Nature-related risks of cashmere production in the Eurasian continent was evaluated by spatial dynamics of grassland biomass and biodiversity: especially in Inner Mongolia, the analyses combining satellite remote sensing of vegetation and stacked species distribution modeling revealed that priority areas of biodiversity conservation and suitable areas for cashmere goat herding shifted dramatically during 2000–2022. A grazing scenario ensuring minor reduction in grassland biomass and plant species richness could be implemented under the condition of less than 10 goats per hectare in the grasslands with more than 400 mm annual precipitation. In conclusion, suitable grazing areas and goat density for biodiversity-friendly, sustainable production should be determined adaptively according to the dynamics of grassland biomass and species richness, which was governed by shifting biome from cold deserts to grasslands, grassland to shrub lands, and/or shrub lands to grasslands, in response to climate change involving high rainfall and drought.
{"title":"A pathway to biodiversity-friendly, sustainable cashmere production under climate change","authors":"Yasuhiro Kubota , Takayuki Shiono , Kenji Watanabe , Buntarou Kusumoto , Shogo Ikari","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature-related risks of cashmere production in the Eurasian continent was evaluated by spatial dynamics of grassland biomass and biodiversity: especially in Inner Mongolia, the analyses combining satellite remote sensing of vegetation and stacked species distribution modeling revealed that priority areas of biodiversity conservation and suitable areas for cashmere goat herding shifted dramatically during 2000–2022. A grazing scenario ensuring minor reduction in grassland biomass and plant species richness could be implemented under the condition of less than 10 goats per hectare in the grasslands with more than 400 mm annual precipitation. In conclusion, suitable grazing areas and goat density for biodiversity-friendly, sustainable production should be determined adaptively according to the dynamics of grassland biomass and species richness, which was governed by shifting biome from cold deserts to grasslands, grassland to shrub lands, and/or shrub lands to grasslands, in response to climate change involving high rainfall and drought.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04069"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04070
Ghazanfer Ali , Subha Bhassu , Jiao Yang , Thenmoli AP Govindasamy , Norhafiza Mohd Arshad , Lavanya Vythalingam , Satoshi Nagai
Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened globally, facing rapid biodiversity declines due to habitat degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species introductions. Southeast Asia, recognized as a global freshwater biodiversity hotspot, is experiencing some of the highest extinction risks. The Perak River, Malaysia’s second-longest river, supports diverse fish communities critical for regional ecological stability and food security, but comprehensive biodiversity assessments have been lacking. This study used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding targeting the 12S rRNA gene to comprehensively assess fish diversity and detect invasive species across the Perak River. Water samples from five locations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We identified 16 orders, 32 families, 51 genera, and 57 species, with Cyprinidae being the dominant family (15.78 % of species). Invasive species such as Micropterus salmoides, Oreochromis spp., and Gambusia affinis recognised as invasive either globally or in Malaysia were also detected, raising ecological concerns. Our results highlight the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for non-invasive biodiversity monitoring in tropical river systems and demonstrate its potential for early detection of invasive species. This pioneering baseline study provides essential data to guide conservation strategies, inform management policies, and contribute to broader efforts addressing freshwater biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia.
