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Pest‐regulating natural enemies often require crop and non‐crop habitats to persist and be effective. These habitats offer hibernation sites, alternative prey or floral resources but can also be complementary in when they provide resources. The relative contribution of these different habitats to the performance of pest‐regulating insects is largely unknown, since it is difficult to study empirically. Landscape‐based population‐dynamical modelling can fill this research gap. In this study, we modelled the dynamics of predatory hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphinae) and their aphid prey in a collection of habitats. These hoverflies are dependent on different habitats for different reasons. While their larvae predate on aphids, adult hoverflies require floral resources. Resources are often segregated in different habitats. In addition, they are only temporarily available in any habitat type. In our model, hoverflies move between different habitats and select where to feed and where to produce off‐spring based on optimal foraging considerations. The model represents habitats common in arable landscapes and their temporal availability of resources is parameterized based on field observations. The model shows that effective pest suppression will only occur in the presence of at least three different habitats, including two crops that provide prey resources at different times of the year. A woody habitat with shrubs and trees provide aphid prey very early and late in the season, whereas an early crop and a late crop cover the period in between. In addition, these habitats need to provide floral resources in the same period as aphids, for example by flower strips in the margins of crop fields or blossoming trees or shrubs in the woody habitat. Under the model assumptions, the best pest suppression is obtained when the woody habitats take up 6% to 10% of the landscape. In addition to yearly population fluctuations, also bi‐ or multi‐yearly cycles may occur, depending on the composition of the landscape. Synthesis and applications. Our model shows when an agricultural landscape is ‘complete’ for natural enemies (and for effective pest control). For this, it needs to contain multiple habitats that supply floral and prey resources in different periods of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many mountain woodlands across the globe have undergone anthropogenic degradation with negative implications for the ecological and socioeconomic systems dependent on them. Montane willows are arctic‐alpine species of high nature conservation concern within the altitudinal treeline. Scotland has been pioneering the restoration of montane willow scrub for three decades following widespread loss linked particularly to overgrazing by sheep and deer since the eighteenth century. In the 1990s, the total area of montane willows throughout the country was less than 10 ha, with most remaining populations highly fragmented, in rapid decline, and restricted to inaccessible cliffs. Subsequently, montane willow scrub restoration has been part of an overall 2659 ha area managed for the recovery of mountain woodlands in Scotland. By May 2023, 396,868 montane willows were planted in projects encompassing large‐scale habitat creation, relict population reinforcement by genetic rescue, fencing, and landscape‐scale management for low‐density deer populations. This review summarizes restoration methods and outcomes with case study examples to promote conservation evidence and research on plant growth and survival, planting sites, associated biodiversity, molecular ecology, genomics, and long‐term population sustainability. With the potential for montane scrub restoration to be widely expanded, improved connectivity to revive a treeline mosaic shaped by regeneration will tackle biodiversity loss and help mitigate climate change impacts on a national scale. However, caution must be applied to creating definitions of distinct habitats for restoration that are based on non‐natural or ecologically degraded systems. These experiences are particularly relevant to montane and circumpolar regions with strongly modified landscape histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curbing global wildlife population declines will necessitate the protection of their habitat, and subsequent robust baseline information about wildlife that use and occupy it. Collating such information, however, remains a challenging and costly endeavour. Little did we know that traces of wildlife presence float in the air and can be detected through traces of DNA. Here, we deployed samplers to test the applicability of collecting airborne eDNA for the detection of a threatened species, the koala, and its co‐occurring terrestrial mammalian community. We develop a novel species specific qPCR assay to detect the presence of koalas and applied this in concert with a meta‐barcoding approach to detect the co‐occurring mammalian community. Through sampling of airborne particles, we successfully detected koala presence accurately to habitat patch level, alongside 16 unique taxonomic assignments, successfully assigning 11 of these to species level including detections belonging to the wallaby, antechinus, members of possum family and invasive species such as foxes, domestic dogs and hares. Synthesis and applications: We demonstrate the potential of airborne eDNA for the detection of threatened terrestrial wildlife and their surrounding ecological community under natural conditions. With achievable optimisations we detail how airborne eDNA may be applied for the management and monitoring of threated species for enhanced conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the rediscovery of the critically endangered spiny butterfly ray in the Adriatic Sea, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced research and conservation efforts. The species, which has experienced substantial population declines, was recently found in Albania and Croatia, with potential nursery areas identified. The study highlights the importance of implementing strict protection measures, improving fishery management, and enforcing habitat preservation to safeguard the species and its critical habitats in the region. [Extracted from the article]

Applying science to conservation requires deliberate planning and action infrequently taught in academic settings. To illustrate impactful analysis and science communication, we describe scientific activities targeting the needs of land trusts, NGOs, landowners, and government agencies working to conserve the Florida Wildlife Corridor ("Corridor"). This 7.2 million hectare area is prioritized for habitat connectivity conservation in the US state of Florida. Our activities are built on decades of science guiding Florida land conservation. We quantified threats (e.g., average of over 14,000 ha of development/year from 2001 to 2019) and socio‐ecological benefits of Corridor conservation, prioritized yet‐to‐be‐conserved Corridor areas, produced and shared a new statewide connectivity model, and convened groups to identify campaign science needs. The new connectivity model—the Florida Circuit Model—supported the geography of the Corridor, as designated, and facilitates local (10 km radius, or less) conservation planning. Our efforts have contributed to allocation of over $2 billion for land conservation and the permanent protection of over 82,000 ha within the Corridor by state agencies from June 2021 to March 2024. Targeting science to outreach and policy, planning, and management decisions can motivate public, media, researcher, and government support for land conservation, improve conservation interventions, and attract research funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding what influences species and trait composition is critical for predicting changes in communities driven by landscape transformation.We explored how life‐history traits are associated with the persistence of mammal species in human‐dominated habitats within the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. We combined data from a camera trap study and a local ecological knowledge‐based survey in an integrated occupancy model to analyse species occurrence along a gradient of anthropogenic landscape transformation.Results confirmed that mammal occurrence in human‐modified habitats was related to specific life‐history traits. Species with more specialist diets, as well as larger body mass species were more likely to stay in protected areas. Species with slow reproductive strategies occupied more natural areas.Combining different monitoring methods enabled us to increase spatial coverage and mammal sighting numbers. This approach fostered research participation by various stakeholders, an important step for co‐designing wildlife‐friendly anthropogenic spaces.Synthesis and applications. Integrating data from a standard ecological protocol and structured participatory citizen knowledge allowed us to identify the species functional traits associated with mammal species occurrence in anthropogenic landscapes at a local scale. These results advocate for wisely combining methods and will guide conservation‐orientated land‐use planning towards the protection of natural habitats in the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve. This methodological approach will enable managers and conservationists to use data obtained from diverse protocols and should catalyse the involvement of citizens in biodiversity monitoring and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many effects of forest fragmentation are reasonably well understood, knowledge of interspecific interactions in fragmented ecosystems is much more limited, particularly for high diversity tropical forests. Using nearly 40 years of data from the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in Central Amazonia, we assessed whether forest fragment area and time since isolation impact mutualistic interactions between frugivorous birds and their food resources. We used structural equation modeling to analyze the complex pathways between four main variables determining these interactions: fruiting tree abundance, frugivorous bird abundance, forest fragment area, and time since fragment isolation. Our results confirm that fragment area alters the abundance of some tree resources, with successional plant families increasing in abundance with decreasing fragment size. However, these changes do not drive alterations in the abundance of frugivorous birds. We also tested if bird species with a greater relative diet breadth are less vulnerable to forest fragmentation and found that specialist frugivores are more vulnerable to forest fragmentation immediately after isolation but are not differentially impacted within the long term. Collectively, our results demonstrate the need to further evaluate human‐driven habitat change across multiple timescales to fully understand its