Prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasitic infections in taeniasis endemic area of North Sumatera, Indonesia.

A group of helminthic and intestinal protozoa causes intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs), affecting more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. IPIs are diseases closely associated with poor hygiene and sanitation, concentrated in underdeveloped regions and among populations with low socioeconomic status. Consequently, most prevalence is in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, with local habits or risk factors that could affect its prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine how hygienic practices, sanitation, and local behavior of eating raw meat (hinasumba) contributed to the prevalence of IPI. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Simalungun District of North Sumatera Province, involving 428 people of Batak Simalungun. There were 15 villages randomly selected across the district based on the local registry, which consequently, non-purposive sampling was conducted. Face-to-face interviews assessed various risk factors, such as demographic characteristics, water source, traditional raw meat consumption, or hinasumba as local risk factors, hygienic practices, and sanitation. The findings indicated that an overall prevalence rate of IPI was 42.9%, consisting of 87.5% with helminthic infection and 12.5% with protozoal infection. More than half of IPI cases were associated with Taenia sp. infections (21.8%), followed by hookworms' infections with a 6.1% positivity rate. Based on multivariate analysis, farming and consuming traditional delicacies, namely hinasumba, increased the likelihood of IPI occurrence among the population by 1.7 and 3 times, respectively. It can be concluded that the high prevalence of taeniasis in the study area was associated with local behavior and hinasumba consumption, which may contribute to determining the dominance of specific IPI species.

Population structure in Mixornis tit-babblers across Sunda Shelf matches interfluvia of paleo-rivers.

Rivers constitute an important biogeographic divide in vast areas of tropical rainforest, such as the Amazon and Congo Basins. Southeast Asia's rainforests are currently fragmented across islands divided by sea, which has long obscured their extensive history of terrestrial connectivity as part of a vast (but now submerged) subcontinent - Sundaland - during most of the Quaternary. The role of paleo-rivers in determining population structure in Sundaic rainforests at a time when these forests were connected remains little understood. We examined the coloration of museum skins and used the genomic DNA of museum samples and freshly-collected blood tissue of a pair of Sundaic songbird species, the pin-striped and bold-striped tit-babblers (Mixornis gularis and M. bornensis, respectively), to assess the genetic affinity of populations on small Sundaic islands that have largely been ignored by modern research. Our genomic and morphological results place the populations from the Anambas and Natuna Islands firmly within M. gularis from the Malay Peninsula in western Sundaland, even though some of these islands are geographically much closer to Borneo, where M. bornensis resides. Our results reveal genetic structure consistent with the course of Sundaic paleo-rivers and the location of the interfluvia they formed, and add to a small but growing body of evidence that rivers would have been of equal biogeographic importance in Sundaland's former connected forest landscape as they are in Amazonia and the Congo Basin today.

When colors mislead: Genomics and bioacoustics prompt re-classification of Asian flycatcher radiation (Aves: Niltavinae).

Traditional classification of many animals, including birds, has been highly dependent on external morphological characters like plumage coloration. However, both bioacoustics and genetic or genomic data have revolutionized our understanding of the relationships of certain lineages and led to sweeping taxonomic re-organizations. In this study, we present a case of erroneous delimitation of genus boundaries in the species-rich flycatcher subfamily Niltavinae. Genera within this subfamily have historically been delineated based on blue versus brown male body plumage until recent studies based on a few mitochondrial and nuclear loci unearthed several cases of generic misclassification. Here we use extensive bioacoustic data from 43 species and genomic data from 28 species for a fundamental reclassification of species in the Niltavinae. Our study reveals that song is an important trait to classify these birds even at the genus level, whereas plumage traits exhibit ample convergence and have led to numerous historic misattributions. Our taxonomic re-organization leads to new biogeographic limits of major genera, such that the genus Cyornis now only extends as far east as the islands of Sulawesi, Sula, and Banggai, whereas Eumyias is redefined to extend far beyond Wallace's Line to the islands of Seram and Timor. Our conclusions advise against an over-reliance on morphological traits and underscore the importance of integrative datasets.

Isolation of phenolic compound from Lawsonia inermis and its prediction as anti-diabetic agent using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation.