{"title":"Fish diversity and invasive species detection in the Perak River, Malaysia, through eDNA metabarcoding","authors":"Ghazanfer Ali , Subha Bhassu , Jiao Yang , Thenmoli AP Govindasamy , Norhafiza Mohd Arshad , Lavanya Vythalingam , Satoshi Nagai","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened globally, facing rapid biodiversity declines due to habitat degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species introductions. Southeast Asia, recognized as a global freshwater biodiversity hotspot, is experiencing some of the highest extinction risks. The Perak River, Malaysia’s second-longest river, supports diverse fish communities critical for regional ecological stability and food security, but comprehensive biodiversity assessments have been lacking. This study used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding targeting the 12S rRNA gene to comprehensively assess fish diversity and detect invasive species across the Perak River. Water samples from five locations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We identified 16 orders, 32 families, 51 genera, and 57 species, with Cyprinidae being the dominant family (15.78 % of species). Invasive species such as <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>, <em>Oreochromis spp.</em>, and <em>Gambusia affinis</em> recognised as invasive either globally or in Malaysia were also detected, raising ecological concerns. Our results highlight the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for non-invasive biodiversity monitoring in tropical river systems and demonstrate its potential for early detection of invasive species. This pioneering baseline study provides essential data to guide conservation strategies, inform management policies, and contribute to broader efforts addressing freshwater biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04070"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04068
Caiwen Yang , Zhifei Chen , Meixing Feng , Yuting Yang , Yingkun Mou , Lingbin Yan , Yuan Liu , Bingcheng Xu
Long-term soil erosion causes widespread nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limitation on the Loess Plateau. The response of community biomass to N and P addition is tightly linked to interspecific and intraspecific variations in community level traits. To explore this relationship, we conducted a split-plot experiment with N and P addition in the semiarid grasslands of the Loess Plateau. Measured key functional traits included plant height (PH), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf/root N and P contents (LN, LP, RN, RP) with their ratios. Results showed that both single N and combined N and P addition significantly increased the community-weighted mean (CWM) of multiple key traits. Further analysis revealed that under N and P addition, variations in CWM traits were mainly driven by intraspecific variation. Intraspecific variation in CWM of PH, intraspecific variation in CWM of LN, and interspecific variation in CWM of LP were the key driving factors for changes in biomass. Our results highlighted that intraspecific variation primarily promoted community biomass accumulation by driving CWM traits under N and P addition. The key role of intraspecific variation contributes to an accurate understanding of the potential driving mechanisms underlying community biomass changes under nutrient enrichment, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the sustainable improvement of productivity during the restoration of grasslands on the Loess Plateau.
{"title":"Intraspecific and interspecific functions in regulating vegetation biomass under nutrient addition in semiarid grasslands","authors":"Caiwen Yang , Zhifei Chen , Meixing Feng , Yuting Yang , Yingkun Mou , Lingbin Yan , Yuan Liu , Bingcheng Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Long-term soil erosion causes widespread nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limitation on the Loess Plateau. The response of community biomass to N and P addition is tightly linked to interspecific and intraspecific variations in community level traits. To explore this relationship, we conducted a split-plot experiment with N and P addition in the semiarid grasslands of the Loess Plateau. Measured key functional traits included plant height (PH), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf/root N and P contents (LN, LP, RN, RP) with their ratios. Results showed that both single N and combined N and P addition significantly increased the community-weighted mean (CWM) of multiple key traits. Further analysis revealed that under N and P addition, variations in CWM traits were mainly driven by intraspecific variation. Intraspecific variation in CWM of PH, intraspecific variation in CWM of LN, and interspecific variation in CWM of LP were the key driving factors for changes in biomass. Our results highlighted that intraspecific variation primarily promoted community biomass accumulation by driving CWM traits under N and P addition. The key role of intraspecific variation contributes to an accurate understanding of the potential driving mechanisms underlying community biomass changes under nutrient enrichment, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the sustainable improvement of productivity during the restoration of grasslands on the Loess Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04068"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04064
Cesar Mayta , Cecilia L. López , Mariana Villegas , Isabell Hensen , Silvia C. Gallegos
The failure of seeds to arrive at suitable sites (dispersal limitation) and/or unsuitable conditions for germination, seedling survival and growth (establishment limitation) can impede the regeneration of tropical forests. We installed bird perches and artificial bat roosts in deforested areas dominated by the bracken fern Pteridium in the tropical montane forest of Bolivia to evaluate their effect on dispersal and establishment limitations. We also analyzed the relationship between seed size and life-history strategies of plants subject to both limitations. We found that perches reduced dispersal and establishment limitation of all seed sizes (small and large) and life-history strategies (pioneer and non-pioneer). In contrast, bat roosts did not reduce dispersal and establishment limitation in any of the categories. Our results reinforce the observation that dispersal limitation is one of the main filters that plant species must overcome in bracken-dominated deforested areas. The installation of bird perches as well as direct sowing of animal-dispersed seeds and planting of seedlings are strategies that could effectively support the regeneration of these widely distributed deforested areas.
