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An Ohio University program that introduces botany students to field work sent a team to study Hawaiian species of violets and algae, endangered by invasive, imported plants. The situation of the native species relates to larger scientific and ecological issues because algae is the basis of the aquatic food chain, and violets adapt in unique ways to new environments. (TD)

Students prefer to classify creatures along the criteria of habitat and locomotion (method of movement). Discusses the educational consequences for biology instruction, particularly with regard to biological taxonomy, biodiversity, and evolution. (Contains 33 references.) (Author/YDS)

Describes the development and implementation of a web-based project, Walking With Wildlife, intended to encourage and enable first-hand encounters with the biodiversity of the natural world. (Contains 16 references.) (DDR)

Interest in ecological restoration is increasing. A pioneer in the field discusses the value of restoration projects; deciding what state of the landscape to restore; how to educate people about the importance of reintroducing species, especially large predators; why people are so willing to volunteer and sacrifice for restoration projects; and the spiritual side of ecological restoration. (TD)

Discusses alien species on the west coast, efforts to combat invasions, methods of transport, and educational projects developed to aid prevention efforts. Includes a list of marine invaders in the Pacific Northwest, plus threats from California and the Great Lakes. (PVD)

Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are a successful method of identifying priority areas for plant conservation. Assessment of IPAs, however, often relies on criteria related to species, while incorporation of habitats has been less consistent. Using Uganda as a case study, we test the application of the threatened habitat criterion—criterion C. We identified nationally threatened habitats using Red List of Ecosystems criteria and assess, for the first time, how differing application of thresholds under IPA criterion C can influence IPA network outcomes. Eleven threatened habitats were identified, with declines switching from predominantly forest to savanna types after the mid‐20th century. Significantly, we found current IPA guidance on use of criterion C needlessly limits the number of sites that qualify as IPAs. The “five best sites” IPA threshold is reserved for countries where quantitative data is unavailable; however, the application of the relevant percentage‐based thresholds to quantitative data largely generated fewer than five IPAs, comparably limiting conservation opportunities identified. We recommend, therefore, that the “five best” threshold is available for application on both qualitative and quantitative data. This will bolster the value of IPAs in conserving and restoring threatened and ecologically important habitats under the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity crisis is exacerbated by a growing human population modifying nearly three‐quarters of the Earth's land surface area for anthropogenic uses. Habitat loss and modification represent the largest threat to biodiversity and finding ways to offset species decline has been a significant undertaking for conservation. Landscape planning and conservation strategies can enhance habitat suitability for biodiversity in human‐modified landscapes. Artificial habitat structures such as artificial reefs, nest boxes, chainsaw hollows, artificial burrows, and artificial hibernacula have all been successfully implemented to improve species survival in human‐modified and fragmented landscapes. As the global shift towards renewable energy sources continues to rise, the development of photovoltaic systems is growing exponentially. Large‐scale renewable projects, such as photovoltaic solar farms have large space requirements and thus have the potential to displace local wildlife. We discuss the feasibility of 'conservoltaic systems' – photovoltaic systems that incorporate elements tailored specifically to enhance wildlife habitat suitability and species conservation. Artificial habitat structures can potentially lessen the impacts of industrial development (e.g., photovoltaic solar farms) through strategic landscape planning and an understanding of local biodiversity requirements to facilitate recolonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In these times of decreasing connection with nature, we are experiencing the loss of both biodiversity and cultural traditions. A sense of place, often developed over a period of time, grounds us and is the foundation of our caring about nature and the environment. To regain this sense of place, particularly in urban areas, empowerment and creation of civic engagement skills are necessary. Schoobio, a middle and high school curriculum, guides students through a transdisciplinary progression of activities that develop the competencies needed for making transformative sustainability change. The curriculum is designed to provide youth with the skills to live sustainably and value biodiversity and multiculturalism. The activities culminate in the students' design and presentation of a plan for more ecologically and bioculturally diverse school grounds. Biodiversity and culture are not usually taught together, even though the loss of biodiverse areas can also result in the loss of cultural knowledge and traditions critical to the management of those areas. Schoobio's foundation rests on bringing together these two facets of our being with the goals of supporting students in their actions as change agents to increase wildlife habitat and the cultural relevance of their school grounds, and to prepare them to live sustainably. This article describes the benefits of teaching biodiversity and culture together. It was developed using pragmatic constructivism as a foundation, and uses quantitative sampling to show