We investigated local and landscape factors driving plant communities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The results revealed that the drivers of plant communities change along the urban–rural gradient.

In many species, parents take care of their offspring after birth or hatching and face a trade-off between the costs and benefits associated with the duration of this “guarding period”. Here, we investigated brooding duration variability in a colony of wandering albatrosses experimentally divided into zones with and without feral cat control, a novel predator of albatross chicks in Kerguelen. We report no effect of predation risk on brooding duration but the probability for a parent to end brooding decreased with forthcoming unfavorable weather, and late-hatched chicks were less brooded. We also show a positive association between brooding duration and chick size, and between the frequency of shifts between parents and chick size. We discuss these results in light of our system specificities and of pre-existing hypotheses on costs and benefits associated with brooding duration experienced by chicks and parents.

Low-light environments are driving vertical reef compression and favoring depth generalists within coral communities lying on inshore turbid reefs, highlighting an emerging local threat that is affecting fringing reefs on a global scale. Our study provides direct field evidence that the reef coral Galaxea fascicularis exhibits heterotrophic plasticity, selectively utilizing heterotrophic sources based on their bioavailability, which in turn enhances its heterotrophic contribution, bolstering its resistance to low-light conditions. These findings suggest that reef-building corals with such heterotrophic plasticity may have a greater potential to persist or even dominate in environments affected by coastal darkening.

The Reaumuria songarica in northern Xinjiang contains an ancient population, homoploid hybrid populations, and tetraploid hybrids. These hybrid populations originated from different hybridization events between the eastern and western lineages and can be divided into the GuD-S (incipient homoploid hybrid species) and GuD-N genetic groups. The multiple expansions and contractions of the Gurbantunggut Desert are important drivers of the complex origins of R. songarica in northern Xinjiang.

Most plant phylogeographic studies in China have focused on the importance of genetic divergence and where should the shelter be located. Little attention has been paid to range expansion and recolonization routes in this region. Our study reveals repeated range expansions and inter/postglacial recolonization routes on the fragmented distribution pattern in China and resolves the refugia distributing in southern China and has also certain reference value for the protection of the medicinal plant P. ternata.

The present study disentangled the mechanisms driving the seasonal and spatial patterns in the phytoplankton community structure, showing the response of environmental factors after the TYFB. Seasonal changes, spatial patterns, and environmental changes were the main driving factors of the phytoplankton community structure. The health status of aquatic ecosystem showed a tendency to improve after the TYFB. These results indicate that the TYFB plays an important role in the restoration of freshwater ecosystem, and also more attention need to be focused on anthropogenic habitat alteration.

This paper is the first to examine whether chytrid infection causes sex-dependent mortality in amphibians, which question is highly relevant for understanding host–pathogen interactions related to chytridiomycosis. We found that larval infection increased mortality after metamorphosis in males and females similarly. Furthermore, we also found a pattern suggesting long-term negative effect of Bd infection on sex ratio via sex reversal of amphibians. This topic is highly important for the conservation of amphibians and should be further investigated, since such an unnoticed damage for the already dwindling amphibian populations may cause population extinction in some decades.

Geoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi) is a small-sized felid present in a wide variety of habitats in South America, including areas with high levels of anthropization. We identified two genetic clusters, one in the north-northeast of the species' distribution and the other in the south-southwest, the latter showing lower genetic variability and a more restricted climatic niche, which suggests that this group is more vulnerable to the effects of the current context of climate change.

The growth, development, and reproduction of birds are influenced by the invertebrate diet. We studied the feeding composition of invertebrates in pre- and post-breeding of black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) by using fecal metabarcoding. We found that black-necked cranes had a wider dietary niche at the species level in pre-breeding, and we observed season-specific features. This study demonstrated a seasonal pattern of invertebrate diet in the black-necked crane, suggesting diet composition in response to resource and species availability. These results elaborate on the foraging ecology of highland birds and can inform the management of black-necked crane conservation.

This study identified conservation priorities for the South American dwarf caimans (Paleosuchus palpebrosus and P. trigonatus) relying on robust species distribution and abundance models. We support that environmental suitability and spatial abundance are not always congruent and cannot be considered reliable surrogates for one another, and independently incorporate relevant information to better understand the spatial ecology and population dynamics towards the improvement of systematic conservation planning of biodiversity.

We characterized the gut microbiota of two selectively bred lines of zebrafish that exhibit distinct behavioral phenotypes. We sought to assess if the different behavioral phenotypes were underscored by different gut microbial profiles within the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis framework. Results do not suggest different gut microbial profiles despite distinct behavioral displays, requiring a more critical examination of the MGB paradigm.

Here, we present a brief synthesis of recent development and suggest future directions toward a more taxonomically inclusive comparative framework for the study of altitudinal migration. Our framework centers on a working definition of altitudinal migration that hinges on its biological relevance, which is scale-dependent and related to fitness outcomes. We discuss linguistic nuances of altitudinal movements and provide concrete steps to compare altitudinal migration phenomena across traditionally disparate study systems. Together, our comparative framework outlines a “phenotypic space” that contextualizes the biotic and abiotic interactions encountered by altitudinal migrants from divergent lineages and biomes.