impacts on complex species interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of compensatory stream mitigation projects conventionally relies on spatially discrete geometric data and habitat assessments collected from representative reaches. Project success is evaluated by extrapolating site‐scale metrics such as rapid bioassessment protocol (RBP) scores and time‐series changes in width‐to‐depth ratios to adjacent reaches. For example, an excellent RBP score at one location is used to infer excellent habitat in nearby reaches. This paper compares spatially discrete and continuous monitoring data from 38 km of restored stream length on a stream mitigation project in central Kentucky to document how conventional site‐level metrics may not represent conditions in adjacent reaches, particularly on projects plagued by post‐construction geomorphic instability (e.g., headcut migration, propagation of bank erosion, and chute cutoff formation). Over a 5‐year monitoring period, rapid visual assessment walkabouts documented project‐scale geomorphic process trajectories that were not captured by conventional site‐specific monitoring. Early detection of geomorphic instability from this rapid monitoring approach facilitated cost‐effective and tailored adaptive management (e.g., planting of live stakes to arrest bank erosion). Full‐census walkabouts can thereby help to improve mitigation credit valuation, enhance long‐term habitat protection, and facilitate successful steam restoration outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The persistence of large carnivore populations depends on their survival outside protected areas, where they often impact local livelihoods through livestock depredation. Understanding the impacts of human behaviour on large carnivores in shared landscapes is thus important but is often overlooked in habitat assessments or conservation planning. We employed an integrated approach that considers human behaviour and landscape structure metrics to assess the potential for human‐puma (Puma concolor) coexistence in the Chaco region, a global deforestation and defaunation hotspot. Location: Argentine Dry Chaco (~490,000 km2). Methods: We identified suitable puma habitat patches and movement areas using occupancy modelling and combined it with a spatial human‐puma conflict risk model based on interview data to identify 'safe' and 'unsafe' habitat patches. We then used resistance surfaces to identify 'safe' and 'unsafe' movement areas, as well as 'severed' movement areas where anthropogenic land conversion inhibits movement. Results: Safe puma habitat patches (i.e., suitable and safe) covered 29% of the region, whereas attractive sinks (i.e., suitable but risky) represented 12%. Movement areas corresponded to 60% of the region, while conflict risk and high landscape resistance undermined connectivity: unsafe and severed movement areas covered 10% and 11% of the region, respectively. Nearly 98% of safe habitat and movement areas occurred outside protected areas. Main Conclusions: We provide an integrated conceptual framework and spatial explicit template for a three‐pronged conservation strategy to (1) protect safe habitat and movement areas, (2) mitigate livestock depredation in attractive sinks and unsafe movement areas and (3) restore landscape in severed and matrix areas to improve ecological connectivity. This would allow pumas to maintain viable populations while reducing negative impacts on local people. More generally, we show how integrating habitat and conflict risk models can reveal opportunities and challenges for human‐carnivore coexistence beyond protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ungulate species in Africa range in habitats that vary in type and quality over space and time, but ongoing environmental change is substantially altering their habitats. Identifying key environmental variables that regulate ungulate population densities can guide management actions for effective conservation. We studied the local population density responses of a community of sympatric ungulate species in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania, to a suite of environmental factors that vary over space and time, to quantify population trends, determine the primary environmental correlates of densities, and identify covariation in densities among species. We estimated seasonal densities of five commonly detected species (impala, dik–dik, Grant's gazelle, eland, and waterbuck) based on 7 years of distance‐sampling data from 41 replicate surveys of 237 line transects. We systematically analyzed the effects of spatial, seasonal, and annual environmental covariates on variation in transect species‐specific densities across space and time. Large fluctuations in climatic factors mediated highly synchronous temporal density variation among all species. We documented more spatial than temporal variation in four of the five species, suggesting that spatial heterogeneity may provide some buffer against temporal variation in the environment. Protection of sufficient habitats and water sources should allow ungulates to respond to a temporally changing world by moving across space. Further, among‐species covariation patterns identified two potential ungulate guilds (impala—dik–dik—waterbuck; eland—Grant's gazelle) that should aid in developing efficient and coordinated management actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When designing restorations for durable metapopulations of endangered butterflies, it is important to understand how frequently the adults mix between sites and their probability of colonising vacant patches unassisted by human translocations. We analysed 43 examples of natural dispersal by Phengaris arion L. to restored sites in three regions following its reintroduction after extinction to the UK. We compared the years taken to reach restored habitats with the distance from a source colony, the number and density of P. arion on source sites, the size of source sites, the nature of the intervening matrix, summer temperatures, the incidence of drought and whether a more dispersive phenotype has evolved across restored landscapes. Isolation of sites was the most important constraint on the colonisation of new habitats, followed by the number, but not the density, of P. arion on source sites. Emigration was more frequent in warm summers and when the habitat was degraded by drought, but neither factor remained significant in multifactorial analyses. A matrix of woodland between sites was a greater barrier to dispersal than open or mixed terrain, but again insignificant in multifactorial analyses. A more mobile phenotype of P. arion has evolved while it exploited vacant habitat patches during its first 10–12 generations in the UK. Adults now fly twice as far to find new colonies as in the early years. We map the probabilities of linking restored sites with neighbouring populations in three former landscapes in the Cotswold Hills of Gloucestershire, UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have been calling for further analysis of the relationships between academia and policy making. Since several studies are conducted with resources from public funding agencies, it is essential to assess whether governments have been supporting research that can contribute to future environmental policies and whether research has been supporting the elaboration of public policies. To fill these gaps, the objective of this study was to evaluate the similarities and gaps between research and environmental policies. A bibliometric analysis of studies funded by Chilean agencies and text analytics techniques were employed to analyze research and environmental policies. We used BERTopic, a topic modeling technique that generates coherent topic representations. Then, topics obtained from the two sets of documents (research and policies) were compared. This study found that sustainability, life‐cycle assessment, climate change, and ecosystem services are central research themes in the country. The topic modeling analysis showed that research has been concentrated on the areas of “Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management” and “Sustainable Bioenergy Production and Chemical Processes.” The topics most frequently present in the environmental policies were “Environmental Education for Children: Awareness and Care,” “Bird Conservation and Habitat Importance in Chile,” and “National Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Strategy.” The greatest gaps are observed in the clusters of “Sustainable Bioenergy Production and Chemical Processes” and “Copper Mining and Mineral Processing Techniques” (prevalent in research) and in “Anatomy and Physiology of Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms” and “Biogeography and Taxonomy of Southern Hemisphere Insects” (prevalent in policy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about species' locations can influence what happens to them—from supporting habitat protection to exposing poaching targets. Debate about releasing locations when new species are found highlights the trade‐off between the risk of loss and the benefits of funding and public support. No research so far has collected data on how such decisions are made, and no decision tools easily compare a range of decision‐making scenarios. Here, we present a method to compare the costs and benefits of decisions about the disclosure of information about newly discovered species and populations. We implement our method for seven species where information is completely or partially secret. We ask decision‐makers to estimate the costs and benefits associated with these case studies and apply our method. Results show a range of implications from choices that are always better, to others that depend on risk attitude, and demonstrate that the process of decision‐making can be transparent and easily communicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the present study, the phylogeography of the wetland specialist, freshwater crab, Potamonautes flavusjo, was investigated and compared to that of the ubiquitous, generalist, P. sidneyi, using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit one (COI). We inferred the evolutionary history of each species and compared their population‐level genetic structure by constructing haplotype networks and using an analysis of molecular variation. Additionally, we explored the evolutionary relationship between southern African lentic and lotic freshwater crab species by examining the usefulness of carapace attributes in relation to genetic indices and a species' assumed dispersal capacity. In the lentic species, P. flavusjo, a single interconnected haplocluster characterized by shared haplotypes was observed, suggesting marked maternal dispersal, a result corroborated by the low FST values. In contrast, for the lotic species, P. sidneyi two distinct haploclusters and marked genetic differentiation was observed indicating the