Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04061
Sangwook Lee , Yoonji Kim , Youngjae Yoo , Hye In Chung , Jiyeon Lee , Jinhoo Hwang , Hong-Shik Oh , Hyeon Kwon Ahn , Seongwoo Jeon
Accurate identification of ecologically sensitive areas, particularly those harboring endangered species, is essential for ensuring that development projects proceed without causing irreversible biodiversity loss. Species distribution models (SDMs) are pivotal tools in addressing this issue, yet they are constrained by challenges such as the overestimation or underestimation of potential habitats and inadequate representation of species-specific ecological traits, especially for endangered species. To address these limitations, this study refines the SDMs for the endangered species Mankyua chejuense by employing a novel approach that incorporates weighted occurrence data and optimized pseudo-absence point selection. These advancements not only mitigate the intrinsic biases of SDMs in habitat estimation but also provide a more nuanced reflection of the species’ ecological characteristics. This improved modeling framework holds substantial implications for developing more effective national and regional biodiversity conservation strategies, and supports the broader application of this refined approach to other species in the future.
{"title":"Measures to improve the accuracy of species distribution models for effective conservation of endangered species","authors":"Sangwook Lee , Yoonji Kim , Youngjae Yoo , Hye In Chung , Jiyeon Lee , Jinhoo Hwang , Hong-Shik Oh , Hyeon Kwon Ahn , Seongwoo Jeon","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate identification of ecologically sensitive areas, particularly those harboring endangered species, is essential for ensuring that development projects proceed without causing irreversible biodiversity loss. Species distribution models (SDMs) are pivotal tools in addressing this issue, yet they are constrained by challenges such as the overestimation or underestimation of potential habitats and inadequate representation of species-specific ecological traits, especially for endangered species. To address these limitations, this study refines the SDMs for the endangered species <em>Mankyua chejuense</em> by employing a novel approach that incorporates weighted occurrence data and optimized pseudo-absence point selection. These advancements not only mitigate the intrinsic biases of SDMs in habitat estimation but also provide a more nuanced reflection of the species’ ecological characteristics. This improved modeling framework holds substantial implications for developing more effective national and regional biodiversity conservation strategies, and supports the broader application of this refined approach to other species in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04061"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929058","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 : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04058
Jipeng Tian , Haijun Su
Global land-use changes have driven forest loss and fragmentation, resulting in a drastic decline in biodiversity levels. Understanding how biological communities respond to anthropogenic landscapes is crucial for developing optimal spatial strategies for biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. We used the long-term monitoring camera trap data within human-modified forest landscapes in the northern Guizhou Plateau, southwest China, to investigate the scale of effects of landscape structure on mammal communities through single-species occupancy model, and assessed which spatial factors (landscape and local habitat structure) best predict the species occurrence at multiple scales. We found significant differences of the scale of landscape effect on mammal species, with forest cover tending to have larger scales of effects than edge density and number of forest patches among the landscape variables. In addition, the effects of forest loss and fragmentation on species were distinct. Forest loss negatively affects species at multiple scales, especially at larger scales, whereas forest fragmentation mainly positively or negatively affects species at smaller scales. Mesocarnivores showed greater adaptability in fragmented landscapes with human disturbances, whereas ungulates avoid areas with less forest cover and more fragmentation. Therefore, we stress the importance of maintaining large areas of forest fragments, considering the effects of forest fragmentation within the species' core home ranges on conservation strategies, to ensure a greater persistence of mammal species in the human-modified forest landscapes in southwestern China.