how a transdisciplinary curriculum such as Schoobio that is place-based and informed throughout its creation by a community of practice can fulfill these benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionMethodsKey resultsConclusionsBased on previous analyses of Syntrichia norvegica and S. ruralis, the idea of panmictic populations in Scandinavia can be rejected, despite the high dispersal capacities of wind-dispersed spores. We tested, using comprehensive European datasets, whether intraspecific phylogeographical structure reflects glacial and post-glacial history. We expected different entities to indicate immigration from known Late Glacial Maximum refugial areas, and habitat differentiation.Using plastid markers (atpB–rbcL and rpl16), we investigated 45 and 190 Scandinavian and 17 and 15 non-Scandinavian specimens of Syntrichia norvegica and S. ruralis, respectively.We revealed four intraspecific entities in Syntrichia norvegica. Two were from the Scandinavian mountains and the Alps, and one from the Scandinavian mountains only. The fourth was widespread across the Scandinavian mountains, the northern lowlands, and the Baltic Sea islands Öland and Gotland. For S. ruralis, we recovered five entities, of which three were from both Scandinavia and the Alps. One of these occurred in strongly calcareous habitats in southern Scandinavia and the Alps and dominated on Öland and Gotland. One entity was widely distributed only in Scandinavia. One was restricted to the border between boreo-nemoral and southern-boreal Scandinavia.The plastid haplotype distribution patterns suggest glacial survival of Syntrichia norvegica and S. ruralis in refugia south, east and possibly within ice-covered areas of Scandinavia. We hypothesise that one S. ruralis entity evolved adaptations to strongly calcareous habitats. The dominance or prevalence of specific haplotypes of both species on Öland and Gotland contributes to the unique biodiversity of these islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptofauna are an overlooked faunal group due to their hidden nature and the use of conventional survey methods, despite playing a significant role in the ecosystem complex as keystone taxa. In this study, a structural framework, viz. cryptofauna monitoring structure (CMS) was developed to assess cryptofauna living in the lagoon reef environment and their preference to various substrates. The efficiency of CMS modules was tested by deploying them in coral lagoons in Agatti and Kavaratti of the Lakshadweep Archipelago, India. A total of 24 CMS units, sets of four, were deployed in these islands at live coral, dead coral and sandy habitat sites. Retrieval of CMS units revealed a total of 424 individuals of motile and sessile organisms representing 12 different taxonomic groups collected. Among the habitats, the sandy area had a high taxa number while the dead coral area had a high taxa abundance. Polychaetes and gastropods were the dominant faunal groups regardless of habitat and island. The present study suggests that CMS can be an efficient tool to assess cryptofauna diversity, which could make monitoring cryptobionts more affordable and environment-friendly. In addition, this study lays the foundation for research into cryptic reef benthos in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest Assisted Migration (FAM) emerges as a promising strategy of adaptation to climate change (CC) in the forestry sector. This method integrates various sources of knowledge to identify optimal locations for future tree species establishment through human intervention. As climate change presents numerous challenges to Quebec’s forests, including shifts in suitable habitats for tree species, the FAM recommends a proactive approach to adapt to these changes. Recognizing the importance of addressing risks and following international resolutions, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (COP21) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), social perception becomes a critical consideration in the decision-making process regarding FAM. To investigate this issue, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 key stakeholders in Quebec, including officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, employees of private forestry technical companies, forestry researchers, private forest owners, non-governmental organizations (NGO) members, and other forest stakeholders. We analyzed the data collected in this phase through thematic discrimination, focusing on (i) acceptability (ii) risk perception (iii) feasibility, and (iv) purpose. Then, we compared the discourses with data from other publications addressing the social aspects of FAM. To develop this reflection, we found it important to use a conceptual framework that encompasses the articulation among some concepts of intervention through FAM vs. non-intervention, public trust in government authorities, risk perception and scientific knowledge. The interviews revealed a general inclination among stakeholders to support FAM, dependent upon cautious implementation with pilot projects and studies serving as references for future large-scale applications. Concerns raised by stakeholders included seed production, adequate experimental monitoring, and careful species selection. While some stakeholders were more knowledgeable about current FAM research, others emphasized the importance of economic viability, public participation in decision-making, and transparency in forestry processes. We identified communication and public involvement as fundamental aspects for advancing the perspective of FAM implementation in Quebec; it is crucial to recognize the presence of humans in FAM target areas and their potential contributions to implementation. Moving forward, forest authorities responsible for FAM should prioritize stakeholder engagement at all levels to ensure a socially inclusive strategy of adaptation that respects a wide range of considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the