absence of maternal dispersal, a result corroborated by the high FST values. The phylogenetic relationship in P. sidneyi was further investigated using a maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses with the addition of sequence data from the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus to estimate divergence times. Three species delimitation methods (ASAP, PTP, and bGMYC) were used to explore the presence of distinct lineages in P. sidneyi. The phylogenetic results indicated that within P. sidneyi two clades were present, while divergence time estimates suggest cladogenesis during the middle to late Pleistocene. The species delimitation methods used showed moderate congruence, however all oversplit the number of putative lineages. Our results indicated that P. sidneyi is a species complex comprised of two cryptic lineages, occurring in sympatry contemporarily possibly alluding to secondary contact. Carapace height was found to have no discernible influence on the genetic indices and presumed dispersal capabilities of mainland southern African freshwater crab species. The importance of our results are discussed in terms of conservation of freshwater habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful conservation of expanding large carnivore populations and management of human–wildlife conflict to promote coexistence requires sufficient spatiotemporal knowledge to inform appropriate action. In Canada, cougars (Puma concolor) are expanding their range eastwards and little research is available for use in decision making by land managers and conservation planners. To inform proactive management regarding 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. We then used a gap analysis to determine the effectiveness of existing formal protected areas to protect potential cougar habitat. Suitable habitat exists for range‐expanding cougars dispersing eastwards through the central and eastern provinces to the Atlantic coast. While the habitat is highly fragmented, the highest suitability occurs in areas of medium road density, indicating that the potential for new human–cougar conflict will likely involve residents of exurban and rural areas. Protected areas offered 16% coverage of suitable habitat, although most protected areas that overlap predicted cougar habitat are not large enough to effectively conserve the large home range requirements of cougars. Synthesis and Applications: High fragmentation of suitable habitat and the potential for human–wildlife conflict requires proactive management to ensure appropriately sized and connected areas are maintained for the establishment of expanding cougar populations. Many of the management actions intended to aid in the conservation of cougars and their habitat can also serve to mitigate potential human–cougar conflict arising as a consequence of an expanding population, such as highway wildlife crossing structures and formal habitat protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is exerting unprecedented impacts on marine habitats, and many sessile invertebrate species, such as the endangered giant clam Tridacna maxima, are particularly sensitive to climate driven changes in their environment. Understanding its spatial distribution and conservation requirements is of crucial significance in formulating effective protection strategies. However, the species has been extensively harvested and depleted in many regions, leading to its listing as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered effective conservation tools, it remains uncertain whether existing MPAs adequately protect these vulnerable giant clams. To enhance the management and conservation of this species, we employed a Species Distribution Models (SDMs) approach, integrating occurrence records of T. maxima with environmental variables, to predict its potential distribution based on habitat suitability and capture spatiotemporal changes. Based on geographical and genetic variations, the T. maxima in the Indo‐Pacific core region is primarily divided into two populations: the East Indian Ocean‐South China Sea population (EIOS) and the West Pacific‐Indonesia population (WPI). We first quantified realized niche to reveal significant differences in ecological niche space among different populations. Subsequently, SDMs were constructed at both species and population levels, demonstrating that population‐level SDMs provide more reliable predictions of population distributions due to differential responses to climatic predictor variables. Finally, we conducted an assessment to identify conservation gaps for T. maxima beyond the existing MPAs and proposed recommendations for future establishment of MPAs within the current framework. Based on these findings, appropriate conservation policies have been proposed to effectively protect the habitat of different geographical populations of T. maxima. Additionally, spatiotemporal predictions of habitat suitability provide crucial information for developing adaptive management strategies for T. maxima in response to climate change, including designing new protected areas and adjusting the location and extent of existing protected areas based on their geographical distribution. We employed a Species Distribution Models (SDMs) approach, integrating occurrence records of Tridacna maxima with environmental variables, to predict its potential distribution based on habitat suitability and capture spatiotemporal changes. In addition, we conducted an assessment to identify conservation gaps beyond the existing MPAs and proposed recommendations for the future establishment of MPAs within the current framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring lost or degraded wetlands is a major challenge in contemporary conservation. Understanding how wetland restoration and changes in hydrology affect wildlife is increasingly urgent for endangered species conservation. This is especially pertinent for the endangered Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus), whose range is almost entirely contained within one of the world's most iconic wetland systems, the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. We investigated how E. floridanus may respond to future hydrological and vegetation changes associated with current and planned Everglades hydrologic restoration efforts. We conducted acoustic surveys at 194 random points stratified across a restoration gradient (no hydrologic restoration, partial hydrologic restoration, full hydrologic restoration, and reference). Using generalized linear mixed models, we determined the most important predictors explaining variation in bat activity and foraging likelihood. Positive associations between bat activity and several hydrologic variables expected to increase with restoration (hydroperiod, water depth, distance to canals, and extent of freshwater forested wetlands, ecologically intact reference areas, and zones with full hydrological restoration) suggest that foraging habitat for this species will likely benefit from hydrologic restoration both in the near term (immediate increases in hydroperiod and water depth) and in the longer term (as freshwater forested wetlands expand). Our results inform immediate management decisions for this species and suggest the benefits of restoration for wildlife adapted to historically longer hydroperiods and greater water depths, which are anticipated to increase with the gradual return of natural hydrological regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Coralligenous reefs are the main marine bioconstructions in terms of spatial distribution within the Mediterranean basin. Two distinct reef morphologies can be distinguished based on the surface and topographical features of the seafloor: cliffs developing vertical slopes and banks found on gently steep or horizontal bottoms. Despite their importance for monitoring and conservation efforts, observations regarding the variability of biogeographical patterns are scarce. Here, we aimed to assess the differences in the composition and structure of these cliffs across ecoregions and estimate the relative role of abiotic environmental features, geographic location, and connectivity in shaping diversity patterns. Location: The study was carried out in the Central‐Western Mediterranean Sea. Samples were collected at 65 sites across the Algero‐Provençal Basin, the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Methods: We assessed the composition and structure of coralligenous cliffs through photographic samplings collected by scuba divers. Patterns in α‐ and β‐diversity were associated with 9 abiotic environmental variables, latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, and connectivity measures using Generalized Additive (GAM) and Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) models. Results: Coralligenous cliffs were primarily composed of algae and displayed a high degree of variability. The Partition Around Medoids (PAM) clustering method successfully delineated seven distinct clusters with a non‐uniform distribution within the studied ecoregions. The α‐diversity increased in eastern and northern sites and with phosphate concentration, while decreased with temperature, chlorophyll and nitrates concentration. β‐diversity at the site level increased with temperature, while it was negatively affected by northward current speed and chlorophyll concentration. Moveover, β‐diversity increased within connected sites. Main Conclusions: Coralligenous cliff diversity responds both to the physico‐chemical features of the habitat and between‐habitats connectivity. However, our findings suggest that small‐scale abiotic and biotic processes could contribute to explaining the variability observed. These findings can significantly enhance the monitoring and conservation efforts of this Mediterranean endemic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of land‐use change, especially since the mid‐20th century, the area of semi‐natural (unimproved) grasslands has dramatically decreased. One way to counteract this process is to designate nature reserves. However, the effectiveness of nature reserves is controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate the environmental drivers of species richness and biomass of Orthoptera (hereinafter termed ‘grasshoppers’) in grasslands inside nature reserves and within the intensively used agriculture landscape (hereinafter termed ‘wider countryside’). For this purpose, we sampled the grasshoppers at the landscape scale in 45 randomly selected plots. Each plot had a size of 5 ha. The abundance of grasshoppers, as a basis for the biomass calculation, was recorded at the habitat scale in 20 meadow patches (500 m2 each). In addition, various environmental parameters such as habitat diversity, mowing intensity and vegetation structure were determined at the landscape and habitat scale. Our results illustrate the importance of nature reserves for the conservation of grasshoppers. Control