scorpion species in central Morocco and assess the influence of environmental variables on their distribution. The models demonstrate excellent predictive ability, highlighted by area under the curve (AUC) values systematically greater than 0.9. Soil type emerged as the most influential environmental variable for 74% of species, while the remaining taxa were mainly affected by temperature annual range and annual mean temperature. Habitat suitability maps revealed distinct habitat preferences between species. H. gentili is a habitat generalist, showing a broad predicted distribution covering 62% of the study area, while A. bourdoni (0.14%), B. parroti (0.13%), O. innesi (0.62%) and B. atlantis (0.55%) showed a very restricted prediction of suitable habitats. This species-specific information on habitat conditions is essential not only to improve our understanding of their ecology, but also to formulate more effective public health strategies aimed at reducing the frequency of scorpion envenomings in Morocco.

Salhi, Fouad & Elbahi, Abderrafea & Ouakri, Najat & Lawton, Colin & Abou Oualid, Jaouad & Dugon, Michel. (2026). Ecological Niche Modelling and Distribution of Scorpion Fauna in Central Morocco: A MaxEnt Study. Environmental Research Communications. 10.1088/2515-7620/ae3fef.