{"title":"Multi-scale analysis reveals the differential impacts of forest loss and fragmentation on mammal species in Southwest China and their conservation implications","authors":"Jipeng Tian , Haijun Su","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global land-use changes have driven forest loss and fragmentation, resulting in a drastic decline in biodiversity levels. Understanding how biological communities respond to anthropogenic landscapes is crucial for developing optimal spatial strategies for biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes. We used the long-term monitoring camera trap data within human-modified forest landscapes in the northern Guizhou Plateau, southwest China, to investigate the scale of effects of landscape structure on mammal communities through single-species occupancy model, and assessed which spatial factors (landscape and local habitat structure) best predict the species occurrence at multiple scales. We found significant differences of the scale of landscape effect on mammal species, with forest cover tending to have larger scales of effects than edge density and number of forest patches among the landscape variables. In addition, the effects of forest loss and fragmentation on species were distinct. Forest loss negatively affects species at multiple scales, especially at larger scales, whereas forest fragmentation mainly positively or negatively affects species at smaller scales. Mesocarnivores showed greater adaptability in fragmented landscapes with human disturbances, whereas ungulates avoid areas with less forest cover and more fragmentation. Therefore, we stress the importance of maintaining large areas of forest fragments, considering the effects of forest fragmentation within the species' core home ranges on conservation strategies, to ensure a greater persistence of mammal species in the human-modified forest landscapes in southwestern China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04058"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981535","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 : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04059
Peizhuo Xu , Zhiping Ren , Tong Yang , Lingsheng Meng , Kun Cheng , Yining Wu
The abundance and diversity of gut microbiota influence avian health, nutrient assimilation, and overall physiological performance. However, the extent to which variation in gut microbial composition corresponds to resource use and niche differenśtiation among sympatric bird species remains poorly understood. We characterized the gut microbiota of three bird species inhabiting a forest–farmland mosaic in suburban Harbin, China: Oriental Turtle-dove (Streptopelia orientalis), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), and Grey-backed Thrush (Turdus hortulorum), using 16S rRNA V3–V4 sequencing. Proteobacteria were predominant in Streptopelia and Turdus, whereas Firmicutes were more abundant in Upupa. LEfSe analysis identified species-specific microbial biomarkers, including Pseudomonas in Upupa, Tyzzerella in Turdus, and Paracoccus in Streptopelia. KEGG-based functional predictions revealed that lipoic acid metabolism was enriched in Streptopelia. Thiamine metabolism and carbon fixation were enriched in Turdus, while pyruvate metabolism was more abundant in Streptopelia and Upupa. Pianka index analyses indicated greater overlap in gut microbial composition than in dietary ASVs, with notable differences between Turdus and Upupa. These patterns suggest that gut microbial composition corresponds with species-specific trophic tendencies and dietary characteristics, potentially reflecting mechanisms of resource partitioning. Overall, taxonomic and functional differentiation of gut microbiota among the three species provides insights into the potential role of microbes in facilitating coexistence within heterogeneous habitats and informs conservation strategies for urban and peri-urban bird communities.