The organelle genomes map of Scheuchzeria palustris.

Afrotropical cities are growing rapidly but how this impacts biodiversity is largely unclear. Our study on São Tomé Island, Central Africa, reveals that the urban tree assemblage is impoverished and dominated by introduced species, while the natural forest is essential for the protection of native and endemic species.

Greenhouse experiment investigating the drought response of seedlings from the Asian tropics, focusing on 16 tree species from the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in India. Assessing survival, growth, and photosynthetic performance under experimental drought treatment, the study reveals that anatomical traits of xylem, veins, and stomata play a more critical role than commonly used soft traits (e.g., specific leaf area, wood density) in explaining species responses to drought. Species found in seasonally dry forests reduce photosynthesis under drought, possibly a drought stress tolerating mechanism. These findings offer insights into predicting tree responses and community dynamics to global environmental change.

Climate change may affect the survival and reproduction of ectotherms. The toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus theobaldi, occupying the highest elevation of any reptiles in the earth with an elevational range from 3600 to 5000 m, represents an ideal model for studying the adaptations to climatic changes across elevational gradients. Here, we used a mechanistic model and hybrid species distribution model (HSDM) together with characteristic measurements of thermal biology (CT_max, CT_min, and T_sel) to simulate and compare the distribution and activity periods of the lizard among varied elevations in response to climate change. NicheMapR simulations using only climate factors indicated that all populations can be negatively impacted by climate change (+3°C) because of their decreased estimated distribution. However, the impact clearly reduced in simulations when thermal physiological traits were accounted for, which indicated the great influence of physiology in simulation. Longer activity periods will appear for all populations during climate change. The suitable distribution area could float a little, and the distributing area will enlarge for all higher or lower populations. However, relative higher populations will display their larger, enlarged distributing areas than those of relative lower populations. This study underscores the key influence of climate change on population establishment and stresses the importance of physiological traits in distribution simulation for future studies to understand the potential constraints in animal adaptation to extreme high environments.

To investigate the drivers of Silphinae (carrion beetle) diversity, we experimentally exposed 100 carcasses of 10 mammal species ranging from 0.4 to 124 kg. We tested the influence of the biotic factors carrion body mass (with the more individuals hypothesis (MIH) as underlying mechanism), carrion species identity and decomposition stage, and the abiotic factors temperature, season and elevation on Silphinae diversity. While the carrion body mass did not affect the Silphinae species richness (leading to rejection of the MIH), the carrion decomposition process proved to be the most important driver of Silphinae diversity; thus, our study contributes to the understanding of carrion beetle diversity.

A graphical representation of the important connectivity concepts discussed in our review and how they relate to each other. We discuss how connectivity models have increased in biological realism and why that is important, advances in directional and climate connectivity as well as multi- and single-species connectivity models.

During spring, migratory birds are required to optimally balance energetic costs of migration across heterogeneous landscapes and weather conditions in order to survive and reproduce successfully. Therefore, an individual's migratory performance may influence reproductive outcomes. We used GPS tracking devices on Greater White-fronted Geese during spring migration to examine whether migration characteristics influenced breeding propensity and breeding outcome. We found highly variable migration strategies led to successful reproductive outcomes, and a geographic gradient of migration characteristics influenced where individuals fell along the capital-income breeding continuum, revealing geographic effects of life-history strategy among conspecifics.

We leverage the oldest vegetation resurvey in the Bavarian Alps to address how environmental conditions, vegetation composition, and functional diversity have shifted in the calcareous (sub)alpine grasslands of the Schachen region between 1936 and 2019. The Schachen is becoming drier across both subalpine and alpine grasslands; subalpine sites are also becoming warmer and more palatable to grazers as grazing pressure has decreased. Although species composition has not changed substantially in the Schachen over the past 83 years, these grasslands have experienced subtle changes in functional diversity as species with traits related to drought tolerance and animal-based dispersal have increased in dominance. This study represents a unique use of historical resurveys to measure temporal changes in vegetation abundance and functional structure that may not be reflected in measurements of change in species occurrence.

Ireland has historically been viewed as a region where only male sperm whales were present. There have however been historical records of female and calf sperm whales from 1910 and 1916. More recently, there has been a trend of female strandings in Ireland since 1995 where 7 of the 10 events have taken place since 2013 indicating a shift in the sperm whale population structure off Ireland.

We characterized the first breeding sex ratio (BSR) for a breeding assemblage of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) belonging to the temperate, low-abundance Northern Gulf of Mexico Recovery Unit using genotypes of 16 microsatellite loci from nesting females and hatchlings. Unlike prior studies at both more-tropical and more-temperate, and higher-abundance, Recovery Units in this region, we found a balanced BSR of 1.3:1 males:female and a low incidence (~17%) of multiple paternity. This suggests that there are relatively few males breeding at this assemblage and within this Recovery Unit.

Reconstructing the body size and form of extinct animals is of vital importance to our understanding of macroevolution and palaeontology. This is often done using anatomical proxies where extinct species are known only from fragmentary remains. However, there are many limitations influencing the selection of proxy taxa that are frequently overlooked. Here, we discuss these limitations and mitigation measures that should be applied to overcome them.