plots in the wider countryside harboured fewer species than plots within nature reserves. The differences were even clearer among threatened species. On average, plots in nature reserves had almost twice as many threatened species than control plots in the wider countryside. The comparison revealed similar patterns at the habitat scale: both the number of species and biomass were higher in nature reserves. At the landscape scale, number of species were best explained by the amount of wet grassland and habitat diversity. We identified mowing intensity and to a lower extend the degree of drainage as the key drivers of species richness and biomass at the habitat scale. Synthesis and applications: To preserve biodiversity in nature reserves, we recommend (i) leaving uncut refuges during mowing and (ii) blocking drainage to stabilise the water level. Both measures contribute to a high species number and abundance of grasshoppers and many other insects. An effective conservation measure to promote species richness in the wider countryside would be to increase habitat diversity. This can be done by creating or restoring fallow islands, field margins, fringes and hedgerows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of fragmentation per se on biodiversity is hotly debated, with evidence of negative, neutral, or even positive effects after controlling for habitat amount. Principles from this debate are often used to inform biodiversity conservation in remnant habitat fragments but are rarely considered in a restoration context. Habitat restoration is essential to work alongside conservation and reverse biodiversity declines. Although restored habitats vary along a similar fragmentation gradient to remnant patches, the importance of different processes likely varies. Communities in remnant patches are largely determined by existing populations, while communities in restored patches are shaped by colonization from nearby populations. We illustrate how fragmentation per se can have variable outcomes for biodiversity depending on whether habitat is conserved or restored. The fragmentation debate, in its current form, has limited application for restoration ecology, and we emphasize the need for ecologists and conservationists to consider the directionality of the fragmentation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the significance of understanding fish habitat ecology in a changing climate and its implications for fisheries stability and ecosystem health. It emphasizes the need for diverse approaches, such as field observations, laboratory experiments, genomics, telemetry, and modeling, to quantify fish habitat needs. The integration of data on fish movement, connectivity, and food webs is crucial for predicting future fish distributions and informing management and conservation efforts. The article also discusses the various stressors faced by fish populations, including warming, hypoxia, and habitat loss, which have led to shifts in fish distributions. Accurately predicting fish population responses to environmental change requires data from various disciplines. The text highlights the importance of building social connectivity and communication between academia, stakeholders, managers, and policymakers for effective fish and habitat management. It emphasizes the need for long-term food security and sustainable fishing practices, as well as the concept of "One Health" to ensure the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The article concludes by expressing pride in hosting the 2023 FSBI Symposium and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and engaging the public in fisheries science. [Extracted from the article]

The development of hydroelectric projects has adversely affected the reproductive activities of downstream fish species. To facilitate the natural reproduction of fish and restore spawning grounds post‐dam construction, it is imperative to explore the ecological factors crucial for their reproduction. Currently, various research methods with different advantages and limitations are employed for this purpose. Using identified spawning locations and periods as clues, we quantitatively investigate the flow velocity, water depth, water temperature, and riverbed substrate required for spawning. The results are validated using habitat simulation methods, aiming to establish a more scientific approach to explore ecological factors affecting fish reproduction. This study provides a more scientific, systematic, and detailed report on the ecological factors required for the spawning of Gymnocypris eckloni: flow velocity ranging from 0.19 to 0.97 m/s, water depth from 0.28 to 1.12 m, water temperature between 11.4 and 15.2°C, and predominantly gravel substrate. The reliability of the results was verified in another spawning ground, with good verification results. This research provides crucial data for the bio‐mimetic reproductive technology of Gymnocypris eckloni and the restoration of spawning grounds for natural fish reproduction post‐dam construction. It addresses the lack of suitable ecological factor data for protective fish species in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The method exhibits strong scientific, accurate, and implementable characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although metacommunity theory provides many useful insights for conservation planning, the transfer of this knowledge to practice is hampered due to the difficulty of identifying metacommunities in bioregions. This study aims to identify the spatial extent of metacommunities at bioregional scales using current and historical habitat data, especially because contemporary biodiversity patterns may be a result of time‐lagged responses to historical habitat configurations. Further, this estimation of the metacommunity spatial extent is based on both the habitat structure and the dispersal ability of the species. Focusing on dragonfly and damselfly (odonate) species in the eastern Swiss Plateau, the research uses wetland habitat information spanning over 110 years to create a time series of nine habitat networks between 1899 and 2010. From these networks, we identified the spatial extents of metacommunities based on the year of habitat information as well as on watershed boundaries. To identify the best metacommunity spatial extents, the study investigates whether patch pairs within a metacommunity exhibit greater similarity in species composition (i.e. lower beta‐diversity) than patch pairs between metacommunities. For the different metacommunities, we further investigated correlations between gamma diversity and metacommunity size and compare them to theoretical expectations. In both analyses we found that augmenting spatial metacommunity identification with historical geographical proximity results in stronger associations with biodiversity patterns (beta and gamma diversity) than when using only current‐day habitat or watershed information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road verges can support high densities of flowers and could therefore provide new opportunities for the conservation of flower‐visiting insects. One way of optimizing road verges for vascular plant diversity is to adjust mowing regimes, but to date it is unclear how this affects flower‐visiting insects. Furthermore, for mobile organisms like wild bees and butterflies, there is a risk that the benefit of increased habitat quality in road verges is limited by the proximity to traffic, but this is poorly studied.In a crossed study design, we separated mowing time and frequency (early summer and autumn, or only late summer) from road verge habitat classification (valuable for biodiversity according to transport authority, or regular). We did so along a gradient of traffic intensity, to investigate if a mowing regime designed to enhance plant diversity can also benefit wild bees and butterflies, and if traffic limits the conservation potential of road verges.Road verges that were mown only in late summer had higher flower densities, and there was a positive relationship between flower density and wild bee abundance and species richness. Butterfly abundance and species richness only benefitted from a late summer mowing in valuable but not in regular road verges.Traffic intensity had a substantial negative impact on abundance and species richness of wild bees and butterflies. Higher traffic intensities limited the positive relationship between plant and butterfly species richness that we observed at lower traffic intensities. Increasing width of the road verges buffered negative effects of the traffic on wild bee as well as butterfly abundances, and on wild bee species richness.Synthesis and applications. Road verges can play a valuable role for the conservation of wild bees and butterflies, but there is a need to consider both traffic intensity and resource availability when implementing management strategies. To support wild bee and butterfly diversity, we recommend actions to enhance plant species richness and flower resource availability, and to focus these conservation efforts on roads with low traffic intensity, or on wide road verges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat loss is widely recognized as a primary environmental concern. By contrast, debates on the effects of habitat fragmentation persist. To facilitate overcoming these debates, here we: (i) review the state of the literature on habitat fragmentation, finding widespread confusion and stigma; (ii) identify consequences of this for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; and (iii) suggest ways in which research can move forward to resolve these problems. Confusion is evident from the 25 most‐cited fragmentation articles published between 2017 and 2021. These articles use five distinct concepts of habitat fragmentation, only one of which clearly distinguishes habitat fragmentation from habitat area and other factors ('fragmentation per se'). Stigmatization is evident from our new findings that fragmentation papers are more charged with negative sentiments when compared to papers from other subfields in the environmental sciences, and that fragmentation papers with more negative sentiments are cited more. While most empirical studies of habitat fragmentation per se find neutral or positive effects on species and biodiversity outcomes, which implies that small habitat patches have a high cumulative value, confusion and stigma in reporting and discussing such results have led to suboptimal habitat protection policy. For example, government agencies, conservation organizations, and land trusts impose minimum habitat patch sizes on habitat protection. Given the high cumulative value of small patches, such policies mean that many opportunities for conservation are being missed. Our review highlights the importance of reducing confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research. To this end, we propose implementing study designs