{"title":"Gut microbiota variation and trophic niche differentiation among sympatric birds in a forest-farmland mosaic","authors":"Peizhuo Xu , Zhiping Ren , Tong Yang , Lingsheng Meng , Kun Cheng , Yining Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The abundance and diversity of gut microbiota influence avian health, nutrient assimilation, and overall physiological performance. However, the extent to which variation in gut microbial composition corresponds to resource use and niche differenśtiation among sympatric bird species remains poorly understood. We characterized the gut microbiota of three bird species inhabiting a forest–farmland mosaic in suburban Harbin, China: Oriental Turtle-dove (<em>Streptopelia orientalis</em>), Hoopoe (<em>Upupa epops</em>), and Grey-backed Thrush (<em>Turdus hortulorum</em>), using 16S rRNA V3–V4 sequencing. Proteobacteria were predominant in <em>Streptopelia</em> and <em>Turdus</em>, whereas Firmicutes were more abundant in <em>Upupa</em>. LEfSe analysis identified species-specific microbial biomarkers, including Pseudomonas in <em>Upupa</em>, Tyzzerella in <em>Turdus</em>, and Paracoccus in <em>Streptopelia</em>. KEGG-based functional predictions revealed that lipoic acid metabolism was enriched in <em>Streptopelia</em>. Thiamine metabolism and carbon fixation were enriched in <em>Turdus</em>, while pyruvate metabolism was more abundant in <em>Streptopelia</em> and <em>Upupa</em>. Pianka index analyses indicated greater overlap in gut microbial composition than in dietary ASVs, with notable differences between <em>Turdus</em> and <em>Upupa</em>. These patterns suggest that gut microbial composition corresponds with species-specific trophic tendencies and dietary characteristics, potentially reflecting mechanisms of resource partitioning. Overall, taxonomic and functional differentiation of gut microbiota among the three species provides insights into the potential role of microbes in facilitating coexistence within heterogeneous habitats and informs conservation strategies for urban and peri-urban bird communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04059"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145929057","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 : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04054
Bowen Yu , Peng Zhang , Li Chen , Yang Li , Zhi Yang , Zhiwei Li , Siyang Wang , Zehao Lv , Volker Weitbrecht
The Middle Yangtze River serves as a critical spawning habitat for the Four Major Chinese Carps (FMCC). The operation of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on the Yangtze River has significantly altered flow and water temperature regimes, reduced sediment concentration, and led to changes in river morphodynamics in the downstream reaches. These hydro-morphological changes have negatively impacted the spawning habitat suitability of FMCC, however, for the multiple hydro-morphological changes induced by the TGD, existing research primarily focuses on hydrological processes, and has not yet quantitatively distinguished the individual contributions of each factor to habitat loss. To disentangle the joint effects of hydro-morphological changes on habitat, we first constructed a one-dimensional physical habitat model that considered the spawning requirements of water level fluctuation, flow velocity, and water temperature for FMCC spawning. Then, we simulated and calculated habitat quality and quantity in pre-and post-TGD scenarios and examined the effects of hydro-morphological changes on the reduction in the spawning habitat of FMCC. Our results indicate that the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) for spawning decreased by approximately 12.1 % during the spawning period from April to July after the TGD operation. Of this reduction, changes in water temperature accounted for 46.0 %, alterations in the flow regime contributed 24.8 %, and changes in river morphology were responsible for the remaining 29.2 %. The most significant habitat loss occurred in May, with the WUA decreasing by 19.6 % relative to the pre-dam period. Decreased water temperatures due to TGD operation predominantly reduced WUA in April and May, while flow regime changes primarily reduced WUA in June and July. Additionally, channel erosion reduced WUA by decreasing wetted area and lowering the suitability of water level fluctuation, with varying spatial effects on habitat suitability changes. To mitigate WUA loss during spawning seasons, we propose an optimal combination of discharge quantity (Q) and daily discharge increment (ΔQ), which can inform dam operation schemes to reduce the impacts of altered flow regimes. This research provides insights into the comprehensive effects of hydro-morphological changes on fish habitat. It underscores the impact of river erosion due to dam operations and lays a foundation for the future ecological operation of hydropower projects and initiatives for micro-habitat restoration.