Across many taxa, microbiomes can have important impacts on organismal health and fitness, but in order to study microbiomes in birds, microbial DNA must be successfully extracted from challenging sample types. Here, we present a microbial DNA extraction method that is less expensive than other commonly used methodologies and is highly effective for both fecal and preen oil samples collected from a broad range of avian species.

As part of a pilot bioacoustics study of the Javan rhinoceros in 2019, we systematically reviewed camera trap footage from the core Javan rhinoceros range in Ujung Kulon National Park (UKNP) and discovered a previously unknown interaction between the Javan rhinoceros and the slender-billed crow (Corvus enca), in which the crow finds and eats ectoparasites from the rhinoceros (Figure 1). We describe this interaction, investigate it through an ecological and evolutionary lens, and suggest that it may represent a cleaning mutualism with conservation benefits for both the crow and the rhinoceros.

Biodiversity is lost at an unprecedented rate. We need information to inform conservation decisions. All unassessed plants expected to be threatened are located in protected areas in South Africa.

Significant high level of intraspecific plastome size variation and genetic diversity are detected in three annual gentians of Gentiana section Chondrophyllae s.l.

A plot resurvey spanning 17 years shows that vegetation is already reacting to the increased temperature, as indicated by the altered species composition and the significant increase in mean temperature indicator values. However, some of the detected changes, including modifications in species richness and mean indicator values for moisture, are the result of weather fluctuations rather than a long-term climatic trend.

This study investigates the impact of nutritional conditions on the movement performance of bumblebees. Monophagously fed bees exhibited reduced flight performance compared to polyphagously fed bees, potentially leading to negative consequences for both bees and plants. The study highlights the importance of understanding how stressors like nutritional deficiency can affect insect fitness and ecosystem dynamics.

We sequenced the disease resistance genes of a broadly distributed flowering plant, Silphium integrifolium, across a rainfall gradient in the Central United States. We found that disease resistance gene count increased with increasing rainfall along the gradient, suggesting an evolutionary pressure for robust immune systems in regions with high biotic stress. Our findings may find applications in breeding programs seeking to develop disease-resistant crops.

Our study confirmed that community-weighted mean (CWM) traits can well reflect optimal CSR (Competitors, Stress-tolerators and Ruderals) ecological strategies in forest communities and CWM of wood density was a preferable indicator. These provided important implications for predicting community assembly responding to global change using trait-based approach.

We use transcriptomics and other physiological metrics to understand how two species of copepods (Calanoides acutus and Calanus propinquus) vary across environmental gradients along the West Antarctic Peninsula, an area of rapid ecological change. For the primarily herbivorous C. acutus, physiological separation between sampling locations appears to be driven by feeding status, and gene expression differences indicate differential expression of genes regulating lipid metabolism, reproduction, aerobic metabolism, and protein translation. For the more omnivorous C. propinquus, physiology and gene expression did not segregate as clearly by location, showed minimal signs of food deprivation at any location, and had a weaker relationship with chlorophyll compared to C. acutus.

We aim to better understand New Zealand plant extinctions, often attributed to Cenozoic climate cooling, through determining if legacies of past extinction events are detectable in the climatic niches of con-familial genera in the modern Australian floral assemblage. We find that the mechanisms of Cenozoic extinctions of New Zealand genera may be more complex than taxa reaching environmental tolerances from cooling climates. Comparisons of current climate niches between extant and extinct sister taxa can provide useful insights into large-scale, long-term climatic legacies.

Organism condition plays an important role in sexual selection. Here, we manipulated condition in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans, by restricting access to water 24 h prior to a mating opportunity. We found that water-deprived males proved less likely to mate, while copulation duration with water-deprived females was significantly reduced. Given the importance of copulation duration for the successful transfer of sperm by males to females, the data suggest cryptic male choice acting against water-deprived females.

We conducted a simulation study using realistic boreal caribou demographic rates and population sizes to assess how population size and the proportion of the population surveyed impact the accuracy and precision of single-survey CKMR-based abundance estimates. Our results indicated that abundance estimates were biased and highly imprecise when very small proportions of the population were sampled, regardless of the population size; however, the larger the population size, the smaller the required proportion of the population surveyed to generate both accurate and reasonably precise estimates. We also present a case study in which we used the CKMR framework to generate annual female abundance estimates for a small caribou population in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2015 and compared them to existing published capture–mark–recapture-based estimates.

We describe climatic niche of four Neotropical montane birds through the analysis of climatic factors driving their evolution at inter- and intraspecific levels. We tested for differences among lineages within four taxa (Aulacorhynchus, Chlorospingus, Cardellina, and Eupherusa), all associated to Mesoamerican humid montane forests. Our results, as a combination of environmental and geographical frameworks, support that these taxa which inhabit similar areas examined at distinct hierarchy levels tend to occupy not identical, but somewhat similar, climatic environments, and the lack of niche conservatism.

The genus Eutreptiella across its global distribution range.