in which multiple sample landscapes are selected across independent gradients of habitat amount and fragmentation, measured as patch density. We show that such designs are possible for forest habitat across Earth's biomes. As such study designs are adopted, and as language becomes more precise, we expect that confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research will dissipate. We also expect important breakthroughs in understanding the situations where effects of habitat fragmentation per se are neutral, positive, or negative, and the reasons for these differences. Ultimately this will improve efficacy of area‐based conservation policies, to the benefit of biodiversity and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the ecology of three threatened butterfly species on a 60 km2 site in Gotland, Southeast Sweden, using mark–recapture methods from 2017 to 2020. Nearly 30,000 captures were recorded, with average lifespans of 6 days for Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and Parnassius apollo (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) and 2 days for Phengaris arion (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Population size, density and maximum flight distances varied between species, with E. aurinia at 7.2 km, P. apollo at 6.4 km and P. arion at 2.5 km. Movement data showed the lognormal kernel fit better than gamma, negative exponential and half‐normal kernels for distance travelled per time unit across species and sexes. Generalised linear models revealed significant positive density‐dependent emigration and negative density‐dependent immigration in all three species. Despite available suitable habitats, these species face threats from limestone quarry expansions, agricultural intensification, modified forestry practices, natural succession and climate change, highlighting the need for proactive conservation and strategic habitat management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing human use of the marine environment increases the proximity of humans to marine wildlife and thus likely increases human–wildlife interactions. Such interactions influence perceptions of nature and promote or undermine conservation. Despite their importance, human–wildlife interactions are rarely considered in ecosystem‐based marine spatial planning (MSP). Ideally, these interactions should be identified and considered in ecosystem‐based management (EBM), which is often purported to be the basis for MSP. We used Marxan software and data from a citizen science project documenting location, species, age, sex, and activity type to identify regions along Israel's coast with a high probability of encounters between people and 2 species of guitarfish. We considered the geographic distribution of these encounters and the various activities undertaken by the reporting observers. We ran 4 scenarios in Marxan. Two had conservation goals of 30% and 50% guitarfish habitat protection. In the third and fourth scenarios, we added a 50% conservation goal of human leisure activities to each guitarfish conservation goal. We also conducted a gap analysis between our guitarfish conservation goals and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority's master plan for marine protected areas. We found the park authority was close to meeting the 30% goal but was far from meeting the conservation goal of 50% of guitarfish habitat conservation. Different human uses were more likely to interact with different life stages of guitarfish, and different recreational activities occurred in different areas. Identifying areas of specific human use showed which activities should be addressed in conservation management decisions. Our addition of certain recreational uses to the model of habitat conservation showed how enhancing human dimensions in conservation planning can lead to more holistic ecosystem‐based conservation necessary for effective marine planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare and threatened Heliosciadium repens grows in moist grasslands and has a distinct life cycle. Plants reproduce both clonally, although ramets tend to be short‐lived, and sexually, with seeds that can form a persistent soil seed bank. The germination requirements of H. repens were investigated, yielding important information for its habitat management and conservation. We examined the soil seed bank in three populations and carried out germination experiments and embryo growth measurements with fresh seeds in laboratory, greenhouse and outdoor conditions. We also investigated the effects of storage and burial of seeds. H. repens formed a long‐term persistent (>6 years) soil seed bank with very pronounced primary dormancy, but no secondary dormancy or dormancy cycles. Seeds can germinate throughout the growing season when temperatures are sufficiently high. Embryo growth and seed germination are triggered by light and, to a lesser extent, daily temperature fluctuations. Seeds of H. repens seem to have developed a unique germination syndrome with several strategies to remain dormant in the soil until optimal conditions are present for seedling establishment and survival. Both sexual reproduction and seed bank formation are crucial for the long‐term survival of the populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss and change are often implicated as the primary causes of species extinction. Although any population can be instantly imperiled by catastrophe, most habitat loss occurs gradually, thus enabling affected individuals an adaptive advantage to occupy the best of their dwindling opportunities. I demonstrate how to infer the advantage between two habitats for any density and frequency‐dependent strategy of habitat selection. I explore the concept of an Adaptive Dispersal Strategy Landscape to reveal the Evolutionarily Stable Strategy separately for ideal‐free and ideal preemptive habitat selectors. Both solutions reveal an initially counterintuitive expectation that individuals living at high density gain insufficient adaptive advantage to disperse from a deteriorating habitat. Adaptive dispersal is constrained at high density because habitats of better quality are fully occupied. I test the theory with measures of movement and foraging in crossover experiments on a seminatural population of meadow voles. The experiment allowed the voles to choose among patches and between enclosures in which I differentially manipulated food and shelter. Although photographs from an infrared camera documented voles venturing from one habitat to the other, none became resident. Voles preferentially foraged in the richer of the two enclosures, even when I reversed treatments, and they foraged more in patches protected by mulched straw. The adaptive advantage of dispersal using a surrogate fitness proxy based on the voles' giving‐up densities mirrored that generated by theory. The convergence between theory and experiment yields much‐needed insight into our ability to test, predict, and hopefully resolve, the ecological, evolutionary, and conservation consequences of habitat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the loss of biodiversity worldwide, understanding species distribution is essential for species management, but modelling the distribution of rare and poorly detectable species can be challenging because of data gaps and observer biases. Over‐ or under‐predictions are frequent, leading to uncertainty in spatial management measures, particularly for highly mobile and data‐poor species.Here we developed a 'Combined Model for Accurate Prediction' to accurately predict the distribution of data‐poor and rare species. This modelling framework aims to improve the accuracy of both predicted 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats, to help support managers with spatial protection measures. We tested the combined modelling approach on 11 data‐poor and rare diadromous fish during their at‐sea life history phase and used the combined model to analyse the adequacy of existing marine protected areas (MPAs) for these fish.The combined modelling approach modelled both 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats with high accuracy. Of the seven diadromous species modelled, most MPAs designated to protect diadromous fish are outside their core habitats. Furthermore, when their core habitat was within an MPA, only 50% of this area was designated to protect them. These results highlight inadequate protection of the existing networks of MPAs for protected and threatened species.Synthesis and applications. Being able to accurately model species distribution is critical to reliable and transparent biodiversity and conservation assessments. By modelling accurate 'core' and 'unsuitable' habitats with models that minimise omission and commission rates respectively, conservation measures could be targeted in specific spatial areas that maximise the protection of rare and poorly detected species. This method therefore helps minimise impacts on stakeholders, while providing managers with increased confidence in the model predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition for resources and space can drive forage selection of large herbivores from the bite through the landscape scale. Animal behaviour and foraging patterns are also influenced by abiotic and biotic factors.Fine‐scale mechanisms of density‐dependent foraging at the bite scale are likely consistent with density‐dependent behavioural patterns observed at broader scales, but few studies have directly tested this assertion.Here, we tested if space use intensity, a proxy of spatiotemporal density, affects foraging mechanisms at fine spatial scales similarly to density‐dependent effects observed at broader scales in caribou. We specifically assessed how behavioural choices are affected by space use intensity and environmental processes using behavioural state and forage selection data from caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) observed from GPS video‐camera collars using a multivariate discrete‐choice modelling framework.We found that the probability of eating shrubs increased with increasing caribou space use intensity and cover of Salix spp. shrubs, whereas the probability of eating lichen decreased. Insects also affected fine‐scale foraging behaviour by reducing the overall probability of eating. Strong eastward winds mitigated negative effects of insects and resulted in higher probabilities of eating lichen. At last, caribou exhibited foraging functional responses wherein their probability of selecting each food type increased as the availability (% cover) of that food increased.Space use intensity signals of fine‐scale foraging were consistent with density‐dependent responses observed at larger scales and with recent evidence suggesting declining reproductive rates in the same caribou population. Our results highlight potential risks of overgrazing on sensitive forage species such as lichen. Remote investigation of the functional