ecosystem services across the entire Baltic Sea using ecosystem model simulations and historical socio-economic data. Our approach covers 150 years, aggregated for the years around 1880, 1960, and 2010. The ecosystem services assessed include commercially usable wild fish biomass and wild plant biomass, water quality regulation (nitrogen and phosphorus retention), carbon storage, biodiversity and habitats, as well as active recreation and landscape aesthetics. In 2010, the commercially usable fish biomass in the entire Baltic Sea was 9.24 million tons. The total retention of nitrogen in the Baltic Sea was 884,135 t/a, phosphorus retention was 32,058 t/a, and carbon storage was 3,668,100 t/a. Between 1880 and 2010, the Baltic Sea-wide average biodiversity index decreased from 73 to 60, the active recreational quality index decreased from 76 to 69, and the observational recreation index declined from 91 to 78. In 2010, the most monetarily significant single ecosystem service in the Baltic Sea was nitrogen retention with EUR 26,822 million/a, followed by cultural ecosystem services. Other relevant services were fish catches (EUR 277 million/a), phosphorus retention (EUR 3854 million/a), and carbon storage (202 million/a). The latter recently showed a steep increase due to rising prices for CO2 certificates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant communities are complex systems shaped by a combination of deterministic and stochastic ecological processes. Bryophytes are an essential component of plant diversity in natural ecosystems, yet our understanding of their community ecology needs to catch up to that of other organisms. The unique geological history, alpine climatic conditions, and high habitat heterogeneity of Tibet provide suitable areas for bryophytes to survive in the alpine regions. Therefore, field surveys were conducted across 184 plots in forest, thicket, and herbaceous vegetation of Tibet to investigate the role of deterministic processes such as biological interactions and abiotic effects, along with stochastic processes, in shaping the distribution of bryophyte assemblages. We employed various analytical methods, including mixed effects models, partial least squares path modeling, null model analysis, and neutral community models. The study showed that bryophyte richness was highest in forests. Bryophyte assemblages showed greater segregation in forest and thicket environments compared to herbaceous vegetation. As the influence of stochastic processes increased, that of deterministic processes decreased from forests through thickets to herbaceous vegetation. Deterministic processes were the main driving forces for the bryophyte assemblage pattern. Soil properties and climatic factors, particularly pH played a key role in determining bryophyte patterns in Tibet. This study has deepened our comprehension of how deterministic and stochastic ecological processes interplay and shape bryophyte distribution patterns in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of Lepidoptera was conducted in habitats including forest trails, nullah, forest gap, and small water bodies, in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and agroforest habitats at Nagri block in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh State between January 2020 and August 2022. The study recorded 95 species belonging to 69 genera. Erionota torus and Rathinda amor although common in the Indian mainland, were not documented by previous researchers. This indicates the necessity for a more thorough survey of Lepidoptera in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field surveys on large centipedes of Nui Chua National Park, south-central part of Vietnam, were conducted in September 2023 and February 2024. As a result, a total of 12 species/subspecies belonging to five genera and two families of the order Scolopendromorpha were recorded. Of two families, Scolopendridae has nine species in four genera, while Cryptopidae has only two species in one genus. In addition, the distribution pattern of the large centipedes is discussed based on the season (rainy versus dry), altitudes, and different habitats. [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]

Simple Summary: We used the line transect method and infrared camera traps to research the sable and yellow-throated marten in Taipinggou National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang, China, to understand the distribution and overlap of their habitats and niches. In our study, the results showed that the habitat suitable for sables was larger than that for yellow-throated martens and that there is a partial overlap in terms of the suitable habitat for both species. There was a high degree of niche overlap between the sable and yellow-throated marten, primarily influenced by four environmental variables, i.e., "Distance from Settlements", "Distance from Roads", "Slope", and "Distance from Coniferous and Broadleaved Mixed Forest". This study can offer valuable insights for the development of policies aimed at conserving and managing sables and yellow-throated martens. The global focus on fostering harmonious interactions and promoting rational coexistence among wildlife species to uphold or reinstate biodiversity remains a prominent area of interest. We conducted a study on the sable and yellow-throated marten in Taipinggou National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang, China, using the line transect method and infrared camera traps from 2022 to 2023. We then analyzed the overlap of their suitable habitats and niches with the aim of gaining insight into the interspecific competition between these two species. We found that the suitable habitat areas for the sable and yellow-throated marten were 55.20 km2 and 23.28 km2, accounting for 24.86% and 10.48% of the total area of this study, respectively. The overlap between the suitable habitats for the sable and yellow-throated marten was 15.73 km2, accounting