We sequenced five genes from three species and conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the windowpane oysters Placuna. We found that previous records of Placuna placenta in China are actually two different species. Further studies should be conducted to examine the divergence of this widely distributed genus in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Livestock depredation by African lions was driven by a combination of primary resources and wild prey availability. Depredation rates generally increased when resources were depleted, though the relationship between depredation and wild prey availability became decoupled when primary resources like water and forage quality were low. Conflict mitigation efforts should be tailored to fine-scale temporal changes in resources, with consideration for both basal resources and species interactions that influence carnivore, wild prey, and livestock ecologies.

Artificial nest sites can support populations of endangered species when they are correctly installed. We found that occupation rates of artificial House Martin nests were lower for nests with a higher proportion of sealed surface cover in the surrounding area but were positively affected by increasing time since installation and the number of artificial nests at the same site. We summarise the range-wide evidence and compare it with our data to give the best possible recommendations for conservation practitioners on how to install artificial nests for this declining bird species.

We analysed the fine scale biomass patterns of sheep-grazed sand pastures along increasing grazing intensity. Along the grazing intensity gradient, we found an increasing trend for species richness and the biomass of short-lived forbs; while green biomass, litter and graminoid biomass showed a decreasing trend. We found an increasing amount of disturbance tolerant and ruderal species with increasing grazing intensity.

This study investigated the relationship between the gut bacterial community and the phylogeny of five wild ungulates (Pseudois nayaur, Pantholops hodgsonii, Gazella subgutturosa, Bos mutus, and Equus kiang) inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau using 16S rRNA gene data. The results of UPGMA and HCA were inconsistent with those of IQ-TREE, indicating that host phylogeny is not the only factor influencing the gut microbiota, and other factors, such as diet and habitat, may also have an impact. There were significant differences in gut bacterial composition among the five wild ungulates, and each species had distinctive bacterial features, primarily associated with fiber and cellulose breakdown, contributing to gastrointestinal homeostasis.

The aim of this study is to address the patterns and processes that explain the structure and the evolution of the mitogenomes of Macropsini, while contributing to the resolution of systematic issues involving five of their genera. To this task, the mitogenomes of 26 species of the tribe were sequenced and characterized, and their phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed.

The trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is the prime example of ornithophily in eastern North America. This paper describes the unique foraging behavior of its principal pollinator, the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), and presents a quantitative analysis of floral adaptations for ornithophily in the Ozark Mountains.

Understanding how human activities affect wildlife is fundamental for global biodiversity conservation. We explored the effects of climate and urbanisation on average prey weight and dietary composition of the globally near threatened Red-necked Falcon in Bangladesh.

Our review revealed helical burrowing in 21 taxa representing 59–184 spp. Helical burrowing behavior has evolved independently many times and only two hypotheses could explain helical burrowing in all species examined. A diversity of explanations may exist for the behavior across taxa.

Sunbird colour diversity is explained by genetic, geographical and ecological differences. These different mechanisms have different effects on different parts of the body. This suggests that multiple forms of selection influence colouration of animals.

The feeding ecology of loggerhead sea turtles plays a crucial role in shaping their reproductive outcomes and offspring quality. Through stable isotope analysis, we observed that females feeding at higher trophic positions produced larger clutches. Those with less depleted δ¹³C values, indicative of productive foraging areas, exhibited greater fat reserves, lower susceptibility to leech parasites and produced heavier offspring, suggesting that not all foraging habitats are equal and can significantly influence the fitness of sea turtle populations.

The study evaluates mass mortality in the family Alcidae in the western Mediterranean Sea by analysing the body condition and metabolic status of stranded seabirds. A new index is proposed to globally estimate the condition of dead specimens, finding that most are juvenile birds with low carbohydrate and high tissue lactate levels.

This article develops a quantitative evaluation method that systematically analyzes the impact of drought on vegetation, the lagged effect of drought, and ecosystem resilience to drought. The inhibitory effect of intensive drought shows a gradient increase along the drought intensity in various temperature zones. The main sensitive lagged time for coniferous forests and broad-leaved forests is the first 3 months in various temperature zones, with the strongest lagged effect in the month when the drought incidents occur. When dealing with intensive drought events, the coping capacity of subtropical broad-leaved forests (−0.67) and tropical broad-leaved forests (−0.88) exhibit the strongest coping capacity (value tends to −1).

This study forecasts the future distribution of Quercus oxyphylla, an endangered evergreen oak native to China, under climate change scenarios using Biomod2 and 63 occurrence records. Findings indicate that temperature variables significantly influence its distribution across three disjunctive geographical centers, with suitable areas expected to expand, especially northward in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest region, underscoring the need for targeted conservation strategies around these centers to mitigate climate change impacts.

The Critically Endangered Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population is likely still decreasing in size due to an exceeded limit for anthropogenic mortality, the high concentrations of contaminants in the Baltic Sea, reductions in prey availability, and increases in underwater noise. As bycatch and unprotected underwater explosions result in direct mortality of harbour porpoises, they must be reduced to zero, with further management action also required across all sectors to reduce the impact of other pressures. Extinction of the Baltic Proper harbour porpoise population is a choice: the management instruments available are sufficient to apply effective protection for the population now and decision makers have the fate of this genetically and biologically distinct marine mammal population in their hands.