responses of foraging behaviours provides exciting future applications where spatial models can identify high‐quality habitats for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species functional traits can influence seed dispersal processes and consequently affect species' role in the mutualistic network. Although the effect of animal traits on the structure of the seed dispersal network is well explored, it remains poorly understood how plant and fruit traits contribute to the structure. We here studied the effects of plant and fruit traits on the structure of bird seed dispersal networks across different disturbed habitats in the Meihua Mountain National Nature Reserve, Southeastern China. During the study period, 16, 20, 13, and 15 bird species were recorded foraging on 10, 11, 12, and 8 plant species, resulting in 511, 312, 265, and 201 foraging events in the protected forest, natural forest, village, and bamboo forest, respectively. The composition of these seed dispersal networks is not primarily influenced by a specific group of bulbul species, but rather by the presence of an endangered plant species, Taxus chinensis. As we expected, the structure of the four networks was different among the four disturbed habitats. Furthermore, our results also showed tree height and canopy density were the most important plant traits for structuring the seed dispersal network, while sugar, amylase, dry matter, and alkaloids were identified as significant fruit traits. Overall, our findings highlight the value of integrating trait‐based ecology into the framework of the seed dispersal network and provide new insights for mutualistic network conservation in disturbed habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Rice wild relatives (RWR) provide valuable genetic resources for modern rice breeding, yet knowledge gaps constrain their conservation and further utilization. To address these gaps, the potential distributions of 22 RWR taxa were modeled, and their conservation statuses were assessed. Most taxa were identified as medium priority for further conservation. Further ex‐situ collecting hotspots are in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, West Africa, and tropical Americas, while habitat protection lies in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, and West Africa. Climate change may shift equatorial habitats to higher latitudes and mountain habitats to higher altitudes. Summary: Rice wild relatives (RWR) provide valuable genetic resources for modern rice breeding. However, knowledge gaps on their geographic distributions and conservation status constrain their conservation and further utilization.To fill these critical gaps, we modeled the potential distributions of 22 RWR taxa under current climate scenarios, assessed their conservation status, both ex situ (in genebanks or botanical gardens) and in situ (in protected areas), and examined changes in taxa richness of RWR in predicted areas under future climate scenarios.The RWR were primarily distributed in tropical Asia to tropical Australia, tropical Africa, and South and Central America. We identified 4 out of 22 taxa as high priority (HP) for further conservation action and 18 taxa as medium priority (MP).Hotspots requiring further collecting for ex situ conservation are concentrated in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, West Africa, and tropical Americas. Meanwhile, habitat protection should be enhanced in Southeast and South Asia, Northern Australia, and West Africa. Under future climate change, suitable habitats near the equator are expected to shift toward higher latitudes and some in lower‐latitude basins may become unsuitable due to excessive heat, resulting in decreased taxa richness in these areas. Additionally, suitable habitats in high mountain areas may shift to higher altitudes, potentially augmenting taxa richness in the highlands. Our findings provide vital insights to guide future rescue conservation efforts for RWR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a central aspect of a species' ecology and having important conservation implications, the use of fine‐scale habitat features (microhabitats), and how they vary over time, are poorly known for most species. In this study, we leveraged 522 relocations of radio‐tracked mallee tree dragons (Amphibolurus norrisi) and painted dragons (Ctenophorus pictus) to investigate the effect of environmental and individual variables on microhabitat use. Mallee tree dragons were more likely to use trees on hot days and in the middle of the day (the hottest time of day), whereas shrub use was more likely on cool days and in the mornings. Painted dragons were more likely to use shrubs and grass trees on warmer days and during the middle of the day, whereas burrows were used during cooler days and in the mornings and afternoons. We expect these patterns represent animals moving from refuge resources, occupied during unsuitable thermal conditions, to microhabitats offering basking, foraging and social opportunities during periods of thermal optimum. Additionally, we found evidence of an ontogenetic shift, with larger mallee tree dragons favouring tree use and higher perches, suggesting a transition from shrub to tree use with age. Our findings underscore the need for diverse microhabitats to accommodate the thermoregulatory and ontogenetic requirements of lizards. These insights can inform conservation and habitat restoration efforts, ensuring the provision of essential microhabitats to support species persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat quality is a key expression of ecosystem ability and the basis for effective species conservation and regional ecological environment improvement. However, most studies have focused on assessing habitat quality over historical periods, ignoring the influence of coupled future development paths and climate change. The present study addresses this issue by developing a spatial‐temporal variation analysis framework for assessing habitat quality in China, which integrates the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model with eight Earth system coupled scenarios (SSP‐RCP). The results showed that from 2020 to 2100, and under five scenarios (SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, SSP4‐6.0, SSP5‐3.4, and SSP5‐8.5), habitat quality was generally stable and high, while under three scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SSP1‐2.6, and SSP4‐3.4), it decreased. The SSP2‐4.5 scenario was significantly better than the SSP4‐3.4 scenario. In all scenarios, the influences of different development patterns on China's ecologically fragile areas were obvious and serious. In 2030 and 2060, the spatial distribution patterns of habitat degradation and habitat quality had similar characteristics. High habitat degradation values were mostly distributed east of the Heihe‐Tengchong Line, while low values were mainly distributed in the arid zone. The mean habitat degradation ranged between 0.0226 and 0.0302, and the degradation degree was relatively light. The habitat quality index mean was 0.5120–0.5376, indicating that the overall habitat quality was at the medium level. This study provides a potential ecological protection baseline for China based on habitat protection and provides an important reference for China's sustainable development. Plain Language Summary: Habitat quality is a key expression of ecosystem ability and the basis for effective species conservation and regional ecological environment improvement. However, most studies have focused on assessing habitat quality over historical periods, ignoring the influence of coupled future development paths and climate change. The present study addresses this issue by developing a spatial‐temporal variation analysis framework for assessing habitat quality in China, which integrates the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model with eight Earth system coupled scenarios (SSP‐RCP). The results showed that from 2020 to 2100, and under five scenarios (SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, SSP4‐6.0, SSP5‐3.4, and SSP5‐8.5), habitat quality was generally stable and high, while under three scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SSP1‐2.6, and SSP4‐3.4), it decreased. The SSP2‐4.5 scenario was significantly better than the SSP4‐3.4 scenario. In all scenarios, the influences of different development patterns on China's ecologically fragile areas were obvious and serious. In 2030 and 2060, the spatial distribution patterns of habitat degradation and habitat quality had similar characteristics. High habitat degradation values were mostly distributed east of the Heihe‐Tengchong Line, while low values were mainly distributed in the arid zone. Key Points: We assess habitat quality in China under eight coupled scenarios of climate change and future development pathwaysThe overall habitat quality decreases under different scenarios from 2020 to 2100Climate change and different development patterns have the greatest impact on the ecologically fragile areas [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The East Asian finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri) distributes in coastal waters across the western Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Taiwan Strait to northern China, Korea and Japan. Limited baseline data are available for this threatened species, including the coastal region of Qingdao, China, hindering the implementation of conservation management.The Oceanographic characteristics were derived from on‐board measurements and satellite remote sensing, including depth, slope, sea surface temperature (SST), salinity and chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration. Kernel density estimation (KDE) was utilized to determine the extent of occurrence and core distribution of East Asian finless porpoises.The surveys covered an area of 4532 km2, encompassing 7314 km of transect lines. The 95% KDE and 50% KDE for East Asian finless porpoises within the study site included 1987 and 297 km2, respectively. The 50% KDE revealed Laoshan Bay as the core distribution zone. Significant relationships were identified between distribution probability and three oceanographic variables: salinity, Chla concentration and distance to shore.In this study, the Aoshan Bay Marine Park, which was designed with no prior knowledge of East Asian finless porpoise, shows partial overlap with the core distribution for this species. This demonstrates that MPAs (marine protected areas) that are not explicitly designated for marine mammals may not comprehensively address all their specific requirements, but the existence and conservation endeavours associated with the MPAs can still yield substantial positive outcomes for these species. 