{"title":"The use of bird perches and artificial bat roosts to overcome dispersal and establishment limitation in bracken-dominated deforested areas","authors":"Cesar Mayta , Cecilia L. López , Mariana Villegas , Isabell Hensen , Silvia C. Gallegos","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04064","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04064","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The failure of seeds to arrive at suitable sites (dispersal limitation) and/or unsuitable conditions for germination, seedling survival and growth (establishment limitation) can impede the regeneration of tropical forests. We installed bird perches and artificial bat roosts in deforested areas dominated by the bracken fern <em>Pteridium</em> in the tropical montane forest of Bolivia to evaluate their effect on dispersal and establishment limitations. We also analyzed the relationship between seed size and life-history strategies of plants subject to both limitations. We found that perches reduced dispersal and establishment limitation of all seed sizes (small and large) and life-history strategies (pioneer and non-pioneer). In contrast, bat roosts did not reduce dispersal and establishment limitation in any of the categories. Our results reinforce the observation that dispersal limitation is one of the main filters that plant species must overcome in bracken-dominated deforested areas. The installation of bird perches as well as direct sowing of animal-dispersed seeds and planting of seedlings are strategies that could effectively support the regeneration of these widely distributed deforested areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04064"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04062
Weijia Cao , Ziyu Zhang , Wentao Zhong , Haoyu Sun , Yujie Yun , Xinyu Wang , Huamin Liu , Lixin Wang , Hong Chang , Lu Wen
Functioning as "Asian Water Tower" and a globally ecologically sensitive area, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) holds strategic significance for regional and global ecological security. Consequently, comprehensively assessing its ecological stability (ES) is imperative. To address this, we constructed a multidimensional evaluation framework integrating resilience, resistance, and temporal stability. By synthesizing multi-source datasets (2000–2020) and employing Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) modeling, this study aims to elucidate the spatial heterogeneity patterns and drivers of ES across the QTP. The results demonstrate that from a holistic perspective, ES of the QTP predominantly exhibited moderate and above levels, with very high concentrated in central-eastern and very low clustered in northeastern regions. Dimensional analysis demonstrated moderate overall resilience, drought resistance, and cold and warmth resistance, whereas temporal stability remained low. Precipitation and altitude emerged as positive natural drivers, while anthropogenic factors including population density, grazing intensity, and secondary industry GDP consistently demonstrated negative effects. From different ecozones, ES and its various indicators vary in rank, and ES, resilience, and resistance are generally at a moderate, while temporal stability is at a relatively low. At the same time, the drivers of each ecozone also vary slightly. Leveraging these heterogeneous driver-response patterns, we delineated six eco-functional zones to inform adapted conservation and restoration strategies. The developed "pattern-mechanism-zoning" framework establishes a scientific paradigm for targeted governance of alpine ecosystems, advancing stability-oriented management through spatially explicit decision support.