{"title":"Disentangling the effects of hydro-morphological changes on the reduction in the spawning habitat of four major Chinese carps in the Middle Yangtze River","authors":"Bowen Yu , Peng Zhang , Li Chen , Yang Li , Zhi Yang , Zhiwei Li , Siyang Wang , Zehao Lv , Volker Weitbrecht","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Middle Yangtze River serves as a critical spawning habitat for the Four Major Chinese Carps (FMCC). The operation of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on the Yangtze River has significantly altered flow and water temperature regimes, reduced sediment concentration, and led to changes in river morphodynamics in the downstream reaches. These hydro-morphological changes have negatively impacted the spawning habitat suitability of FMCC, however, for the multiple hydro-morphological changes induced by the TGD, existing research primarily focuses on hydrological processes, and has not yet quantitatively distinguished the individual contributions of each factor to habitat loss. To disentangle the joint effects of hydro-morphological changes on habitat, we first constructed a one-dimensional physical habitat model that considered the spawning requirements of water level fluctuation, flow velocity, and water temperature for FMCC spawning. Then, we simulated and calculated habitat quality and quantity in pre-and post-TGD scenarios and examined the effects of hydro-morphological changes on the reduction in the spawning habitat of FMCC. Our results indicate that the Weighted Usable Area (<em>WUA</em>) for spawning decreased by approximately 12.1 % during the spawning period from April to July after the TGD operation. Of this reduction, changes in water temperature accounted for 46.0 %, alterations in the flow regime contributed 24.8 %, and changes in river morphology were responsible for the remaining 29.2 %. The most significant habitat loss occurred in May, with the <em>WUA</em> decreasing by 19.6 % relative to the pre-dam period. Decreased water temperatures due to TGD operation predominantly reduced <em>WUA</em> in April and May, while flow regime changes primarily reduced <em>WUA</em> in June and July. Additionally, channel erosion reduced <em>WUA</em> by decreasing wetted area and lowering the suitability of water level fluctuation, with varying spatial effects on habitat suitability changes. To mitigate <em>WUA</em> loss during spawning seasons, we propose an optimal combination of discharge quantity (Q) and daily discharge increment (ΔQ), which can inform dam operation schemes to reduce the impacts of altered flow regimes. This research provides insights into the comprehensive effects of hydro-morphological changes on fish habitat. It underscores the impact of river erosion due to dam operations and lays a foundation for the future ecological operation of hydropower projects and initiatives for micro-habitat restoration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04054"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928953","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 : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04049
Wei Gou , Yin Yang , Linzheng Hu , Manfang He , Wanhai Wang , Zhonghai Wei , Guangmei Yang , Haijun Su , Yixin Diao
Roadless areas in forested and rugged mountains pose unavoidable challenges to field surveys, often leading to wildlife sampling bias in terms of population, behaviour, and response to human interference. Using the endangered François's langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) as a model species, we aimed to compare the impacts of different survey methods, with varying levels of road accessibility on the evaluation of population size, the response of species to human disturbance, and the habitat distribution prediction by an ensemble species distribution model in the Dashahe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China. François's langurs live in some of the most inaccessible habitat among primates. To date, the best methods of survey have been interviews with locals and line transects along existing roadways. These methods may be biased by human presence and activities. Drones provide a means by which langur densities can be assessed across an inaccessible landscape, reducing researcher accessibility bias. We found that, compared to the interview survey, which have long been the only survey method in this region, the UAV survey significantly increased the species detection accessibility (SDA) of François's langur in roadless areas (population size estimation: interview survey recorded 37 individuals at mean SDA of 46.92 ± 21.06 km vs. UAV survey recorded 62 individuals at mean SDA of 57.96 ± 15.85 km). The unmanned aerial vehicle -methods vehicle (UAV) survey indicated that the occurrence of François's langurs decreased when the intensity of human modification exceeded 0.4, whereas the transect method showed a higher modification threshold that reached 0.6. This indicated that UAV survey exhibited a higher degree of sensitivity to human activities. Furthermore, while the suitable area identified by the UAV model (74.8 km²) was positively correlated with road accessibility (p < 0.01), the results of the all-survey model (84 km²) showed a different pattern (p < 0.001), with larger area identified as suitable habitat compared to those predicted using the other two survey methods. Our results suggest that, compared to other traditional surveys, UAVs increase the probability of detecting François's langurs in roadless areas (30.1 %), eliminate overestimation of their tolerance to human disturbance, and help refine species distribution modelling. We recommend that UAV surveys be incorporated into routine wildlife surveys and conservation management studies to enhance our understanding of threatened species and reduce underestimation of human disturbance on these species.