5. This study provides the inaugural comprehensive baseline data on the population distribution and habitat characteristics of the East Asian finless porpoise. It underscores the necessity for a robust data collection protocol spanning China, Japan and Korea to address the critical shortfall in baseline data and enhance conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banteng (Bos javanicus) is listed as an endangered species because of a global population decline of at least 50% over the last 25 years. The Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM) of Thailand has been identified as a priority site for banteng population recovery, and Huai Kha Keang Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) is the most important source site for this species within the WEFCOM. We have provided evidence and discussed banteng dispersal from HKK to Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary (TYW). We sampled an area of 147 km2 in banteng habitat next to the border between HKK and TYW using camera traps. We divided the sampled area into four grid cells and placed camera traps during January to December 2022. We setup the camera traps near saltlicks and natural water sources, as important resources for banteng, to maximize capture probability. In total, 2835 trap days were obtained. Bantengs were captured in all seasons (RAI = 1.66), especially in dry dipterocarp forest, which contains the ground forage availability for banteng, and the low‐slope area with elevation 600–700 m adjacent to the border between HKK and TYW. The results highlighted that banteng, which had never been reported in TYW before, appeared there for the first time. They most likely dispersed from the population source in HKK and settled in a habitat that is considered suitable for them. The habitat management and protection are significant for the future recovery of banteng populations in the TYW and the rest of protected areas in the WEFCOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians and reptiles, especially the critically endangered Chinese alligators, are vulnerable to climate change. Historically, the decline in suitable habitats and fragmentation has restricted the distribution of Chinese alligators to a small area in southeast Anhui Province in China. However, the effects of climate change on range‐restricted Chinese alligator habitats are largely unknown. We aimed to predict current and future (2050s and 2070s) Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. We employed species distribution models, barycenter migration analyses, and the Marxian model to assess current and future Chinese alligator distribution and identify priority conservation areas under climate change. The results showed that the lowest temperature and rainfall seasonality in the coldest month were the two most important factors affecting the distribution of Chinese alligators. Future predictions indicate a reduction (3.39%–98.41%) in suitable habitats and a westward shift in their distribution. Further, the study emphasizes that suitable habitats for Chinese alligators are threatened by climate change. Despite the impact of the Anhui Chinese Alligator National Nature Reserve, protection gaps persist, with 78.27% of the area lacking priority protected area. Our study provides crucial data for Chinese alligator adaptation to climate change and underscores the need for improved conservation strategies. Future research should refine conservation efforts, consider individual plasticity, and address identified limitations to enhance the resilience of Chinese alligator populations in the face of ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline of honey bee populations significantly impacts the human food supply due to poor pollination and yield decreases of essential crop species. Given the reduction of pollinators, research into critical landscape components, such as floral resource availability and land use change, might provide valuable information about the nutritional status and health of honey bee colonies. To address this issue, we examine the effects of landscape factors like agricultural area, urban area, and climatic factors, including maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation, on honey bee hive populations and nutritional health of 326 honey bee colonies across varying landscapes in Mexico. DNA metabarcoding facilitated the precise identification of pollen from 267 plant species, encompassing 243 genera and 80 families, revealing a primary herb‐based diet. Areas characterized by high landscape diversity exhibited greater pollen diversity within the colony. Conversely, colonies situated in regions with higher proportions of agricultural and urban landscapes demonstrated lower bee density. The maximum ambient temperature outside hives positively correlated with pollen diversity, aligning with a simultaneous decrease in bee density. Conversely, higher relative humidity positively influenced both the bee density of the colony and the diversity of foraged pollen. Our national‐level study investigated pollen dietary availability and colony size in different habitat types, latitudes, climatic conditions, and varied levels and types of disturbances. This effort was taken to gain a better insight into the mechanisms driving declines in honey bee populations. This study illustrates the need for more biodiverse agricultural landscapes, the preservation of diverse habitats, and the conservation of natural and semi‐natural spaces. These measures can help to improve the habitat quality of other bee species, as well as restore essential ecosystem processes, such as pollination and pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to describe shifts in autumn and winter harvest distributions of three species of dabbling ducks (blue‐winged teal [Spatula discors], mallard [Anas platyrhynchos], and northern pintail [Anas acuta]) in the Central and Mississippi flyways of North America during 1960–2019. We measured shifts in band recovery distributions corrected for changes in hunting season dates and zones by using kernel density estimators to calculate 10 distributional metrics. We then assessed interannual and intraspecific variation by comparing species‐specific changes in distributional metrics for 4 months (October–January) and three geographically based subpopulations. During 1960–2019, band recovery distributions shifted west‐ and southwards (blue‐winged teal) or east‐ and northwards (mallard and northern pintail) by one hundred to several hundred kilometers. For all three species, the broad (95% isopleth) and core distributions (50% isopleth) showed widespread decreases in overlap and increases in relative area compared to a 1960–1979 baseline period. Shifts in band recovery distributions varied by month, with southward shifts for blue‐winged teal most pronounced in October and northward shifts for mallard and northern pintail greatest during December and January. Finally, distributional metric response varied considerably among mallard subpopulations, including 2–4‐fold differences in longitude, latitude, and overlap, whereas differences among subpopulations were minimal for blue‐winged teal and northern pintail. Our findings support the popular notion that winter (December–January) distributions of duck species have shifted north; however, the extent and direction of distributional changes vary among species and subpopulations. Long‐term distributional changes are therefore complex and summarizing shifts across species, months, or subpopulations could mask underlying finer‐scale patterns that are important to habitat conservation and population management. A detailed understanding of how species distributions have changed over time will help quantify important drivers of species occurrence, identify habitat management options, and could inform decisions on where to focus conservation or restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Spiranthes spiralis (autumn lady's tresses) is illustrated here (Plate 1101). It is a widespread, mostly temperate European species, extending in south‐western Asian and North Africa. A detailed description is provided, with notes on cytology, habitat and conservation status. Advice on cultivation is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent international agreements have strengthened and expanded commitments to protect and restore native habitats for biodiversity protection ("area‐based biodiversity conservation"). Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation is hindered because how such commitments should be implemented has been strongly debated, which can lead to suboptimal habitat protection decisions. We argue that, despite the debates, there are three essential principles for area‐based biodiversity conservation. These principles are related to habitat geographic coverage, amount, and connectivity. They emerge from evidence that, while large areas of nature are important and must be protected, conservation or restoration of multiple small habitat patches is also critical for global conservation, particularly in regions with high land use. We contend that the many area‐based conservation initiatives expected in the coming decades should follow the principles we identify, regardless of ongoing debates. Considering the importance of biodiversity for maintenance of ecosystem services, we suggest that this would bring widespread societal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ecological and genomic attributes of populations can provide two orthologous perspectives on the biological profiles associated with local adaptation. The ability of organisms to track suitable habitats (ecological adaptability) and of populations to shift allele frequencies (adaptive potential) are prerequisite for population sustainability. Aims: Many contemporary populations are threatened by habitat loss (ecological vulnerability) and a lack of adaptive potential (evolutionary vulnerability). Technical advances provide new opportunities to address these challenges in biological conservation: Future habitat shifts can be predicted by ecological niche modelling and adaptive genetic diversity can be discerned using genome sequence data. Together, these two approaches illuminate the local adaptation profile and help identify the environmental and genomic conditions that should maximize evolutionary fitness. Materials and Methods: Here, we reviewed the primary literature to identify key studies that utilize both whole‐genome resequencing (WGR) and ecological niche modelling (ENM) in an effort to envisage future research directions that may benefit conservation efforts. Results: We identified ways to integrate different approaches, such as ENM‐informed adaptive genomics and adaptive genomics‐informed ENMs, that can be used to delineate and conserve local adaptation profiles. Discussion: Integrative approaches can identify adaptive characteristics, vulnerable populations subject to environmental changes, and the patterns of local adaptation from geographic and genomic analyses. We discuss future research directions, limitations and their potential solutions with suggestions