Environmental factors are known to affect the distribution of free-living organisms. We surveyed parasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of 500 birds and found that parasite diversity is also influenced by the environment. We found that birds in arid Utah had substantially lower louse diversity (prevalence, abundance, and richness) than birds in humid, subtropical, Bahamas.

In this multiple-case study, we tested a comprehensive set of factors impacting DNA recovery from buccal swabs, including the type of swab, storage type and conditions and DNA extraction method. Based on our results, we are able to propose recommendations for improved DNA recovery, taking into consideration budget and field condition constraints.

The fish-parasitic isopods of family cymothoidae have different preferences for hosts according to their traits viz., demersal, pelagic, or according to their habitat in the water column.

We used a linear mixed-effect model to examine the individual rank order of migration of 295 purple martins across their native breeding range. We found evidence for consistent individual timing that can extend across 8 months and 12,000–24,000 km of migration throughout the four yearly migration events with the consistency declining over longer ranges. This demonstrates that individual purple martin migration timing is likely driven by inherent individual circannual schedules.

The Karner blue butterfly, Plebejus (Lycaeides) samuelis, is an endangered, climate change-vulnerable species that has undergone substantial historical habitat loss and population decline. We performed a range-wide assessment of genomic diversity and found that Karner blue populations had high levels of inbreeding and lower genetic diversity than closely related species. This new range-wide understanding of the species' population genomic structure can contextualize past extirpations and help conserve and even enhance Karner blue genetic diversity.

Soil arthropods of Pinus laricio forests are little affected by thinning and prescribed burning conducted in autumn. Low-intensity burns preserve soil-dwelling organisms, and unconsumed wood serves as a refuge area. The combination of thinning and burning appears to be beneficial in reducing the fire risk and protecting soil arthropods, notably Collembola and Acari.

In many intact African savannah ecosystems, martial eagles are the top avian predator, while lions are the top terrestrial predator. Here, we report seven records of martial eagle predation or attempted predation of lion cubs in the greater Mara region, Kenya. While these observations represent intraguild interactions, we suggest that martial eagles opportunistically kill lion cubs purely to eat them and that this behaviour is more widespread than previously understood.

A modeling approach was used to investigate the spatial adequacy of a seasonal fishing closure area established within a Mediterranean MPA. The local ecological processes influencing fish habitat selection were identified. Insights for small-scale fishery management were found.

This study investigated the keystone endemic tree genus Callicarpa in the Bonin Islands, revealing two cryptic species and one hybrid species based on phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic patterns. It provides evidence of simultaneous divergence of multiple species and ecotypes, offering definitive evidence of adaptive radiation and suggesting a link to global environmental changes.

We present a hindcast of population dynamics of a foundation species (Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum) at a restored alpine site based on individual spatial patterns and ages. This hindcast suggests that efficient seed dispersal and intraspecific facilitation are important factors behind successful population re-establishment. We demonstrate that foundation species' population spatial pattern and age structure can be used to identify abiotic and biotic factors determining restoration success.

We record the changes in colour, sugar content, reflectance and predation of the fruits of a tropical understorey palm, Licuala ferruginea, as they ripen. Based on these signatures, we posit that the fruits are likely dispersed by birds such as forest bulbuls, and are predated upon but ineffectually dispersed by edge forest mammal species such as wild boar and long-tailed macaques. This studdy provides indicative support for the dispersal syndrome hypothesis and highlights the potential effects of forest fragmentation on plant–frugivore interactions.

Our study found that closely related species that are similar in their overall appearance and habitus can differ in their functional traits. At the same time, for some traits, phenotypic plasticity (particularly, the part induced by competition) might exceed interspecific differences. Our results point to a potential role of ITV in small-scale coexistence, in particular for cases where closely related subordinate species respond to competition from dominants.

We characterized the patterns of genetic and phenotypic variation in a contact zone between Cycloramphus dubius and Cycloramphus boraceiensis, two sister species of frogs endemic to the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil. We detected discordance in patterns of introgression across the three data types. Cycloramphus dubius males are significantly larger than C. boraceiensis males, and we posit that competition among males in the hybrid zone, coupled with mate choice by females may be one mechanism leading to patterns of introgression observed between the species. Photo credit: Leo R. Malagoli.

The study investigated the phylogeography of two freshwater crab species, Potamonautes flavusjo and P. sidneyi, comparing their evolutionary history and population genetic structure using DNA sequencing. While P. flavusjo showed evidence of marked maternal dispersal and low genetic differentiation, P. sidneyi exhibited significant genetic divergence and absence of maternal dispersal. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between carapace attributes and genetic indices, finding no significant influence on dispersal capabilities. These findings have implications for the conservation of freshwater habitats.

This study tests whether populations of Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) across Alaska, the United States, and British Columbia, Canada, follow patterns of latitudinal gradients in morphology. Specifically, we test for patterns of Allen's and Bergmann's Rules, as well as differences in wing morphology based on migratory strategy. This study provides support for Allen's Rule in the Black Oystercatcher; those in northern latitudes have shorter bills, though it does not find evidence of Bergmann's Rule or the influence of migratory strategy on wing shape in this species.