{"title":"Multidimensional stability assessment and spatial drivers for targeted eco-functional zones on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau","authors":"Weijia Cao , Ziyu Zhang , Wentao Zhong , Haoyu Sun , Yujie Yun , Xinyu Wang , Huamin Liu , Lixin Wang , Hong Chang , Lu Wen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functioning as \"Asian Water Tower\" and a globally ecologically sensitive area, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) holds strategic significance for regional and global ecological security. Consequently, comprehensively assessing its ecological stability (ES) is imperative. To address this, we constructed a multidimensional evaluation framework integrating resilience, resistance, and temporal stability. By synthesizing multi-source datasets (2000–2020) and employing Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) modeling, this study aims to elucidate the spatial heterogeneity patterns and drivers of ES across the QTP. The results demonstrate that from a holistic perspective, ES of the QTP predominantly exhibited moderate and above levels, with very high concentrated in central-eastern and very low clustered in northeastern regions. Dimensional analysis demonstrated moderate overall resilience, drought resistance, and cold and warmth resistance, whereas temporal stability remained low. Precipitation and altitude emerged as positive natural drivers, while anthropogenic factors including population density, grazing intensity, and secondary industry GDP consistently demonstrated negative effects. From different ecozones, ES and its various indicators vary in rank, and ES, resilience, and resistance are generally at a moderate, while temporal stability is at a relatively low. At the same time, the drivers of each ecozone also vary slightly. Leveraging these heterogeneous driver-response patterns, we delineated six eco-functional zones to inform adapted conservation and restoration strategies. The developed \"pattern-mechanism-zoning\" framework establishes a scientific paradigm for targeted governance of alpine ecosystems, advancing stability-oriented management through spatially explicit decision support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04062"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04065
Monique de Jager , Marijke van Kuijk , Joeri A. Zwerts , Patrick A. Jansen
The Royle-Nichols occupancy model is commonly used for comparison of wildlife abundance between sites or years with biomonitoring data, such as camera-trap or bioacoustics records. The method requires that records of species are subdivided into sampling intervals with detection or non-detection. Here, we evaluated how the choice of interval length - which is commonly chosen arbitrarily - affects the outcomes of such comparisons. Using simulations and field data, we find that interval length can affect model results substantially. In some cases, different interval lengths can yield opposite differences in abundance between locations. Our results indicate that the interval length should be carefully selected based on properties of the data rather than arbitrarily chosen. Careful selection increases the accuracy of species’ abundance comparisons, and makes population comparisons more effective. We provide guidelines for optimizing the choice of interval length.
{"title":"Optimizing sampling interval length in species abundance comparison using the Royle-Nichols occupancy model","authors":"Monique de Jager , Marijke van Kuijk , Joeri A. Zwerts , Patrick A. Jansen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Royle-Nichols occupancy model is commonly used for comparison of wildlife abundance between sites or years with biomonitoring data, such as camera-trap or bioacoustics records. The method requires that records of species are subdivided into sampling intervals with detection or non-detection. Here, we evaluated how the choice of interval length - which is commonly chosen arbitrarily - affects the outcomes of such comparisons. Using simulations and field data, we find that interval length can affect model results substantially. In some cases, different interval lengths can yield opposite differences in abundance between locations. Our results indicate that the interval length should be carefully selected based on properties of the data rather than arbitrarily chosen. Careful selection increases the accuracy of species’ abundance comparisons, and makes population comparisons more effective. We provide guidelines for optimizing the choice of interval length.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04065"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04063
Borja Maestresalas , Julien C. Piquet , Marta López-Darias
A major shortcoming in invasive species management is the lack of ecological information, including patterns of refuge selection and microhabitat use, which can be applied to better understand where to target control efforts. This is especially important for elusive species like the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae), which is invading Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). To support management efforts, we tracked 15 radio-tagged individuals daily between July 2020 and June 2021 for 9–11 consecutive days each month. We recorded detection locations as shelters and defined revisits as instances where snakes were located within 6 m of previously used locations. To describe shelter-use regime and microhabitat selection, we analysed a set of biotic and abiotic characteristics in 267 selected plots (centred on each detection location), comparing them by sexes and between single-use and multiple-use plots. Additionally, we characterized 246 random plots to assess microhabitat selection. On average, individuals used 2.6 ± 1.0 shelters/month (mean ± SD; brumation: 1.6 ± 0.9 shelters/month; active season: 3.5 ± 1.1 shelters/month), stayed 4.1 ± 13.6 days per shelter (brumation: 9.6 ± 20.4 days; active season: 2.8 ± 4.1 days), and revisited 20.0 ± 11.7 % of them after 50.1 ± 55.4 days. We found no differences in shelter-use regime between sexes, though plots used by males had significantly more rock (ca. > 30 cm diameter) cover and less stone (ca. < 30 cm diameter) cover than plots used by females. Dense shrubs were more dominant in multiple-use plots in comparison with single-use plots. Selected plots had higher rock, stone, and vegetation cover than random plots, where loose soil was more common. Our findings can guide management by scheduling revisits and by focusing visual surveys and trapping in areas with more rocks, stones or dense vegetation. Overall, our study highlights the need for research on shelter use and microhabitat selection to improve management of secretive invasive snake species.