for 28.5% and 67.6% of their suitable habitat, supporting our Hypothesis 1. The first principal component (Dim1) of the niche explained 35.4% of the overall variability, which is mainly related to the environmental variables "Distance from Settlements" and "Distance from Roads". Overall, 25.5% of the total variability was explained by the second principal component (Dim2), associated with "Slope" and "Distance from Coniferous and Broadleaved Mixed Forest". The niches occupied by the sable and yellow-throated marten were both off-center of the environmental background space, with the niches of the sable being larger than those of the yellow-throated marten. Schoener's D index was 0.56, indicating a high degree of niche overlap between the sable and yellow-throated marten, supporting our Hypothesis 2. Our study is helpful in terms of formulating conservation and management policies for the sable and yellow-throated marten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of habitat heterogeneity, which treats one of the global drivers of biodiversity, is valid for several taxonomic groups and distinct ecosystems, including subterranean environments. However, knowledge about the factors that influence the structure of subterranean communities remains limited, especially in Neotropical regions. We sought to understand the main drivers of invertebrate species richness and composition. For that, we compared the substrate elements of twilight and deep-cave zones and their associated invertebrate communities. Variations in habitat heterogeneity were significantly related to richness in the deep cave zone, but had no effect on the fauna associated with the twilight zone. The local heterogeneity enhanced the richness in the deep cave zone due to the increase in the number of available habitats and the effect on decreasing niche overlap. For communities' composition, the geographic distribution of caves explained the similarity between the twilight zone of different caves. Therefore, nearby caves have a more similar fauna in the entrance regions but conversely, exhibit a higher dissimilarity between communities associated with the deep-cave zone. This study highlights the influence of local habitat heterogeneity on the invertebrate communities associated with different zones of the cave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energies are a major tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Among renewables, solar parks are a key technology and their expansion will strongly increase in the future. Hence, there is a great need for research regarding their impact on biodiversity. In this study, we investigated the importance of three solar parks in northern Germany as habitat for carabid beetles. More specifically, we determined how habitat characteristics (temperature, vegetation structure), species richness, activity densities and carabid beetle assemblages vary between different locations within solar parks: areas under solar panels "UNDR", gaps between panel rows "BTW" and areas at the edge of solar parks "EDGE". We found that UNDR strongly differed from BTW/EDGE in terms of habitat conditions, species richness and activity densities of carabid beetles. UNDR mainly provided habitat for a species- and individual-poor subset of species already present in BTW/EDGE and made only a small contribution to the total species richness of the investigated solar parks. BTW and EDGE, on the other hand, differed only slightly. Thus, the narrow gaps between the panel rows were of similar importance as a habitat for carabid beetles as the edge areas. Overall, the investigated solar parks—and thus also the more species-rich areas EDGE and BTW—almost exclusively provided habitat for widespread and common non-threatened generalists, while species of conservation concern were extremely rare. Implications for insect conservation: The low importance of UNDR for carabid beetles should be considered when assessing the biodiversity value of solar parks, since a large proportion of these facilities is covered with solar panels. Between panel rows and at the edge of solar parks, larger areas should be kept free from construction with solar panels in order to provide habitats for carabid beetles and other species groups. More research should be conducted on how to further improve solar parks for carabid beetles and overall biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation science and planning, by measuring proxies of biodiversity and ecosystem services provision, aim to identify priority areas for nature conservation and ecosystem services. In Ireland, fine-scale data on ecosystems functioning and biodiversity are limited, making it challenging to map conservation value (CV) and natural capital value (NCV) accurately. We elicited expert knowledge to rank habitat classes mapped in the recently published National Land Cover Map (NLCM) (EPA and Tailte Éireann, 2023). A scoring system from 0 to 10 was used to score habitats based on their estimated provision of biodiversity (CV) and ecosystem services (NCV). As a case study, we applied this scoring system to a catchment in the south-east of Ireland (>2,000 km2) with land cover information available from the draft NLCM. The expert elicitation showed little overall difference between the scores assigned by the team and the experts invited to validate the CV and NCV scores. However, some scores were revised based on experts’ contributions. Results of the mapping exercise indicated a high correlation between monads with high CV and high NCV scores. Future work should focus on differentiating the weighting assigned to each ecosystem service associated with each land cover class. This could result in changes in the overall NCV scores assigned to each habitat (and monads). Nevertheless, the approach developed here has the potential to identify areas in the landscape that should be targeted for conservation. For reproducibility, we provide the R code for analysis at polygon scale.

