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With less than half of the world's tropical forests remaining, ecological restoration is urgently needed to halt biodiversity loss. However, the efficacy of different active reforestation methods remains largely untested particularly with respect to the recovery of fauna during the early years of restoration. Here, we present the results of a long‐term restoration project in the Australian Wet Tropics after 6 years of planting. Using dung beetles as bioindicators of restoration success, we investigated how the diversity and density of trees in experimental plots influence the recovery of dung beetle diversity and their ecological functions (dung removal and secondary seed dispersal). We found that after only 6 years since planting, a native dung beetle community, representing around 41% of the species found in the adjacent rainforest, has colonized the experimental plots. Plots with the highest diversity of trees (24 species planted) showed higher dung beetle diversity, dung removal, and seed dispersal but only when the density of trees on the plots was low. These plots also have higher species richness, diversity, and abundance of rainforest species, while the opposite trend was found for open‐habitat species. Therefore, planting a higher diversity of trees appears to be the best method for the early recovery of rainforest dung beetle communities and their functions. This is particularly crucial at low tree density, which is a common issue in active restoration projects as tree mortality is relatively high in the early years.

Since widespread monitoring began in 1976 in the UK, habitat‐specialist butterfly populations have declined dramatically. The main driver is habitat degradation, caused primarily by land‐use change, perhaps interacting with changes in vegetation phenology. Here, we focus on two declining species: Boloria selene (Dennis & Schiffermüller) and Boloria euphrosyne L., Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae. We hypothesise that these species differ in their preferred breeding habitat, and this is driven by differences in their temperature preferences, mediated by vegetation cover. We use mark‐release‐recapture techniques and oviposition observations to characterise and compare adult distribution, habitat use and oviposition site preferences of the two species. Egg‐laying females of both species are shown to occur in areas with relatively high abundance of the larval food plants, Viola spp. (violets), principally V. riviniana, and they oviposit where Viola spp. abundance is locally high. However, in contrast to B. selene, ovipositing B. euphrosyne tends to occur in areas with relatively short and sparse cover of vegetation. B. euphrosyne oviposit in sites with a relatively high plant surface temperature irrespective of ambient temperatures, in contrast with B. selene in which the temperature of oviposition sites increases as ambient temperature increases. These differential temperature strategies likely underlie differences in breeding habitat preference. Microclimatic cooling caused by increased vegetation growth in spring may be one reason B. euphrosyne is declining in the UK, while both B. euphrosyne and B. selene may be affected by declining Viola spp. availability. Our data provide further evidence that drivers of butterfly declines can be multi‐factorial, and paradoxically, that thermophilic species do not necessarily benefit from climate warming if responses of other species result in cooling of their habitats.

Rear‐edge populations of cold‐adapted species are highly vulnerable to climate change, their adaptations maybe critical for the persistence of the species as a whole. Using AFLP, we investigated population genetic diversity and differentiation of Scotch argus (Erebia aethiops), a cold‐adapted butterfly, comparing isolated rear‐edge and core populations in Britain, a relict part of the species range. We also examined genetic differences among sub‐populations and dispersal distances conducting a mark‐release‐recapture (MRR) study at the rear‐edge. Genetic diversity was higher in the isolated rear‐edge populations than populations at the core of the range and declined with latitude, supporting the idea that current differences in genetic diversity levels across Britain are likely the result of historical range changes after the last glaciation. Populations were genetically differentiated among regions, meaning that losing the isolated rear‐edge populations may prove detrimental for the survival of the species in Britain, as these populations are likely to be better adapted to warmer climates. We found that the largest population at the rear‐edge is genetically robust, with gene flow among patches, likely maintained by males as indicated by the higher dispersal distances recorded for males in the MRR, but colonisation of empty patches is constrained by females' low mobility. Our results highlight that isolated populations at the rear‐edge of cold‐adapted species should be considered of high conservation priority, as they hold higher levels of genetic diversity and differentiation which may prove to be key for the survival of these species under global warming.

Entomology is key to understanding terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems at a time of unprecedented anthropogenic environmental change and offers substantial untapped potential to benefit humanity in a variety of ways, from improving agricultural practices to managing vector-borne diseases and inspiring technological advances. We identified high priority challenges for entomology using an inclusive, open, and democratic four-stage prioritisation approach, conducted among the membership and affiliates (hereafter ‘members’) of the UK-based Royal Entomological Society (RES). A list of 710 challenges was gathered from 189 RES members. Thematic analysis was used to group suggestions, followed by an online vote to determine initial priorities, which were subsequently ranked during an online workshop involving 37 participants. The outcome was a set of 61 priority challenges within four groupings of related themes: (i) ‘Fundamental Research’ (themes: Taxonomy, ‘Blue Skies’ [defined as research ideas without immediate practical application], Methods and Techniques); (ii) ‘Anthropogenic Impacts and Conservation’ (themes: Anthropogenic Impacts, Conservation Options); (iii) ‘Uses, Ecosystem Services and Disservices’ (themes: Ecosystem Benefits, Technology and Resources [use of insects as a resource, or as inspiration], Pests); (iv) ‘Collaboration, Engagement and Training’ (themes: Knowledge Access, Training and Collaboration, Societal Engagement). Priority challenges encompass research questions, funding objectives, new technologies, and priorities for outreach and engagement. Examples include training taxonomists, establishing a global network of insect monitoring sites, understanding the extent of insect declines, exploring roles of cultivated insects in food supply chains, and connecting professional with amateur entomologists. Responses to different challenges could be led by amateur and professional entomologists, at all career stages. Overall, the challenges provide a