{"title":"Shelter and microhabitat use by an invasive snake: Control implications","authors":"Borja Maestresalas , Julien C. Piquet , Marta López-Darias","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A major shortcoming in invasive species management is the lack of ecological information, including patterns of refuge selection and microhabitat use, which can be applied to better understand where to target control efforts. This is especially important for elusive species like the California kingsnake (<em>Lampropeltis californiae</em>), which is invading Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). To support management efforts, we tracked 15 radio-tagged individuals daily between July 2020 and June 2021 for 9–11 consecutive days each month. We recorded detection locations as shelters and defined revisits as instances where snakes were located within 6 m of previously used locations. To describe shelter-use regime and microhabitat selection, we analysed a set of biotic and abiotic characteristics in 267 <em>selected plots</em> (centred on each detection location), comparing them by sexes and between <em>single</em>-<em>use</em> and <em>multiple-use</em> plots. Additionally, we characterized 246 <em>random plots</em> to assess microhabitat selection. On average, individuals used 2.6 ± 1.0 shelters/month (mean ± SD; brumation: 1.6 ± 0.9 shelters/month; active season: 3.5 ± 1.1 shelters/month), stayed 4.1 ± 13.6 days per shelter (brumation: 9.6 ± 20.4 days; active season: 2.8 ± 4.1 days), and revisited 20.0 ± 11.7 % of them after 50.1 ± 55.4 days. We found no differences in shelter-use regime between sexes, though plots used by males had significantly more rock (ca. > 30 cm diameter) cover and less stone (ca. < 30 cm diameter) cover than plots used by females. Dense shrubs were more dominant in <em>multiple-use plots</em> in comparison with <em>single-use plots</em>. <em>Selected plots</em> had higher <em>rock, stone,</em> and <em>vegetation</em> cover than <em>random plots</em>, where <em>loose soil</em> was more common. Our findings can guide management by scheduling revisits and by focusing visual surveys and trapping in areas with more rocks, stones or dense vegetation. Overall, our study highlights the need for research on shelter use and microhabitat selection to improve management of secretive invasive snake species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04063"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04057
Joas J. Makwati , Steven Temu , Olipa Simon , Philip K. Mwanukuzi , Henry J. Ndangalasi
Habitat fragmentation and land cover change pose major threats to ecological connectivity and biodiversity conservation across sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the structural connectivity and ecological function of the Igando-Igawa Wildlife Corridor (IIWC) in southern Tanzania, which links Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve to Ruaha National Park. Using remote sensing, GIS-based modelling, ground surveys and field observations, we analysed landscape transformations over a 30-year period (1994–2024). Results indicate a substantial expansion of agricultural land with scattered settlements, increasing from 174.5 km² (19.3 %) to 475.9 km² (52.7 %). Bushland also expanded by 168.1 km², while woodland and grassland declined by 305.8 km² and 182.8 km², respectively. Built-up and bare land areas showed moderate growth. Landscape fragmentation intensified, with patch density increasing and the Aggregation Index declining from 93.11 to 81.70, indicating reduced core habitat. Least-cost path analysis revealed a narrowing and southward shift of the corridor, with cost-weighted distance rising from 161,549 to 242,407 units and path length extending from 52.9 km to 57.3 km. These changes have significantly impeded wildlife movement, particularly for large mammals such as elephants and lions, due to intensified human activities including agriculture, settlement expansion, livestock grazing and vegetation clearance. The findings highlight the urgent need for proactive corridor protection, integrated land use planning, and community engagement. This study has laid a foundation for further research and informs conservation strategies in rapidly changing landscapes.