We dissect the co-evolution and genetic architecture of lateral line scale counts and vertebrae numbers in Neotropical Heroine cichlids. Our phylogenetic comparative analyses recovered a positive correlation between these two traits. Furthermore, our qualitative traits locus (QTL) analyses identified significant genomic co-localized associations for upper and lower lateral line scales, caudal vertebrae, total lateral line scales, and total vertebrae. Such shared genomic regions could play important roles in cichlid meristic divergence, as they are expected to bias evolutionary divergence.

We conducted extensive sampling from 39 geographic populations covering almost the entire distribution of the eight Gynaephora species in the QTP to investigate phylogeographic patterns and speciation based on two mitochondrial genes. The results suggested that the number of the QTP Gynaephora species may be overestimated and further studies based on both morphological and nuclear gene data are needed. Genetic differentiation and speciation were driven by intensive uplifts of the QTP and associated climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene, suggesting that isolation and subsequent divergence was the dominant mode of speciation.

We used data from 32 Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) tagged with GPS transmitters as nestlings in three Iberian breeding areas to study their dependence period, migration routes, movements in Africa, and mortality at each stage. Our results show no significant differences in the timing of nest departure or the duration of the dependence period between individuals of different sexes or nuclei. Most juveniles migrated to sub-Saharan Africa in their first year, but some (3 of 32, 9.4%) remained in the Iberian Peninsula. Individuals that migrated to Africa did so annually, while those remaining in Iberia never migrated to the Sahel, indicating distinct migratory and non-migratory strategies.

Diel activity adjusted for solar time for the four documented felids in Sabah, Borneo: Borneo bay cat (a), Sunda leopard cat (b), marbled cat (c), and Sunda clouded leopard (d).

A new concept to measure β-variation (Effective Number of Different Populations, ENDP) is introduced. Estimates of ENDP are obtained by evaluating information in the available genetic profiles of individuals including association of loci. The use of this concept is illustrated by analyzing the population genetic structure of a sexual species (a trematode parasite) occupying connected populations across a broad geographic area.

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda is a rare and narrowly distributed bamboo species, we utilized MaxEnt model to predict its potential distribution range and evaluate its vulnerability under future climate scenarios. Simulation results revealed that although the suitable area for C. tumidissinoda is projected to expand under two climate scenarios, the habitat range of this bamboo remains limited across various scenarios with precipitation and elevation being the primary influencing factors. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on its conservation efforts.

We found that nest survival was positively associated with a combination of clutch-size and age of nest, in varying degrees, for the three plover species. Overall estimates of daily nest survival and nest success for the incubation period were similar for all three species. All three species had a combination of factors affecting nest survival, and nest survival was more affected by environmental or other extrinsic factors than variation in breeding strategy among the species.

Landscape species-composition context matters when assessing global-change related changes on interaction systems, and spatially explicit simulations bring about localised consequences not necessarily captured via a regional perspective.

Secondary forests represent significant proportions of global forest cover, and an increasing share of global forests are undergoing secondary succession. The present study investigated drivers of plant community assembly in secondary forests in sub-tropical Hong Kong. Forests were found to be influenced significantly by age since onset of succession, but this was determined by elevational gradient position.

Intertidal reefs in the Wadden Sea, built by the non-native ecosystem engineering species Magallana gigas, have become fundamental components of the ecosystem. This study links vertical reef growth measured by terrestrial laser scanning to population dynamics on a seasonal scale, revealing that vertical reef growth rates surpass local sea level rise, similar to oyster reefs on the US East Coast and southern North Sea. It also highlights the delayed impact of recruitment events on vertical reef growth. These insights underscore the need to understand feedback mechanisms related to sea level rise and climate change to predict the resilience and potential ecological services of these biosedimentary structures.

Phenolic compounds, vital secondary metabolites in plants, evolved to protect against UV radiation and oxidative stress during their transition to terrestrial environments. In modern plants, phenolics serve primarily as defense mechanisms against pathogens and herbivores, while also influencing seed dormancy and viability. As fruits ripen, a decrease in phenolic content alters UV reflectance, potentially signaling nutritional changes to birds, though evidence for frugivore-driven evolution remains limited.

This study investigated the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of the brittle star Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) exigua, a common intertidal species in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, using mitochondrial and nuclear gene markers. The results revealed high genetic diversity but remarkably low genetic differentiation among populations in the Yellow and Bohai Seas, suggesting widespread gene flow and the absence of cryptic speciation within the study area. Demographic analyses indicated that the populations experienced expansion around 0.2 million years ago, likely related to sea level changes during the Pleistocene glaciations.

Deane et al. (Ecology and Evolution 13:e9847, 2023) attempted to explore the effects of prior choice on inference for band-recovery models. In this response we highlight alternative and accurate approaches, and reexamine their conclusions in light of the use of correct equations.

The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in Japan had a serious impact on rocky intertidal community. We assessed alpha diversity, beta diversity, and their effect sizes during the pre-earthquake period (2003–2010) and post-earthquake period (2011–2019) at local scale and regional scale. Both alpha diversity and beta diversity significantly declined after the earthquake at two scales and returned to pre-earthquake levels within 3 years after the earthquake except for beta diversity at regional scale.