{"title":"Survey bias in sampling François’s langur in the Karst mountains: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and accessibility perspective","authors":"Wei Gou , Yin Yang , Linzheng Hu , Manfang He , Wanhai Wang , Zhonghai Wei , Guangmei Yang , Haijun Su , Yixin Diao","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Roadless areas in forested and rugged mountains pose unavoidable challenges to field surveys, often leading to wildlife sampling bias in terms of population, behaviour, and response to human interference. Using the endangered François's langur (<em>Trachypithecus francoisi</em>) as a model species, we aimed to compare the impacts of different survey methods, with varying levels of road accessibility on the evaluation of population size, the response of species to human disturbance, and the habitat distribution prediction by an ensemble species distribution model in the Dashahe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China. François's langurs live in some of the most inaccessible habitat among primates. To date, the best methods of survey have been interviews with locals and line transects along existing roadways. These methods may be biased by human presence and activities. Drones provide a means by which langur densities can be assessed across an inaccessible landscape, reducing researcher accessibility bias. We found that, compared to the interview survey, which have long been the only survey method in this region, the UAV survey significantly increased the species detection accessibility (SDA) of François's langur in roadless areas (population size estimation: interview survey recorded 37 individuals at mean SDA of 46.92 ± 21.06 km vs. UAV survey recorded 62 individuals at mean SDA of 57.96 ± 15.85 km). The unmanned aerial vehicle -methods vehicle (UAV) survey indicated that the occurrence of François's langurs decreased when the intensity of human modification exceeded 0.4, whereas the transect method showed a higher modification threshold that reached 0.6. This indicated that UAV survey exhibited a higher degree of sensitivity to human activities. Furthermore, while the suitable area identified by the UAV model (74.8 km²) was positively correlated with road accessibility (<em>p</em> < 0.01), the results of the all-survey model (84 km²) showed a different pattern (<em>p</em> < 0.001), with larger area identified as suitable habitat compared to those predicted using the other two survey methods. Our results suggest that, compared to other traditional surveys, UAVs increase the probability of detecting François's langurs in roadless areas (30.1 %), eliminate overestimation of their tolerance to human disturbance, and help refine species distribution modelling. We recommend that UAV surveys be incorporated into routine wildlife surveys and conservation management studies to enhance our understanding of threatened species and reduce underestimation of human disturbance on these species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04049"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981606","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 : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04052
Romy Zeiss , Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo , Bala Singavarapu , Nico Eisenhauer , Concha Cano-Díaz , Irene Calderón-Sanou , Rui P. Carvalho , Sofia R. Costa , A. Carolina Duarte , Paulo Fernandes , Arwyn Jones , Kirsten Küsel , Susana Mendes , Alberto Orgiazzi , Brajesh K. Singh , Carlos A. Guerra
Soil biodiversity and functioning are the foundation of ecosystem sustainability, but we do not know whether current nature conservation areas are efficiently protecting soils. Here, we investigated the contribution of terrestrial nature conservation areas to protect soil biodiversity and functioning across scales. We found no general positive effect on diversity of bacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrates, and nematodes, captured as richness, Shannon diversity and dissimilarity, and 5 soil functions (pathogen control, nutrient provision, soil carbon, soil organic matter decomposition, and soil aggregate stability). Our findings suggest that nature conservation areas show an inconsistent role in protecting soil biodiversity and functioning, as we found mostly non-significant and otherwise mixed effects across scales. Despite few positive and negative effects of protection status, our work highlights the urgent need to directly target soils in nature conservation.