{"title":"Impacts of land use and land cover change on habitat connectivity: A case study of the Igando Igawa Wildlife Corridor, Southern Tanzania","authors":"Joas J. Makwati , Steven Temu , Olipa Simon , Philip K. Mwanukuzi , Henry J. Ndangalasi","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitat fragmentation and land cover change pose major threats to ecological connectivity and biodiversity conservation across sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluates the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the structural connectivity and ecological function of the Igando-Igawa Wildlife Corridor (IIWC) in southern Tanzania, which links Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve to Ruaha National Park. Using remote sensing, GIS-based modelling, ground surveys and field observations, we analysed landscape transformations over a 30-year period (1994–2024). Results indicate a substantial expansion of agricultural land with scattered settlements, increasing from 174.5 km² (19.3 %) to 475.9 km² (52.7 %). Bushland also expanded by 168.1 km², while woodland and grassland declined by 305.8 km² and 182.8 km², respectively. Built-up and bare land areas showed moderate growth. Landscape fragmentation intensified, with patch density increasing and the Aggregation Index declining from 93.11 to 81.70, indicating reduced core habitat. Least-cost path analysis revealed a narrowing and southward shift of the corridor, with cost-weighted distance rising from 161,549 to 242,407 units and path length extending from 52.9 km to 57.3 km. These changes have significantly impeded wildlife movement, particularly for large mammals such as elephants and lions, due to intensified human activities including agriculture, settlement expansion, livestock grazing and vegetation clearance. The findings highlight the urgent need for proactive corridor protection, integrated land use planning, and community engagement. This study has laid a foundation for further research and informs conservation strategies in rapidly changing landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04057"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04060
Xuan Wu , Changfeng Sun , Yu Liu , Mengdan Jing , Huiming Song , Qiufang Cai , Meng Ren , Zhuoying Li , Qiang Li
Radial growth and canopy dynamics of trees both play a significant role in the terrestrial carbon cycle. However, the climate-driven responses of these two key biomass compartments and their modulating factors across different growing seasons remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we integrated tree-ring chronologies with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from remote sensing to investigate the climate response of tree growth across 20 sites spanning different environmental gradients in the Qinling Mountains of central China. We calculated correlations of Tree-ring width and NDVI with climate factors and evaluated how these responses varied with aridity index, topographic wetness index, elevation and slope. The results revealed that decoupling of xylem and foliage climate responses was most significant in the early growing season, primarily driven by moisture availability, with both tree-ring width and NDVI showing stronger correlations with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature under improved moisture conditions. Notably, we observed a significant positive correlation between TRW and NDVI of the middle growing season. These findings demonstrate that climate response differences between radial growth and canopy dynamics may arise from their heterogeneous adaptive strategies along environmental gradients, highlighting the important scientific significance of joint assessment of both xylem and foliage growth for understanding forest growth dynamics under global change.