Documenting floristic diversity, its natural history traits and habitat affiliation offers crucial insights for developing conservation strategies and management plans for regional biodiversity. In this study, we employed random sampling technique to investigate the floristic composition, natural history trait diversity and habitat distribution among 12 major forest types spread across an elevational gradient of 350–3450 m a.s.l. in the western Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir. We recorded 451 species belonging to 90 families in the study region, with herbaceous growth form, perennial life span and therophyte categories dominant. We observed a steady increase in species richness from 800 to 2000 m a.s.l., with highest at 1750 m a.s.l. in the Himalayan dry temperate forest type and then a decreasing trend with elevation. In terms of species turnover, the lowest dissimilarity of 36.8% was found between the Himalayan dry temperate and Fir forests. Whereas, considering species replacement (βsne), the highest similarity of 17.3% was found between the lower western Himalayan and Himalayan dry temperate forests. This shows that beta‐diversity patterns between different forest types are mostly driven by species replacement. Multivariate analysis revealed three major groups in the entire forest species pool. Habitat‐wise, 34% species were recorded in the natural habitats, while the remaining 66% were found in human‐modified habitats (roadsides, piospheres). Our findings will improve scientific understanding of the forest vegetation of this Himalayan region and help in guiding forest policy and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volcanoes of Kamchatka are a World Heritage Site. They are of aesthetic, conservation, and scientific value; therefore, they must be protected from negative anthropogenic influences. However, according to the recent assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, this site inspires significant concern. A similar viewpoint was also expressed in the local press. A part of the site, Avachinsky Pass, inspires a particular concern. This is a place between the volcanoes Koryaksky and Avachinsky. An excessive number of visitors was considered the main threat because it resulted in the trampling of soil and the extirpation of threatened animals. We performed a survey of the Avachinsky Pass aiming to estimate its state. Based on aerial pictures and observation we composed a scheme of habitats over the area around Avachinsky Pass revealing the disturbed plots of land. Moreover, we registered vertebrates considering them as biological indicators. It became clear that tourism has a significant impact on the state of the Avachinsky Pass, but the affected area is relatively small. Despite a large number of visitors, the survey revealed high biodiversity. We registered 19 species of birds and 9 species of mammals. Among them, black-capped marmots are especially informative as they have a settled way of life; they do occur on the Pass. The absence of grazing and logging contributes to the conservation of elfin forests and other plant communities on the slopes making the object resistant to anthropogenic impacts. Off-road vehicles pose the biggest threat to bare-ground revegetation.

Proactively identifying where land conversion might occur is critical to targeted and effective conservation planning. Previous efforts to map future habitat loss have largely focused on forested systems and have been limited in their consideration of drivers of loss. We developed a 1-km resolution, global map of land conversion pressure from multiple drivers, referred to as the conversion pressure index (CPI). The CPI combines past rates of anthropogenic change, as measured by temporal human modification maps, with suitability maps for potential future expansion by large-scale development. The CPI thus offers a new way to measure a cumulative gradient of anthropogenic pressure as opposed to categorical land cover change. We find that nearly 23% of land across 200 countries have relatively high conversion pressure, potentially impacting over 460 million ha of intact natural lands. We illustrate how this information can be used to identify areas for proactive conservation to avoid future loss and ensure that national commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity and Paris Agreement Climate Frameworks are upheld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review, part funded by Network Rail Ltd (UK), considers the role of transportation corridors in habitat connectivity within temperate climates, through verge habitat, surrounding matrix, movement along and across the corridor, the wider landscape context and management practices. PICO terms were developed for the bibliographic search on 15/11/22 using Web of Science (all databases), yielding 168 studies for review. The risk of bias was minimised by excluding non-peer reviewed papers. Large and exotic taxa were excluded due to a focus on temperate zones, as were studies on invasive species and climate change where the primary focus was not ecological connectivity. Emergent themes were used to structure the paper. Results indicate that transportation corridors have significant potential for habitat connectivity, especially for generalist and open-specialist species, which favour early to mid-successional habitats. However, physiology is a key determinant in dispersal ability. Vegetation management should consider representative communities rather than individual species. Gaps exist in the range of taxa studied, understanding of seasonal variations and lifecycle stages supported in verges, survival factors such as predation and disease and changes to community structure. Rail environments are under-represented and there is limited knowledge on the relative impacts of vegetation management regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammal species globally exhibit distribution patterns conditioned by environmental conditions and human impact. The Mediterranean basin provides an ideal system to study these effects due to its diverse climate, and habitat conditions. In this work, we aim to assess the impact of landscape heterogeneity and anthropization degree on terrestrial mammal diversity in this region. Accordingly, we deployed over 300 camera traps across 28 sites for 3 months. Detected mammal species (weighing more than 1kg) were classified as domestic