{"title":"Uncertain role of conservation areas to protect soil biodiversity and functioning","authors":"Romy Zeiss , Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo , Bala Singavarapu , Nico Eisenhauer , Concha Cano-Díaz , Irene Calderón-Sanou , Rui P. Carvalho , Sofia R. Costa , A. Carolina Duarte , Paulo Fernandes , Arwyn Jones , Kirsten Küsel , Susana Mendes , Alberto Orgiazzi , Brajesh K. Singh , Carlos A. Guerra","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04052","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil biodiversity and functioning are the foundation of ecosystem sustainability, but we do not know whether current nature conservation areas are efficiently protecting soils. Here, we investigated the contribution of terrestrial nature conservation areas to protect soil biodiversity and functioning across scales. We found no general positive effect on diversity of bacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrates, and nematodes, captured as richness, Shannon diversity and dissimilarity, and 5 soil functions (pathogen control, nutrient provision, soil carbon, soil organic matter decomposition, and soil aggregate stability). Our findings suggest that nature conservation areas show an inconsistent role in protecting soil biodiversity and functioning, as we found mostly non-significant and otherwise mixed effects across scales. Despite few positive and negative effects of protection status, our work highlights the urgent need to directly target soils in nature conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04052"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024376","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04045
Babar Khan , Kesang Wangchuk
The Hindu Kush Himalayas, a region with diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity, faces widespread illegal wildlife crime. We reviewed available literature to gain insights into the scale and patterns of illegal wildlife crime in the HKH, hotspots, transit routes, consumers, and the significant causes of wildlife trafficking. Wildlife trade and seizure data for the eight HKH countries were accessed from the trade database of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wildlife Trade Portal of the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) for the period 2001–2020. The review findings showed that each year, millions of wild plants and animals, valued at $ 8–23 billion, were traded to meet the demand for wildlife, its parts, and products worldwide. In the illegal wildlife trade, about 24 % of terrestrial birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles originated from biologically diverse tropical regions, including the HKH mountains. The illegal wildlife trade in HKH covered a range of commodities, including live individuals, their parts, and their derivatives. The primary drivers of the illicit trade and commercial exploitation of rare and unique species from the wild were the ever-increasing demand for traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicines, folk remedies, weak law enforcement, the high price of wildlife and their parts, and mountain poverty. Efforts to combat wildlife poaching, trafficking, and trade in the region were hampered by weak wildlife law enforcement, insufficient institutional capacity and resources, and a lack of practical regional networks and other mechanisms for regional cooperation. Porous borders and high mountain passes, with harsh climates and physical conditions, further restrained the vigilance of law enforcement agencies. A lack of understanding of wildlife supply chains' social, economic, and ecological dimensions hindered informed policy and legislation. Lack of awareness among communities and other stakeholders about biodiversity conservation made them partners in the wildlife trade rather than custodians. The region needs to strengthen institutional capacities for effective legislation and action, and greater regional cooperation for intra-regional law enforcement to control the illegal trade of wildlife across borders and online. Scientific studies on the scale, trend, and patterns of illicit wildlife trade are crucial for understanding the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of unlawful wildlife supply chains in HKH. Mass awareness about biodiversity conservation values will help create responsible stewards among mountain communities.
{"title":"Ghost economy: The forbidden trade of the Himalayas","authors":"Babar Khan , Kesang Wangchuk","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04045","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04045","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Hindu Kush Himalayas, a region with diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity, faces widespread illegal wildlife crime. We reviewed available literature to gain insights into the scale and patterns of illegal wildlife crime in the HKH, hotspots, transit routes, consumers, and the significant causes of wildlife trafficking. Wildlife trade and seizure data for the eight HKH countries were accessed from the trade database of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wildlife Trade Portal of the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce (TRAFFIC) for the period 2001–2020. The review findings showed that each year, millions of wild plants and animals, valued at $ 8–23 billion, were traded to meet the demand for wildlife, its parts, and products worldwide. In the illegal wildlife trade, about 24 % of terrestrial birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles originated from biologically