High blood sugar is a defining feature of chronic disease, diabetes mellitus (DM). There are numerous commercially available medications for the treatment of DM. However, managing the patient's glucose levels remain a challenge because of the gradual reduction in beta-cell function and some side effects from the long-term use of various medications. Previous research has shown that the phenolic compound of henna plant (Lawsonia inermis L.) has the potential as anti-diabetic agent since it is able to suppress the digesting of α-amylase enzyme. In these studies, the plant' phenolic compounds have been isolated and characterized using UV, IR, NMR and LC-MS methods. Furthermore, the compound interaction into the active site of the α-amylase enzyme has been analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics, as well as into α-glucosidase enzyme for predicting of the affinities. The results showed that isolated compound has the molecular formula of C15H10O6 with eleven degrees of unsaturation (DBE; double bond equivalence). The DBE value corresponds to the structure of the luteolin compound having an aromatic ring (8), a carbonyl group on the side chain (1) and a ketone ring with (2). The interaction study of the isolated compound with α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme using molecular docking compared to the positive control (acarbose) gave binding energy of -8.03 and -8.95 kcal/mol, respectively. The molecular dynamics simulation using the MM-PBSA method, complex stability based on solvent accessible surface area (SASA), root mean square deviation (RMSD), and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) revealed that the compound has a high affinity for receptors. The characteristics of skin permeability, absorption, and distribution using ADME-Tox model were also well predicted. The results indicate that the phenolic compound isolated from L. inermis leaf was luteolin and it has the potential as an anti-diabetic agent.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Maxillary Arch Dimensions in Children with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Receiving Alveolar Bone Grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the maxillary arch dimensions of children aged 9 and 12 with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) who received orthodontic treatment and secondary alveolar bone grafting. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was performed on 30 patients with UCLP. SETTING: All patients were treated at the Cleft Lip and Palate Centre, which is part of the University Medical Centre Amsterdam and Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, the Netherlands. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Children with non-syndromic UCLP who received pre- and postsurgical orthodontics combined with secondary alveolar bone grafting between the ages of 9 and 12 years were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maxillary arch dimensions were assessed on 60 digitised dental casts with measurements of the intermolar widths, interpremolar widths, arch perimeters, arch lengths, arch widths, and palatal depths. RESULTS: The results of a paired-samples t-test revealed a statistically significant increase (P < .05) in intermolar width 1, intermolar width 3, interpremolar width 1, arch perimeter, and arch width between the ages of 9 (T0) and 12 (T1). Intermolar width 2 and the palatal depth decreased statistically significantly between T0 and T1. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of maxillary arch dimensions of children with UCLP indicates significant changes between 9 and 12 years of age. This suggests that orthodontic treatment and secondary alveolar bone grafting can be effective in improving maxillary arch dimensions. However, there is a need for collaborative research and data collection in order to provide sensible and evidence-based care to patients with cleft lip and palate.

The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-Iß alteration by deer (Rusa unicolor) antler extract on osteoarthritis rat model.

Osteoarthritis is a disease associated with articular cartilage degradation, intra-articular area inflammation, and subchondral bone replacement. Cytokine IL-1ß has a prominent function in the inflammations process that passes in the joints. The 70% ethanol extracts of deer antler (250 and 500 mg/kg BW) and glucosamine sulfate (250 kg/BW) were evaluated for four weeks in reducing cytokine IL-1ß to rat model OA-induced Monosodium iodoacetate. Measurements of joint diameter in rat's knee and hyperalgesia were performed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The presence of a significant difference in the stimulation thermal latency (p = 0.00) and the resulting increase in swelling of joint diameter (p = 0.00) are evidence that MIA has successfully induced the rat modeling of OA. A significant decrease in cytokine IL-Iß levels was shown on week 3 after MIA injection (p = 0.00). Both concentrations of deer extracts significantly reduced knee joint diameter (p = 0.00), latency thermal stimulation (p = 0.00), and cytokine IL-1ß levels (p = 0.00). Based on the results, it can be concluded that the 70% ethanol extract of deer antler is a potential medicine for OA therapy.

Surgical Techniques for Performing a Through-Knee Amputation: A Systematic Review and Development of an Operative Descriptive System.