Despite a surge in microbiota-focused studies in teleosts, few have reported functional data on whole metagenomes as it has proven difficult to extract high biomass microbial DNA from fish intestinal samples. Addressing this, we systematically tested four methods of sampling the zebrafish gut microbiota—collection of faeces from the tank, the whole gut, intestinal content, and the application of ventral pressure to facilitate extrusion of gut material—along with water samples as an environmental control to address the potential influence of the environmental microbiota on each sample type. Using genome-resolved metagenomics and 16S metabarcoding, our analyses indicate that while all sample types tested are informative about the zebrafish gut microbiota, the optimal sample type for studying fish microbiomes depends on the specific objectives of the study, and here we provide a guide on what factors to consider for designing functional metagenome-based studies on teleost microbiomes.

It has long been known that plants adjust allocation to different tissues based on supply of soil nitrogen, but the degree to which nitrogen supplied by symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria has similar effects on allocation is less well known. Using an experiment with 15 plant species with and without access to symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, grown across a range of soil nitrogen supply, we isolated the effects of symbiotic nitrogen fixation versus soil nitrogen supply. We found that nitrogen fixation has similar effects on biomass allocation as nitrogen fertilization.

Based on 50 plastomes of cycle-cup oaks, we found a conserved structure while nine protein-coding genes went through positive selection. The phylogenetic tree based on complete chloroplast genomes, coding DNA sequences, and highly divergent regions produced a poorly resolved genetic relationship of the plastid lineages of cycle-cup oaks.

This manuscript studied the breeding behavior in the Gray-backed Shrike (Lanius tephronotus); the research object is valuable. Then, the research conclusion about parental investment preferences has certain reference value.

Survival estimation of adult imperial eagles revealed that poisoning activity may have a stronger negative effect on the survival of the smaller-bodied, more actively foraging males than on females. The genetic-based mark-recapture analysis was conducted on data of over 600 birds breeding in Hungary between 2011 and 2022.

We identified the effects of ocean warming in winter on mussels and algae and found evidence of resistance to acidification. We also discovered a mutually facilitative interaction between mussels and algae that was robust to changing environmental conditions. The importance of conserving intact communities to maintain associated rates of ecosystem functioning is shown.

More than 240 species of snake have been described from Thailand, yet basic natural history and ecology for this group of animals remains scarce in human disturbed environments despite conservation and human medical significance of them in these habitats. We studied snake diversity at Walailak University from March to December 2023, the largest university campus in Thailand (1525 hectares) through standardized walking surveys, opportunistic notifications and observation, road surveys, and traps and evaluated diversity using the Shannon diversity index (H), Pielou's evenness of species (J), detection probabilities (p), and occupancy probabilities (ψ). Our findings of relatively high snake diversity, presence of snake species potentially dangerous to humans (six species), and protected snake species (Thailand WARPA and international CITES, five species) suggest significant potential for conservation and further research at Walailak University and other campuses in Thailand.

We expect cryptic mating failure–the failure to produce offspring due to fertilisation or insemination failure–to be strongly selected against because copulations are costly and are also a fundamental route to fitness. Mating failure is common in nature however, and in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans, rates are high (40%–60%). We performed experiments to investigate the causes of mating failure in L. simulans and found that mating failure is not primarily caused by infertility or chronic mechanical failure, but instead evidence strongly suggests that cryptic male choice is a key driver of mating failure in this species.

We have developed a new application in the MatLab environment to address the challenging classification of Arvicolinae species, using images of the first lower molar, achieving high accuracy in the species classification.

Rising temperatures and drought under climate change will render some areas of northern China suitable for pine wood nematode and its insect vector. Pine wilt disease (PWD) will gradually move northward. Pinus massoniana, P. taiwanensis and P. shurbergia are at high risk of PWD.

In future climate scenarios, the suitable areas for L. delicatula were larger than the current ones. Suitable areas are likely to expand northward in the future.

Behavioral traits were corresponded with economic traits in reflecting resource acquisition strategy of climbing plants. Tendril vines showed a more acquisitive strategy than stem twining vines, and the functional differences resulting from climbing mechanisms should be accounted for in future studies on climbing plants under global change.

The findings of this study suggest that enlarged hindlimbs improve escape performance by allowing rodents to more efficiently utilize vertical jumping as an antipredator escape response.

Clearwing butterflies seemingly balance camouflage (conferred by transparent wing elements) with alternate anti-predatory strategies including warning coloration, paradoxically resulting in a diversity of efficient, yet imperfectly transparent phenotypes.

Changes in seasonality have extended the breeding window for migratory birds in North America with earlier springs and later autumns that affect insect availability. DNA metabarcoding and insect surveys revealed that migratory, insectivorous black-throated blue warblers exhibit diet flexibility in response to seasonal pulses in arthropod prey availability. They also express prey preferences, especially earlier in the season when birds are vulnerable to changes in insect availability.

The phytophagous and predatory species in Pentatomidae were compared and analyzed. And we constructed the phylogenetic trees and the time tree. Our research results provide data supporting for the evolutionary patterns and classification of Pentatomidae.