Traits are key for understanding the environmental responses and ecological roles of organisms. Trait approaches to functional ecology are well established for plants, whereas consistent frameworks for animal groups are less developed. Here we suggest a framework for the study of the functional ecology of animals from a trait‐based response–effect approach, using dung beetles as model system. Dung beetles are a key group of decomposers that are important for many ecosystem processes. The lack of a trait‐based framework tailored to this group has limited the use of traits in dung beetle functional ecology. We review which dung beetle traits respond to the environment and affect ecosystem processes, covering the wide range of spatial, temporal and biological scales at which they are involved. Dung beetles show trait‐based responses to variation in temperature, water, soil properties, trophic resources, light, vegetation structure, competition, predation and parasitism. Dung beetles' influence on ecosystem processes includes trait‐mediated effects on nutrient cycling, bioturbation, plant growth, seed dispersal, other dung‐based organisms and parasite transmission, as well as some cases of pollination and predation. We identify 66 dung beetle traits that are either response or effect traits, or both, pertaining to six main categories: morphology, feeding, reproduction, physiology, activity and movement. Several traits pertain to more than one category, in particular dung relocation behaviour during nesting or feeding. We also identify 136 trait–response and 77 trait–effect relationships in dung beetles. No response to environmental stressors nor effect over ecological processes were related with traits of a single category. This highlights the interrelationship between the traits shaping body‐plans, the multi‐functionality of traits, and their role linking responses to the environment and effects on the ecosystem. Despite current developments in dung beetle functional e

Data from existing monitoring schemes point to a global crisis of butterflies across Europe, with habitat loss/degradation, climate change and chemical pollution as the main drivers of decline. The existing butterfly time series from Western Europe come from densely populated, relatively flat areas. However, population trends from less populated areas, such as mountain ranges in the south of Europe, have been less studied, despite these areas harbouring one of the highest butterfly biodiversity of the continent. Here, we analyse trends for butterfly populations in a Southwestern Europe mountain range (Picos de Europa, Northwest Spain), for the last 9 years (2013–2021), across an altitudinal gradient (80–2000 m). We show that this region, protected as National Park more than 100 years ago, is nonetheless under a great threat, with a decline in butterfly abundance of, on average, 5.7% per year (45.7% cumulative decline in the last 9 years). Species at higher elevations are faring worse than those at low elevations and communities at mid‐elevations (below the tree line) are changing towards higher abundance of species with a preference from closed habitats. Combined effects of amplified climate change in mountains and habitat loss, due to abandonment of traditional management, appear to be affecting both individual species and community composition of butterflies in our study area.

The objective of the research was to establish if there is a difference in the attitude related to science in university students of different academic cycles. For this purpose, non-experimental research of descriptive cross-sectional design was carried out. The population consisted of students of the schools of Administrative Sciences and Accounting and Financial Sciences of public and private universities of Tacna, during the year 2022. For data collection, the Protocol of Attitudes Related to Science was used. With respect to the students of the School of Accounting and Financial Sciences, the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance found a p-value of less than .005 (p=.000), which indicates that at least two of the cycles investigated are not homogeneous with the others. The same difference between cycles is observed in the categories of science teaching (p=.000), image of science (p=.000), social incidence (p=.003) and characteristics of science (p=.000). The ANOVA test showed a p-value higher than .05 (p=.058), which allows us to affirm that the attitude towards science is homogeneous in the different academic cycles studied., La investigación tuvo como objetivo establecer si existe diferencia en la actitud relacionada a la ciencia en los estudiantes universitarios de diversos ciclos académicos. Para ello se realizó una investigación no experimental de diseño transversal de tipo descriptivo. La población estuvo constituida por estudiantes de las escuelas de Ciencias Administrativas y Ciencias Contables y Financieras de universidades públicas y privadas de Tacna, durante el año 2022. Para el levantamiento de los datos se usó el Protocolo de actitudes relacionadas con la ciencia. Respecto a los estudiantes de la Escuela de Ciencias Contables y Financieras el análisis de varianzas de Kruskal-Wallis ha podido hallar un p-valor inferior a ,005 (p=,000) lo que indica que al menos dos de los ciclos investigados no son homogéneos con los demás. La misma diferencia entre ciclos se observa en las categorías de enseñanza de la ciencia (p=,000), imagen de la ciencia (p=,000), incidencia social (p=,003) y características de la ciencia (p=,000). Con respecto a la carrera de Ciencias Administrativas la prueba de ANOVA mostró un p-valor superior a ,05 (p=,058), lo cual, permite afirmar que la actitud hacia la ciencia es homogénea en los diferentes ciclos académicos estudiados.