BACKGROUND: Through-knee amputation (TKA) carries potential biomechanical advantages over above knee amputation (AKA) in patients unsuitable for a below-knee amputation. However, concerns regarding prosthetic fit, cosmesis and wound healing have tempered enthusiasm for the operation. Furthermore, there are many described surgical techniques for performing a TKA. This frustrates attempts to compare past and future comparative data, limiting the opportunity to identify which procedure is associated with the best patient centered outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to identify all the recognized operative TKA techniques described in the literature and to develop a clear descriptive system to support future research in this area. METHODS: A systematic review was performed, searching the OVID, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases, according to Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. Papers of any design were included if they described an operative technique for a TKA. Key operative descriptions were captured and used to design a classification system for surgical techniques. RESULTS: A total of 906 papers were identified, of which 28 are included. The most important distinctions in operative technique were the level of division of the femur (disarticulation without bone division, transcondylar amputation, with or without shaving of the medial, lateral, and posterior condyles and supracondylar amputation), management of the patella (kept whole, partially preserved, completely removed), use of a muscular gastrocnaemius flap, and skin incisions. A 4-component classification system was developed to be able to describe TKA operative techniques. A suggested shorthand nomenclature uses the first letter of each component (FPMS; Femur, Patella, Muscular flap, Skin incision), followed by a number, to describe the operation. Patient outcomes were poorly reported, and therefore outcomes for different types of TKA are not addressed in this review. CONCLUSIONS: A novel descriptive system for describing different techniques for performing a TKA has been developed. This classification system will help in reporting, comparing, and interpreting past and future studies of patients undergoing TKA.

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups.

Problem-solving tasks are commonly used to investigate technical, innovative behavior but a comparison of this ability across a broad range of species is a challenging undertaking. Specific predispositions, such as the morphological toolkit of a species or exploration techniques, can substantially influence performance in such tasks, which makes direct comparisons difficult. The method presented here was developed to be more robust with regard to such species-specific differences: the Innovation Arena presents 20 different problem-solving tasks. All tasks are presented simultaneously. Subjects are confronted with the apparatus repeatedly, which allows a measurement of the emergence of innovations over time - an important next step for investigating how animals can adapt to changing environmental conditions through innovative behavior. Each individual was tested with the apparatus until it ceased to discover solutions. After testing was concluded, we analyzed the video recordings and coded successful retrieval of rewards and multiple apparatus-directed behaviors. The latter were analyzed using a Principal Component Analysis and the resulting components were then included in a Generalized Linear Mixed Model together with session number and the group comparison of interest to predict the probability of success. We used this approach in a first study to target the question of whether long-term captivity influences the problem-solving ability of a parrot species known for its innovative behavior: the Goffin´s cockatoo. We found an effect in degree of motivation but no difference in the problem-solving ability between short- and long-term captive groups.

Wild Goffin's cockatoos flexibly manufacture and use tool sets.

The use of different tools to achieve a single goal is considered unique to human and primate technology. To unravel the origins of such complex behaviors, it is crucial to investigate tool use that is not necessary for a species' survival. These cases can be assumed to have emerged innovatively and be applied flexibly, thus emphasizing creativity and intelligence. However, it is intrinsically challenging to record tool innovations in natural settings that do not occur species-wide. Here, we report the discovery of two distinct tool manufacture methods and the use of tool sets in wild Goffin's cockatoos (Cacatua goffiniana). Up to three types of wooden tools, differing in their physical properties and each serving a different function, were manufactured and employed to extract embedded seed matter of Cerbera manghas. While Goffin's cockatoos do not depend on tool-obtained resources, repeated observations of two temporarily captive wild birds and indications from free-ranging individuals suggest this behavior occurs in the wild, albeit not species-wide. The use of a tool set in a non-primate implies convergent evolution of advanced tool use. Furthermore, these observations demonstrate how a species without hands can achieve dexterity in a high-precision task. The presence of flexible use and manufacture of tool sets in animals distantly related to humans significantly diversifies the phylogenetic landscape of technology and opens multiple avenues for future research. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Genomic investigation of colour polymorphism and phylogeographic variation among populations of black-headed bulbul (Brachypodius atriceps) in insular southeast Asia.