Coral-dwelling fishes are expected to be negatively affected by reef degradation, but the factors underlying this relationship are poorly understood. We showed that the functionally important cleaner fish Elacatinus evelynae is affected by habitat quality metrics across spatial scales, requiring large, healthy coral heads and preferring a subset of host species. Our results indicate E. evelynae may be vulnerable to extirpation at very low levels of coral cover.

The area of mangrove forest has been increased by mudflat afforestation worldwide, yet the problem of how to allocate the mudflat–mangrove area has been neglected. Mudflats had higher molluscs abundance and lower functional vulnerability, which were mainly affected by sediment properties, while mangroves hosted greater taxonomic and functional richness, which were primarily influenced by vegetation structure. Retaining at least 20% of mudflat area was crucial for mangrove wetland biodiversity conservation.

We assessed differential use of nest materials among birds at a site in Massachusetts, USA. Proportional masses of all material types differed among species. Our study supports the notion that birds using the same environment have distinct niches in relation to the materials placed in their nests.

In tropical environments, where photoperiod variation is small, birds show high variability in the timing of life cycle stages, yet these species have been severely underrepresented in phenology research. We investigated temporal patterns in breeding and moult in an Afrotropical bird, finding that moult was more seasonal than breeding. Additionally, we found that timing of these life-cycle events, and seasonality in lower trophic levels (arthropods, plants) were different between two tropical sites separated by 4 degrees latitutde.

To inform proactive management of expanding populations of cougars in Canada, we utilized open-source cougar presence and land-cover data in a maximum entropy habitat suitability model to determine potentially suitable habitat for cougars across the country. High fragmentation of suitable habitat and the potential for human–wildlife conflict requires that appropriately sized and connected protected areas are maintained for the establishment of expanding cougar populations.

Linking organismal traits to environmental gradients reveals mechanisms underlying patterns of biodiversity, from individual adaptations to ecosystem-scale dynamics. This study provides much-needed guidance for optimizing sampling strategies to improve the accuracy of population-level characterization of intraspecific trait variability (ITV) and estimation of ITV-environment relationships, thereby significantly advancing ecological understanding.

In our study, we attempted to investigate the key role of the temporal resolution of data in distribution modeling for an important fish species of the Caspian Sea, with high conservation and commercial importance. Our findings indicate that utilizing fine time scales in modeling analyses can result in a more reliable explanation and prediction of fish distribution dynamics. The investigated approach allows for the identification of intra-seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions, particularly dynamic parameters, and their relationship with fish aggregation.

Here we present the development and extensive field testing of a multisensor biologging collar in wild boar (Sus scrofa), coupled with classification techniques for identifying boar behavior from raw accelerometer data and, for the first time, provide a detailed characterization of magnetic heading data derived from raw magnetometer data in free-roaming individuals. By integrating our behavioral classifier and magnetic orientation data, we also explore dead-reckoning path reconstruction techniques that can provide a wealth of additional information for studies of animal movement and behavior.

Constant evolution rates, which form the foundation of the strict molecular clock model, do not apply in the case of Paleoptera, highlighting a notable bias in the molecular clock hypothesis. The current biodiversity may be the outcome of a relatively recent, exponential increase in base substitution rates. This could be a reflection of the initiation of Quaternary glacial and interglacial cycles linked to substantial climatic changes. Additionally, another peak was identified in the Carboniferous to Permian period, which is similarly associated with the late Paleozoic icehouse.

Our paper presents a novel approach in validating urinary CTX-I levels as an indicator of bone growth, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for assessing bone metabolism and growth dynamics in zoo-housed and wild non-human mammals. Consequently, our study contributes to advancing our understanding of skeletal physiology across species.

Genomic data from bonnethead sharks reveals connectivity between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida, a zone that forms a genetic barrier for some larger shark species. Our demographic model also revealed rapid population growth and gene flow from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast, suggesting that sharks may migrate south for mating. These findings provide novel insight into the migratory behavior of small-bodied sharks and optimistic implications for the conservation of this globally endangered species under proper management.

We present a new cost-effective method for identifying species-specific crab predation on mollusc prey. By applying geometric morphometrics to analyse the shape of the damage they leave on their shelled prey, we quantitatively demonstrate that each species of crab, including native Dungeness and red rock crabs, as well as invasive European green crabs, produces uniquely shaped damage. Our method can be used to reconstruct species-specific crab abundances and help understand the ecological implications of European green crab invasions on native crabs, mollusc prey, and their broader ecosystems.

North American flying squirrel species, including the newly described Humboldt's flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis), produce numerous call-types that extend into the ultrasonic range. To investigate the potential function of ultrasonic call-types in the Humboldt's flying squirrels, we used ultrasonic recorders to record squirrels in the wild across multiple seasons to determine if there are temporal and seasonal patterns in nightly vocal activity and rates of different call-types. We found nightly and seasonal variation in call-types, most notably that the most acoustically complex call type (trill) was given more often in the summer than winter suggesting a potential mating or territorial function.

Richness and evenness are two important components of any measure of diversity. This article presents a simple graphical method showing the tradeoff between those two components of a diversity measure. Real biological data are used as an illustration.

Schematic overview of the feeding experimental set up to investigate the suitability of the Oxford Nanopore Flongle device for the molecular gut content analysis of Halyomorpha halys.