for collaborative workflows. Conclusion: The integration of WGR and ENM is promising with their continuous advancement. An integrative approach can be used to evaluate eco‐evolutionary attributes, at both organismal and molecular levels, that can be used to help conserve local adaptation profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss is affecting many species, including the southern mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) population in western North America. Over the last half century, this threatened caribou population's range and abundance have dramatically contracted. An integrated population model was used to analyze 51 years (1973–2023) of demographic data from 40 southern mountain caribou subpopulations to assess the effectiveness of population‐based recovery actions at increasing population growth. Reducing potential limiting factors on threatened caribou populations offered a rare opportunity to identify the causes of decline and assess methods of recovery. Southern mountain caribou abundance declined by 51% between 1991 and 2023, and 37% of subpopulations were functionally extirpated. Wolf reduction was the only recovery action that consistently increased population growth when applied in isolation, and combinations of wolf reductions with maternal penning or supplemental feeding provided rapid growth but were applied to only four subpopulations. As of 2023, recovery actions have increased the abundance of southern mountain caribou by 52%, compared to a simulation with no interventions. When predation pressure was reduced, rapid population growth was observed, even under contemporary climate change and high levels of habitat loss. Unless predation is reduced, caribou subpopulations will continue to be extirpated well before habitat conservation and restoration can become effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a study published in Global Change Biology, Dickie et al. examined the effects of climate and habitat alteration on white-tailed deer density. They found that both factors contribute to deer densities, but climate plays a particularly strong role. A critique by Barnas et al. raised concerns about data transformations and model overfitting, but Dickie et al. argue that these criticisms are unfounded or align with their original conclusions. They emphasize that management decisions must consider the impact of climate change, which is predicted to increase in the future, in order to address the decline of woodland caribou populations. [Extracted from the article]

River estuaries are influenced by terrestrial and marine areas, and have a unique environment that is constantly fluctuating. They are also important habitats for biodiversity conservation. Tanegashima Island is significantly influenced by the Kuroshio Current. Although nearby Yakushima Island has been recognized as a World Natural Heritage site and information on many species has been collected, there is little information on species inhabiting the river estuaries of Tanegashima Island. In this study, the river estuarine ichthyofauna of 26 small and medium‐sized rivers on Tanegashima Island was surveyed and a total of 2758 individuals of 29 species and one genus belonging to 15 families were collected. The fish fauna of the river estuaries of Tanegashima Island were classified into three groups, namely the river estuaries where coastal terraces are underdeveloped and drowned valleys are formed, the river group where the riverbed gradient at the mouth is high, and other river groups. Environmental factors selected as being important for ordination of fish fauna were the altitude of the headstreams at the watershed scale, the gradient of the river estuarine area, and the presence or absence of rapids in the estuary. The importance of the geohistorical factor of drowned valley formation, in addition to habitat and watershed scale environmental factors, as a factor on river estuarine fish fauna is an important finding for future conservation of local biota diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss and degradation are key drivers of the current biodiversity crisis. Most research focuses on the question of which traits allow species to persist in degraded habitats. We asked whether a species' trophic position or niche width influences the resilience of species in degraded habitats and to what extent habitat degradation affects trophic interactions between species. We used nitrogen isotope ratios (15N:14N, expressed as δ15N value) to quantify and compare trophic positions and niche widths of understory birds inhabiting old‐growth and young secondary forests in the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica. We found that a species' trophic position rather than its trophic niche width determined its persistence in secondary forests. Species feeding at lower trophic levels in old‐growth forests were less likely to persist in secondary forests than those occupying a higher trophic position in old‐growth forests. This pattern is likely induced by the occurrence of relatively large‐bodied habitat specialists with a flexible and high‐trophic level diet in secondary forests. These habitat specialists likely caused generalist bird species to lower their trophic position relative to conspecifics in old‐growth forests. Regarding trophic niche widths, species in secondary forests tend to have larger niche widths than old‐growth forest species. However, as old‐growth forest specialists and generalists did not differ in their niche widths, no systematic effect of trophic niche width on species persistence after forest disturbance was found. This is the first study that shows a systematic effect of trophic position on the persistence of a wide range of bird species in a disturbed forest ecosystem. It therefore provides important insights into species' responses to habitat degradation and the conservation value of secondary forests. To improve habitat quality for old‐growth forest birds and facilitate avian seed dispersal, the creation of large contiguous forest patches should be prioritised when implementing reforestation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying factors that drive variation in vital rates among populations is a prerequisite to understanding a species' population biology and, ultimately, to developing effective conservation strategies. This is especially true for imperiled species like the golden‐winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) that exhibit strong spatial heterogeneity in demography and responds variably to conservation interventions. Habitat management actions recommended for breeding grounds conservation include timber harvest, shrub shearing, and prescribed fire that maintain or create early successional woody communities. Herein, we assessed variation in the survival of nests [n = 145] and fledglings [n = 134] at 17 regenerating timber harvest sites within two isolated populations in Pennsylvania that differed in productivity and response to habitat management. Although the overall survival of nests and fledglings was higher in the eastern population than the central population, this was only true when the nest phases and fledgling phases were considered wholly. Indeed, survival rates of nestlings and recently fledged young (1–5 days post‐fledging) were lower in the central population, whereas eggs and older fledglings (6–30 days post‐fledging) survived at comparable rates in both populations. Fledglings in the central population were smaller (10% lower weight) and begged twice as much as those in the eastern population, suggesting food limitation may contribute to lower survival rates. Fledgling survival in the central population, but not the eastern, also was a function of habitat features (understory vegetation density [positive] and distance to mature forest [negative]) and individual factors (begging effort [negative]). Our findings illustrate how identifying how survival varies across specific life stages can elucidate potential underlying demographic drivers, such as food resources in this case. In this way, our work underscores the importance of studying and decomposing stage‐specific demography in species of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a holistic approach to define a river corridor as the minimum space needed to sustain key river functions based on an understanding of the desired functions of that corridor and the processes governing channel and floodplain formation. Giving such space is a fundamental nature‐based solution to river management, as it allows the river to use its own energy to maintain flood conveyance and habitat function. The review of existing river corridor concepts shows that these often focus on one or two potential functions of a river corridor and may not be well suited as tools to optimize eco‐geomorphic river function. We argue that evaluating the effects of river corridor width on multiple processes can provide an objective means to optimize delineation in areas where development encroaches onto floodplains and channel migration zones. Key processes are linked to channel migration and include floodplain rejuvenation, emergence of a dynamic patch mosaic of riparian habitat that sustains a functioning large wood cycle, and effects of constriction and confinement on channel dynamics and morphology. Quantification of these processes for an example river shows the most rapid gains for habitat and flood protection values up to the threshold for planform‐controlled conditions and an asymptotically reducing rate of gain in function above that threshold. For the example river, the threshold width approaching that asymptote is substantially more than its constrained condition but much less than the width of the floodplain and channel migration zone, offering a compromise for managing rivers with developed floodplains. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterWater and Life > Nature of Freshwater EcosystemsWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest loss and overhunting are eroding African tropical biodiversity and threatening local human food security, livelihoods, and health. Emblematic of this ecological crisis is Africa's most endangered group of monkeys, the red colobus (genus Piliocolobus). All 17 species, found in forests from Senegal in the west to the Zanzibar archipelago in the east, are threatened with extinction. Red colobus are among the most vulnerable mammals to gun hunting, typically disappearing from heavily hunted forests before most other large‐bodied animals. Despite their conservation status, they are rarely a focus of conservation attention and continue to be understudied. However, red colobus can act as critical barometers of forest health and serve as flagships for catalyzing broader African tropical forest conservation efforts. We offer a plan for conservation of red colobus and their habitats and discuss conservation and policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]