Intraspecific polymorphism in birds, especially plumage colour polymorphism, and the mechanisms that control it are an area of active research in evolutionary biology. The black-headed bulbul (Brachypodius atriceps) is a polymorphic species with two distinct morphs, yellow and grey. This species inhabits the mainland and virtually all continental islands of Southeast Asia where yellow morphs predominate, but on two islands in the Sunda region, Bawean and Maratua, grey morphs are common or exclusive. Here, we generated a high-quality reference genome of a yellow individual and resequenced genomes of multiple individuals of both yellow and grey morphs to study the genetic basis of coloration and population history of the species. Using PCA and STRUCTURE analysis, we found the Maratua Island population (which is exclusively grey) to be distinct from all other B. atriceps populations, having been isolated c. 1.9 million years ago (Ma). In contrast, Bawean grey individuals (a subset of yellow and grey individuals on that island) are embedded within an almost panmictic Sundaic clade of yellow birds. Using FST and dxy to compare variable genomic segments between Maratua and yellow individuals, we located peaks of divergence and identified candidate loci involved in the colour polymorphism. Tests of selection among coding-proteins in high FST regions, however, did not indicate selection on the candidate genes. Overall, we report on some loci that are potentially responsible for the grey/yellow polymorphism in a species that otherwise shows little genetic diversification across most of its range.

Using historical genome-wide DNA to unravel the confused taxonomy in a songbird lineage that is extinct in the wild.

Urgent conservation action for terminally endangered species is sometimes hampered by taxonomic uncertainty, especially in illegally traded animals that are often cross-bred in captivity. To overcome these problems, we used a genomic approach to analyze historical DNA from museum samples across the Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) complex in tropical Asia, a popular victim of the ongoing songbird crisis whose distinct Javan population ("Javan Pied Starling") is extinct in the wild and subject to admixture in captivity. Comparing genomic profiles across the entire distribution, we detected three deeply diverged lineages at the species level characterized by a lack of genomic intermediacy near areas of contact. Our study demonstrates that the use of historical DNA can be instrumental in delimiting species in situations of taxonomic uncertainty, especially when modern admixture may obfuscate species boundaries. Results of our research will enable conservationists to commence a dedicated ex situ breeding program for the Javan Pied Starling, and serve as a blueprint for similar conservation problems involving terminally endangered species subject to allelic infiltration from close congeners.

Phylogenomics of white-eyes, a 'great speciator', reveals Indonesian archipelago as the center of lineage diversity.

Archipelagoes serve as important 'natural laboratories' which facilitate the study of island radiations and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes. The white-eye genus Zosterops is a classical example of a 'great speciator', comprising c. 100 species from across the Old World, most of them insular. We achieved an extensive geographic DNA sampling of Zosterops by using historical specimens and recently collected samples. Using over 700 genome-wide loci in conjunction with coalescent species tree methods and gene flow detection approaches, we untangled the reticulated evolutionary history of Zosterops, which comprises three main clades centered in Indo-Africa, Asia, and Australasia, respectively. Genetic introgression between species permeates the Zosterops phylogeny, regardless of how distantly related species are. Crucially, we identified the Indonesian archipelago, and specifically Borneo, as the major center of diversity and the only area where all three main clades overlap, attesting to the evolutionary importance of this region.

High microphone signal-to-noise ratio enhances acoustic sampling of wildlife.

BACKGROUND: Automated sound recorders are a popular sampling tool in ecology. However, the microphones themselves received little attention so far, and specifications that determine the recordings' sound quality are seldom mentioned. Here, we demonstrate the importance of microphone signal-to-noise ratio for sampling sonant animals. METHODS: We tested 12 different microphone models in the field and measured their signal-to-noise ratios and detection ranges. We also measured the vocalisation activity of birds and bats that they recorded, the bird species richness, the bat call types richness, as well as the performance of automated detection of bird and bat calls. We tested the relationship of each one of these measures with signal-to-noise ratio in statistical models. RESULTS: Microphone signal-to-noise ratio positively affects the sound detection space areas, which increased by a factor of 1.7 for audible sound, and 10 for ultrasound, from the lowest to the highest signal-to-noise ratio microphone. Consequently, the sampled vocalisation activity increased by a factor of 1.6 for birds, and 9.7 for bats. Correspondingly, the species pool of birds and bats could not be completely detected by the microphones with lower signal-to-noise ratio. The performance of automated detection of bird and bat calls, as measured by its precision and recall, increased significantly with microphone signal-to-noise ratio. DISCUSSION: Microphone signal-to-noise ratio is a crucial characteristic of a sound recording system, positively affecting the acoustic sampling performance of birds and bats. It should be maximised by choosing appropriate microphones, and be quantified independently, especially in the ultrasound range.