carnivores, domestic ungulates, wild carnivores, wild ungulates, lagomorphs, and large rodents. Alpha and beta diversity were calculated for each group and all wild mammals. Simple linear regressions and multimodal analysis were conducted between mammal diversities and climate, environmental conditions, landscape heterogeneity, and anthropization degree variables. Redundancy analyses were performed to identify variables and species determining the mammalian community composition. Indexes measuring landscape heterogeneity, anthropization degree, and its 30‐year change did not correlate with mammal diversity. However, the difference in elevation within sites and domestic carnivore abundance showed a significant positive correlation with some of the diversity indexes. Nonetheless, rainfall and mean elevation factors generally showed the highest correlation with mammal diversity. Instead, a few influential species, including generalists and open‐habitat specialists, highlighted the importance of conserving open areas, as well as the importance of the Pyrenees region as a key habitat for certain species. Therefore, climatic variables emerged as the key determinants of mammal diversity, highlighting climate change as a potential threat to mammal diversity in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Trends in the extent of habitat types and species frequencies might not follow a simple pattern. However, data that are able to link those trends are scarce. Here, we use data from a repeated habitat mapping program to test consistency between habitat type and species change. Location: Federal state of Baden‐Württemberg, Germany. Methods: We derived temporal trends over several decades concerning: (a) the extent of all protected habitat types across the state, (b) plant species across the state, and (c) plant species within habitat types. We tested the consistency between trends in the extent of every protected habitat type with trends of those species that prefer that particular habitat type, as well as with mean trends of all species that occur within that particular habitat type. Results: We found that, on average, most protected habitat types decreased in area, with the exception of forests, which showed positive trends. Species analysis showed positive trends for species preferring the habitat types scrubs, copses and field hedges, as well as bog, carr, swamp and alluvial forests. By contrast, negative trends were found for species preferring the habitat types heaths and semi‐natural grasslands, meadows and pastures. While non‐native species increased, species that were considered endangered decreased. A species' trend across Baden‐Württemberg mostly followed the trend of the species' preferred habitat type. However, within some habitat types, the mean species' trend did not follow the trend of those habitat types' extent. Decreasing species within habitat types were especially those that preferred each particular habitat type. Conclusions: Our results point to an ongoing turnover of floristic composition, and thus to changes in habitat quality within habitat types. This implies that future monitoring programs should track temporal trends of both habitat types and the species occurring in these habitat types as a measure of habitat quality, because they can show diverging trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of ZodariellumAndreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) are described on the basis of male holotypes collected in Central Asia: Z. doroshkinisp. n. from Gorno-Badakhshan in eastern Tajikistan, and Z. kattakumsp. n. from Surxondaryo in southeastern Uzbekistan. Additionally, Z. turanicum Zamani & Marusik, 2022 is recorded from Uzbekistan for the first time, and new distribution records are provided for Z. bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) and Z. mongolicumMarusik & Koponen, 2001. Detailed descriptions, figures, diagnoses, distribution maps and photographs of habitats of the studied species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Native medicinal plants contribute essential health benefits to populations globally, constituting a major natural resource that human societies rely on. Being an integral part of terrestrial biodiversity, medicinal plants are detrimentally affected by ongoing climate and land‐use change, yet comprehensive studies on the risk that extinction will pose to medicinal biodiversity are lacking. Responding to ongoing scientific calls for conserving medicinal biodiversity, this study provides an integrated assessment of the impacts of environmental change on ironwort (Sideritis), a group of closely related endemic plants of great cultural significance as local medicinal resources in the Balkan Mountains. Summary: Mountain habitats harbour unique biodiversity and provide vital resources for human well‐being, including natural medicinal resources, yet they are amongst the environments most impacted by global change. While there is ample evidence of recent rapid climate and land‐use change on mountain ecosystems, the impacts of these processes on the habitats of culturally important medicinal plants are still poorly understood. Here, we assess the potential loss of mountain habitats for medicinal plant resources over the past four decades using the culturally important ironwort, a group of endemic medicinal plants of the Balkan Mountains extensively used by local human populations and the pharmaceutical industry for treating cough and cold and gastrointestinal disorders.We used information collected from major European natural history museums to guide extensive field campaigns across 15 separate mountain ranges. We integrate field data with thousands of satellite images, station‐validated climate reanalysis data and habitat suitability modelling. We finally used machine learning to assess the relative roles of climate and vegetation rates of change in driving rates of habitat suitability change.We show that rising temperatures and 'mountain greening' erode the habitats of ironwort at alarming rates. About 50% of the total habitat area across all considered mountain ranges shows a significant decline in habitat suitability.These past trends will most likely continue in the future and could lead to widespread local extinction of the species and other medicinal plants that share similar ecological preferences, threatening their future contributions to societal