diverse tropical regions, including the HKH mountains. The illegal wildlife trade in HKH covered a range of commodities, including live individuals, their parts, and their derivatives. The primary drivers of the illicit trade and commercial exploitation of rare and unique species from the wild were the ever-increasing demand for traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicines, folk remedies, weak law enforcement, the high price of wildlife and their parts, and mountain poverty. Efforts to combat wildlife poaching, trafficking, and trade in the region were hampered by weak wildlife law enforcement, insufficient institutional capacity and resources, and a lack of practical regional networks and other mechanisms for regional cooperation. Porous borders and high mountain passes, with harsh climates and physical conditions, further restrained the vigilance of law enforcement agencies. A lack of understanding of wildlife supply chains' social, economic, and ecological dimensions hindered informed policy and legislation. Lack of awareness among communities and other stakeholders about biodiversity conservation made them partners in the wildlife trade rather than custodians. The region needs to strengthen institutional capacities for effective legislation and action, and greater regional cooperation for intra-regional law enforcement to control the illegal trade of wildlife across borders and online. Scientific studies on the scale, trend, and patterns of illicit wildlife trade are crucial for understanding the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of unlawful wildlife supply chains in HKH. Mass awareness about biodiversity conservation values will help create responsible stewards among mountain communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"65 ","pages":"Article e04045"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925743","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04043
Xu Li , Zhipeng Li , Zhiyuan Shi , Ting Wu , Guopeng Wu , Han Sheng , Shu-Yi-Dan Zhou , Linhua Wang , Xuli Tang , Juxiu Liu
Ipomoea pes-caprae has potential ecological restoration value as a salt- and drought-tolerant pioneer plant, while fewer studies on its environmental and physiological adaptations in different habitats. Here, we selected I. pes-caprae populations from Sansha (coral soil, CS) and Huizhou (sandy soil, SS), measured key physiological and ecological characteristics, and explored the mechanism of its adaptation. The results showed that the leaf water content and the δ13C of I. pes-caprae in the CS habitat were significantly lower than those in SS, indicating that it adapted to the arid environment by improving water use efficiency. The carbon and nitrogen contents of I. pes-caprae leaves in the SS habitat were significantly higher than CS, while phosphorous content was lower. I. pes-caprae leaves from the CS habitat had a higher soluble sugars and non-structural carbohydrates content, suggesting that they may enhance stress tolerance by accumulating osmoregulatory substances. Still, its higher malondialdehyde content and lower superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities indicated that it may be subjected to stronger oxidative stress. In contrast, I. pes-caprae from SS habitats exhibited a stronger antioxidant system. I. pes-caprae in the CS habitat had lower chlorophyll content and higher carotenoid accumulation, suggesting that they may reduce high light damage by lowering photosynthetic activity, whereas SS habitat had higher photosynthetic capacity. In summary, I. pes-caprae in CS habitats adapted to arid, infertile, and hypersaline environments mainly through water conservation, osmoregulation, and reduced photosynthetic activity, whereas SS habitats relied on higher nutrient utilization efficiencies, photosynthesis, and antioxidant systems to maintain rapid growth.
{"title":"Differences in physiological and ecological adaptations of Ipomoea pes-caprae in sandy beaches and coral islands","authors":"Xu Li , Zhipeng Li , Zhiyuan Shi , Ting Wu , Guopeng Wu , Han Sheng , Shu-Yi-Dan Zhou , Linhua Wang , Xuli Tang , Juxiu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ipomoea pes-caprae</em> has potential ecological restoration value as a salt- and drought-tolerant pioneer plant, while fewer studies on its environmental and physiological adaptations in different habitats. Here, we selected <em>I. pes-caprae</em> populations from Sansha (coral soil, CS) and Huizhou (sandy soil, SS), measured key physiological and ecological characteristics, and explored the mechanism of its adaptation. The results showed that the leaf water content and the δ<sup>13</sup>C of <em>I. pes-caprae</em> in the CS habitat were significantly lower than those in SS, indicating that it adapted to the arid environment by improving water use efficiency. The carbon and nitrogen contents of <em>I. pes-caprae</em> leaves in the SS habitat were significantly higher than CS, while phosphorous content was lower. <em>I. pes-caprae</em> leaves from the CS habitat had a higher soluble sugars and non-structural carbohydrates content, suggesting that they may enhance stress tolerance by accumulating osmoregulatory substances. Still, its higher malondialdehyde content and lower superoxide dismutase and glutathione activities indicated that it may be subjected to stronger oxidative stress. In contrast, <em>I. pes-caprae</em> from SS habitats exhibited a stronger antioxidant system. <em>I. pes-caprae</em> in the CS habitat had lower chlorophyll content and higher carotenoid accumulation, suggesting that they may reduce high light damage by lowering photosynthetic activity, whereas SS habitat had higher photosynthetic capacity. In summary, <em>I. pes-caprae</em> in CS habitats adapted to arid, infertile, and hypersaline environments mainly through water conservation, osmoregulation, and reduced photosynthetic activity, whereas SS habitats relied on higher nutrient utilization efficiencies, photosynthesis, and antioxidant systems to maintain rapid growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"65 ","pages":"Article e04043"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925596","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04046