The conservation value of admixed phenotypes in a critically endangered species complex.

In today's environmental crisis, conservationists are increasingly confronted with terminally endangered species whose last few surviving populations may be affected by allelic introgression from closely related species. Yet there is a worrying lack of evidence-based recommendations and solutions for this emerging problem. We analyzed genome-wide DNA markers and plumage variability in a critically endangered insular songbird, the Black-winged Myna (BWM, Acridotheres melanopterus). This species is highly threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, with its wild population numbering in the low hundreds, and its continued survival urgently depending on ex-situ breeding. Its three subspecies occur along a geographic gradient of melanism and are variably interpreted as three species. However, our integrative approach revealed that melanism poorly reflects the pattern of limited genomic differentiation across BWM subspecies. We also uncovered allelic introgression into the most melanistic subspecies, tertius, from the all-black congeneric Javan Myna (A. javanicus), which is native to the same islands. Based on our results, we recommend the establishment of three separate breeding programs to maintain subspecific traits that may confer local adaptation, but with the option of occasional cross-breeding between insurance populations in order to boost genetic diversity and increase overall viability prospects of each breeding program. Our results underscore the importance of evidence-based integrative approaches when determining appropriate conservation units. Given the rapid increase of terminally endangered organisms in need of ex-situ conservation, this study provides an important blueprint for similar programs dealing with phenotypically variable species.

Effect of Eel Biscuit Supplementation on Height of Children with Stunting Aged 36-60 Months: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Stunting is a major health problem in developing countries. Animal-based supplements can increase the height of children with stunting. This study was aimed at determining the effect of eel biscuit supplementation on increase in the height of children with stunting aged 36-60 months. METHODS: A pilot study with pretest-post-test design. The study was conducted in two villages in the Priangan Region, West Java Province, Indonesia. The participants were divided into two groups: intervention group (10 supplemented eel biscuit pieces) and control group (biscuits from the government's biscuit programme). A total of 56 children aged 36-60 months with the height-for-age z-score of <-2 SD were recruited voluntarily for sampling. RESULTS: The initial height-for-age z-score of the intervention group was -3.45 SD and that of the control group was -3.11 SD. After 3 months of supplemented eel biscuit consumption, the height-for-age z-score of the intervention group changed to -2.52 SD and that of the control group changed to -2.51 SD. The average shift of the height-for-age z-score after 3 months of supplemented eel biscuit consumption was 0.93 SD in the intervention group and 0.6 SD in the control group. There were significant differences in delta and percent increase in the height-for-age z-score between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of supplemented eel biscuits for 3 months increased the height-for-age z-score of children with stunting aged 36-60 months by 0.93 SD.

Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of post-liver transplant vasculature.

Liver transplantation is a frequently used treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease and ultrasound is often the first-line imaging technique for detection of vascular complications after liver transplant. Although colour Doppler ultrasound is a good screening method for evaluation of post-liver transplant vasculature, it has limitations in evaluating small-calibre vessels and vessels in close proximity. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been proposed to overcome these limitations by improving visualisation of post-liver transplant vasculature and reducing the number of false-positive cases, which necessitate unnecessary additional investigations such as computed tomography or angiography. Liver transplant anatomy and the wide array of post-transplant imaging findings on colour Doppler have already been well described but literature on the use of CEUS and its image interpretation remain scarce. This review aims to discuss the indications for CEUS after liver transplant, to demonstrate CEUS technique and familiarise readers with the imaging appearances of post-transplant vascular complications on CEUS.