well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian coastal waters are critical for dugong populations in the western Indian Ocean. Systematic spatial planning of dugong habitats can help to achieve biodiversity conservation and area-based protection targets in the region. In this study, we employed environmental niche modelling to predict suitable dugong habitats and identify influencing factors along its entire distribution range in Indian waters. We examined data on fishing pressures collected through systematic interview surveys, citizen-science data, and field surveys to demarcate dugong habitats with varying risks. Seagrass presence was the primary factor in determining dugong habitat suitability across the study sites. Other variables such as depth, bathymetric slope, and Euclidean distance from the shore were significant factors, particularly in predicting seasonal suitability. Predicted suitable habitats showed a remarkable shift from pre-monsoon in Palk Bay to post-monsoon in the Gulf of Mannar, indicating the potential of seasonal dugong movement. The entire coastline along the Palk Bay-Gulf of Mannar region was observed to be at high to moderate risk, including the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a high-risk area. The Andaman Islands exhibited high suitability during pre- and post-monsoon season, whereas the Nicobar Islands were highly suitable for monsoon season. Risk assessment of modelled suitable areas revealed that < 15% of high-risk areas across Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, fall within the existing protected areas. A few offshore reef islands are identified under high-risk zones in the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat. We highlight the utility of citizen science and secondary data in performing large-scale spatial ecological analysis. Overall, identifying synoptic scale 'Critical Dugong Habitats' has positive implications for the country's progress towards achieving the global 30 × 30 target through systematic conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Sea is known to be a hot spot for marine biodiversity, especially if considering the highly specialized Heterobranchia mollusks. In recent years, there has been increasing effort to fill some knowledge gaps existing on Mediterranean heterobranch diversity, but, to date, several potentially interesting habitats remain unexplored. In fact, most studies have been focused on sea slugs inhabiting coastal areas and lakes, but those living in extremely variable areas like Mediterranean rocky tide pools remain almost completely ignored even if it is reported worldwide that they can host a high sea slug diversity. In this context, the rocky tide pool system near the 'Passetto' urban beach (Ancona, Italy) in the North Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) represents a biodiversity hot spot, highlighting the importance of the conservation of this peculiar habitat. A preliminary quantitative survey on the associated Heterobranchia unveiled a thriving community residing in this limited and fragile habitat, and it inspired a more detailed investigation as performed in the present study. In order to reveal the presence of species that have gone unnoticed, an in-depth study was carried out between 2018 and 2022, which aimed to amplify the knowledge on this vulnerable environment and the fauna associated with this as yet poorly known habitat. Tide pooling activities corroborated by photographic analyses allowed the recording of 45 taxa in total and the addition of 25 species to the previously known list. Within those, (i) two species were potentially new to science, (ii) one was recorded in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, (iii) two species were added to the Italian fauna, and (iv) one species constituted a new record for Sector 9 of the Italian Seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological importance of rhodolith beds stems from their role as structurally complex three-dimensional habitat formed by free-living red calcareous algae. Their structural singularity is due to the great variety of complex and branching morphologies exhibited by rhodoliths that create interstitial spaces and increase their surface area. This increases the ecological niches for cryptofauna and provide refuge for a high number of organisms, which is why rhodolith beds are considered biodiversity hotspots. In this work, we studied a rhodolith bed located in the Menorca Channel, formed by several species of red calcareous algae that exhibit a great variety of morphologies and form an extensive and heterogeneous habitat. This study explored the morphological diversity of the rhodolith bed, comparing the 'Core Habitat' (within the center of the bed with the highest densities of rhodoliths) with the boundaries or 'Adjacent Habitat' where rhodolith density was lower. Our results show that all rhodolith growth forms (branched, pralines and boxwork) in the Core Habitat had higher interstitial space and were larger than the ones from adjacent zones. Moreover, we explored the three-dimensional techniques to study the morphological characteristics that have historically been studied in two dimensions. This study contributes to the knowledge of morphological diversity in well-preserved rhodolith beds from continental shelves in the western Mediterranean Sea and reinforces the use of three-dimensional measurements, specifically the interstitial space of branched rhodoliths, to provide more accurate data on habitat complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumajang is one of the regency in East Java Province that has various types of freshwater ecosystems and have great potential as habitats for various insects, especially dragonflies. Dragonflies are insects that mostly live aquatically, so their existence is highly dependent on the condition of aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to compare the composition and diversity of dragonfly species in various habitat types in Lumajang. The study was conducted in lentic and lotic ecosystems in Lumajang. The method used was the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) technique adapted from the sweeping net. The data analysis used to determine differences in dragonfly species composition was the Bray-Curtis similarity analysis, while diversity analysis was conducted using the Shannon-Wiener index. This study recorded 29 species from seven families, including seven endemic dragonfly species found only on several islands in Indonesia. In the analysis of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, the results show that in all research locations have a value of H'= 1.07-2.11, where the Rice Field habitat is the location with the highest value among other locations, with a value of H' = 2.11. The similarity analysis of dragonfly species composition using Bray Curtis similarity showed that it was divided into three groups. The composition of dragonflies found in several habitats in Lumajang is different, which can be influenced by many factors such as site elevation, habitat type (lentic or lotic), and habitat condition, as well as several other factors such as microclimate and vegetation (related to food availability). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrolichen diversity and community composition were determined for an area of high botanical interest in the Coast Ranges of Northern California – the Horse Mountain Botanical Area (HMBA) in Six Rivers National Forest. The Coast Ranges have been suggested to have high lichen diversity, yet detailed site-specific macrolichen surveys are lacking for the area. The HMBA is characterized by the presence of ultramafic (serpentine) soils, contributing to its diverse assemblage of conifers. Here we present comprehensive data on macrolichens of the HMBA integrated with environmental variables at the landscape level. Twenty 0.4 ha sampling plots were positioned across the varying habitats of the HMBA and macrolichens were intensively sampled from all substrata. Out of 888 total collections, 119 macrolichen species in 52 genera were identified, 63 species were sequenced for the mycobiont internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and all species were vouchered. Microenvironmental influences on lichen community composition were ordinated with nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS). Within-plot measured environmental variables with strongest correlations to ordination Axis 1 were 1) total tree basal area, 2) proportion of conifer basal area relative to hardwoods, and 3) distance between plot center and nearest stream. Distinct macrolichen communities were found in plots containing primarily conifers versus mixed hardwood-conifer plots. All plots contained both nitrogen-fixing and pendulous forage macrolichens; in each of the three hardwood-dominated plots, nitrogen-fixing lichens composed nearly a third of the species total. When epiphytic macrolichen species richness and dominance within the HMBA were compared to data from other regional forests, the HMBA showed comparable community composition but averaged 39% higher species richness. Results from this study can help inform management of the HMBA as well as future taxonomic and ecological research on regional macrolichens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a global scale, species biodiversity is declining rapidly, including that of terrestrial invertebrates. Environmental heterogeneity is viewed as a key factor promoting biodiversity, and previous studies have shown how beavers can have a profound effect on both habitat heterogeneity and abundance and diversity of a plethora of water-related and terrestrial organisms. However, less is known about the effects of beavers and successional stages on the terrestrial invertebrate community. Here, we review existing knowledge and outline research trajectories to improve our understanding of how beavers affect the terrestrial invertebrate community with special focus on the importance of each successional stage that beavers provide on terrestrial invertebrates. Although beavers can have a large impact on the terrestrial invertebrate community, more studies are needed that take into consideration successional stages and with standardized sampling designs. A better understanding of how beaver activity affects the terrestrial invertebrate community can help in conservation of endangered species and restoration of biodiversity in terrestrial habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands differ in many types depending on the diversity of climatic conditions and substrates. Due to the great wealth of species found in semi-natural grasslands, they conserve an essential part of the biodiversity of the European Union (EEC 43/92), defined as habitats of community interest. Using the region of Calabria (southern Italy) as a case study, this study aims to evaluate how species assemblages and a set of indicators applied to them can be used to analyse and characterize the diversity, ecological features and conservation status of grassland habitats. Vegetation analysis was carried out using the phytosociological method, and habitat ecological characteristics were defined by Ellenberg's ecological indicator adapted to the Italian flora. Multivariate analysis of the surveys by means of cluster analysis and Principal Components Analysis (PCA) made it possible to define eight habitat groups according to EEC Directive 43/92: 6110 Rocky or basophilous calcareous grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi, 6170 Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands, 6220*a Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea dominated by a Lygeum spartum, 6220*b Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta, 6210* Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrub facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Bromometalia) (*important orchid sites), 6230* Species-rich Nardus grasslands, on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas, in Continental Europe), 6410 Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-siltladen soils (Molinion caeruleae), 6420 Mediterranean tall humid herb grasslands of the Molinio-Holoschoenion, 6430 Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels. Temperature (T) and oisture (U) are the most statistically significant ecological factors in differentiating different habitat types. Analysis of diversity, assessed through Shannon and Evenness indices, showed that it is strongly correlated with habitat diversity as soil moisture increases. The study of ecological characteristics, correlated with biodiversity indices, helps to characterize grassland habitats, providing guidance for the implementation of active conservation policies for these habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]