{"title":"Decoupled climate relationships of tree radial growth and canopy dynamics along environmental gradients in Qinling Mountains, central China","authors":"Xuan Wu , Changfeng Sun , Yu Liu , Mengdan Jing , Huiming Song , Qiufang Cai , Meng Ren , Zhuoying Li , Qiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Radial growth and canopy dynamics of trees both play a significant role in the terrestrial carbon cycle. However, the climate-driven responses of these two key biomass compartments and their modulating factors across different growing seasons remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we integrated tree-ring chronologies with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from remote sensing to investigate the climate response of tree growth across 20 sites spanning different environmental gradients in the Qinling Mountains of central China. We calculated correlations of Tree-ring width and NDVI with climate factors and evaluated how these responses varied with aridity index, topographic wetness index, elevation and slope. The results revealed that decoupling of xylem and foliage climate responses was most significant in the early growing season, primarily driven by moisture availability, with both tree-ring width and NDVI showing stronger correlations with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature under improved moisture conditions. Notably, we observed a significant positive correlation between TRW and NDVI of the middle growing season. These findings demonstrate that climate response differences between radial growth and canopy dynamics may arise from their heterogeneous adaptive strategies along environmental gradients, highlighting the important scientific significance of joint assessment of both xylem and foliage growth for understanding forest growth dynamics under global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04060"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Research on land use impacts on woody diversity and carbon stocks in West African savannas has primarily focused on the vegetation level. However, a combined analysis at both vegetation and species levels offers a more nuanced understanding of carbon loss patterns and provides stronger guidance for management and conservation of threatened species. This study evaluated the effect of climate and land use change on woody structure, diversity and carbon stocks in two climate zone (Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian) and four land use types reflecting a land use conversion gradient. Aboveground carbon stocks were calculated from dendrometric data using a generalized pantropical allometric equation. Carbon dynamics were analyzed along the conversion gradient (near natural vegetation → recent cropland → cropland remaining cropland → fallow), with near natural vegetation as the baseline. Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of both climate and land use types on woody diversity and carbon stocks (P < 0.05), with interactive effects observed only for diversity. The highest aboveground carbon losses occurred during conversion from near natural vegetation to recent croplands in both the Sudano-Sahelian (reduced by 69.8%) and the Sudanian zones (reduced by 84%). Species level analyses further showed that carbon-rich species such as Anogeissus leiocarpa were largely removed during recent cropland establishment, while socio-economically important species such as Vitellaria paradoxa, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, and Lannea macrocarpa were retained. To limit carbon losses, the integration of nitrogen-fixing tree species such as Faidherbia albida could simultaneously enhance agricultural productivity, reduce deforestation pressure, and strengthen carbon storage in savanna ecosystems, thereby contributing to conservation goals at the landscape level.
{"title":"How does climate and land use affect structural attributes, diversity and carbon sequestration at vegetation and species levels in West African savanna ecosystems?","authors":"Valaire Séraphin Ouehoudja Yaro , Loyapin Bonde , Pawend-taoré Christian Bougma , Reginald Tang Guuroh , Oumarou Ouedraogo , Anja Linstädter","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on land use impacts on woody diversity and carbon stocks in West African savannas has primarily focused on the vegetation level. However, a combined analysis at both vegetation and species levels offers a more nuanced understanding of carbon loss patterns and provides stronger guidance for management and conservation of threatened species. This study evaluated the effect of climate and land use change on woody structure, diversity and carbon stocks in two climate zone (Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian) and four land use types reflecting a land use conversion gradient. Aboveground carbon stocks were calculated from dendrometric data using a generalized pantropical allometric equation. Carbon dynamics were analyzed along the conversion gradient (near natural vegetation → recent cropland → cropland remaining cropland → fallow), with near natural vegetation as the baseline. Analysis of variance revealed significant effects of both climate and land use types on woody diversity and carbon stocks (P < 0.05), with interactive effects observed only for diversity. The highest aboveground carbon losses occurred during conversion from near natural vegetation to recent croplands in both the Sudano-Sahelian (reduced by 69.8%) and the Sudanian zones (reduced by 84%). Species level analyses further showed that carbon-rich species such as <em>Anogeissus leiocarpa</em> were largely removed during recent cropland establishment, while socio-economically important species such as <em>Vitellaria paradoxa, Parkia biglobosa, Tamarindus indica, and Lannea macrocarpa</em> were retained. To limit carbon losses, the integration of nitrogen-fixing tree species such as <em>Faidherbia albida</em> could simultaneously enhance agricultural productivity, reduce deforestation pressure, and strengthen carbon storage in savanna ecosystems, thereby contributing to conservation goals at the landscape level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04056"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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