Using an Innovation Arena to compare wild-caught and laboratory Goffin's cockatoos.

The ability to innovate, i.e., to exhibit new or modified learned behaviours, can facilitate adaptation to environmental changes or exploiting novel resources. We hereby introduce a comparative approach for studying innovation rate, the 'Innovation Arena' (IA), featuring the simultaneous presentation of 20 interchangeable tasks, which subjects encounter repeatedly. The new design allows for the experimental study of innovation per time unit and for uncovering group-specific problem-solving abilities - an important feature for comparing animals with different predispositions and life histories. We applied the IA for the first time to investigate how long-term captivity affects innovative capacities in the Goffin's cockatoo, an avian model species for animal innovation. We found that fewer temporarily-captive wild birds are inclined to consistently interact with the apparatus in comparison to laboratory-raised birds. However, those that are interested solve a similar number of tasks at a similar rate, indicating no difference in the cognitive ability to solve technical problems. Our findings thus provide a contrast to previous literature, which suggested enhanced cognitive abilities and technical problem-solving skills in long-term captive animals. We discuss the impact and discrepancy between motivation and cognitive ability on innovation rate. Our findings contribute to the debate on how captivity affects innovation in animals.

Intravenous Administration is the Best Route of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Migration in Improving Liver Function Enzyme of Acute Liver Failure.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migrate and transmigrate to acute liver failure (ALF) area due to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulation as an attractant molecule then actively giving the paracrine signaling and or differentiating into primary hepatocytes, however the best route of MSCs transplanted to liver injury area remains unclear. AIM: In this study we compare intravenous (IV) and intraperitoneal (IP) route of MSCs administration by analyzing serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and bilirubin level as improvement markers of liver function and VEGF as attractant-proliferation molecule on days 2 and 5. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 200 g were used in this study. They were divided in three study groups: vehicle control, IP and IV groups. The IV group was treated by MSCs at dose 1×106 by lateral tail vein injection and IP group received 1×106 MSCs via IP injection. The level of SGPT, SGOT and bilirubin were measured by an automatic analyzer, the VEGF level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the CD73 expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: This study showed that IV injection of MSCs was more efficient for increasing liver function than IP treatment group that confirmed by the observed significant decrease in SGPT, SGOT and bilirubin level on days 2 and 5 (p<0.001). This effect was most likely mediated by the significant increase of VEGF level (p<0.05) on days 2 and 5. CONCLUSION: Our result conclude that an IV administration of MSCs was more efficacious than the IP administration for liver injury regeneration.

A lost world in Wallacea: Description of a montane archipelagic avifauna.

Birds are the best-known animal class, with only about five or six new species descriptions per year since 1999. Integrating genomic and phenotypic research with arduous fieldwork in remote regions, we describe five new songbird species and five new subspecies from a small area near Sulawesi, Indonesia, all collected in a single 6-week expedition. Two factors contributed to the description of this large number of species from such a small geographic area: (i) Knowledge of Quaternary Period land connections helped pinpoint isolated islands likely to harbor substantial endemism and (ii) studying accounts of historic collectors such as Alfred Wallace facilitated the identification of undercollected islands. Our findings suggest that humans' understanding of biogeographically complex regions such as Wallacea remains incomplete.

A striking new species of leaf warbler from the Lesser Sundas as uncovered through morphology and genomics.

Leaf warblers (Aves; Phylloscopidae) are a diverse clade of insectivorous, canopy-dwelling songbirds widespread across the Old World. The taxonomy of Australasian leaf warblers is particularly complex, with multiple species-level divergences between island taxa in the region requiring further scrutiny. We use a combination of morphology, bioacoustics, and analysis of thousands of genome-wide markers to investigate and describe a new species of Phylloscopus leaf warbler from the island of Rote in the Lesser Sundas, Indonesia. We show that this new Rote Leaf Warbler is morphologically and genomically highly distinct from its congenerics, but do not find vocal differentiation between different island taxa. We discuss the behaviour and ecology of this highly distinctive new species, and make recommendations about its conservation status. We believe this constitutes the first description of a novel bird species that is partly based on insights from massive amounts of genome-wide DNA markers.