Lauren M. Wiseman-Jones , Diane Ishimwe , Winnie Eckardt , Tara S. Stoinski , Krista M. Milich
Human activities, including hunting within protected areas, are reshaping the spatiotemporal behavior of wildlife by creating anthropogenic landscapes of fear. In nonhuman primates, these landscapes can drive flexible alterations in movement that reflect adaptive responses to perceived risks. However, given the rapid pace of anthropogenic change, it remains unclear whether behavioral flexibility is adequate for survival. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, are vulnerable to entrapment in snares set by human communities hunting other species to sustain their livelihoods. In this study, we investigated how the ranging behavior of eight gorilla groups changed in response to snare encounters, using GPS data collected between 2009 and 2024 to estimate site fidelity and revisit frequency, and data from 2023 to 2024 to calculate daily travel distances (DTDs). We applied generalized linear mixed models and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare each measure of space-use following encounters to baseline values. We found that snare encounters significantly influenced ranging patterns, with DTDs increasing by 55 % and site fidelity decreasing by 22 % following these events. Additionally, groups revisited encounter sites less frequently. These results demonstrate that gorillas have the capacity to flexibly alter ranging behavior to avoid the immediate risks associated with snare encounters. However, these encounters may have cascading negative effects on their fitness and survival. To mitigate the impacts of illegal activities, conservation efforts must also be flexible and monitor the effects of anthropogenic stressors on mountain gorillas while also addressing the underlying needs of communities adjacent to protected areas.
{"title":"Flexible changes in mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) ranging patterns in response to snare encounters","authors":"Lauren M. Wiseman-Jones , Diane Ishimwe , Winnie Eckardt , Tara S. Stoinski , Krista M. Milich","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human activities, including hunting within protected areas, are reshaping the spatiotemporal behavior of wildlife by creating anthropogenic landscapes of fear. In nonhuman primates, these landscapes can drive flexible alterations in movement that reflect adaptive responses to perceived risks. However, given the rapid pace of anthropogenic change, it remains unclear whether behavioral flexibility is adequate for survival. Mountain gorillas <em>(Gorilla beringei beringei)</em> in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, are vulnerable to entrapment in snares set by human communities hunting other species to sustain their livelihoods. In this study, we investigated how the ranging behavior of eight gorilla groups changed in response to snare encounters, using GPS data collected between 2009 and 2024 to estimate site fidelity and revisit frequency, and data from 2023 to 2024 to calculate daily travel distances (DTDs). We applied generalized linear mixed models and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare each measure of space-use following encounters to baseline values. We found that snare encounters significantly influenced ranging patterns, with DTDs increasing by 55 % and site fidelity decreasing by 22 % following these events. Additionally, groups revisited encounter sites less frequently. These results demonstrate that gorillas have the capacity to flexibly alter ranging behavior to avoid the immediate risks associated with snare encounters. However, these encounters may have cascading negative effects on their fitness and survival. To mitigate the impacts of illegal activities, conservation efforts must also be flexible and monitor the effects of anthropogenic stressors on mountain gorillas while also addressing the underlying needs of communities adjacent to protected areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"65 ","pages":"Article e04046"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925844","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 : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04031
Haoxiang Han , Chi Zhang , Hongchi Li , Lin Wang , Bo Ma
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Community structure characterization and diversity analysis of Schizothoracinae in four important tributaries of the middle Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet plateau, China: Facing crisis and conservation significance” [Glob. Ecol. Conserv. 62 (2025) e03782]","authors":"Haoxiang Han , Chi Zhang , Hongchi Li , Lin Wang , Bo Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e04031","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"65 ","pages":"Article e04031"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973019","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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