The Ovulidae family, closely related to Cypraeidae (cowries), comprises approximately 260–280 species predominantly inhabiting tropical and subtropical shallow marine environments. Traditional morphological classification within Ovulidae has been challenging due to significant variability influenced by their host organisms. In this study, we collected 15 Ovulidae species from China’s offshore waters, including the first regional record of Habuprionovolva aenigma (M. Azuma & C. N. Cate, 1971). We sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of 14 species and found that, except for H. aenigma, they exhibit typical metazoan mitochondrial structures. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial genome data were conducted to elucidate relationships among Ovulidae genera. Notably, we discovered that the subfamily Prionovolvinae exhibits a unique mitochondrial tRNA gene order. Our results suggest that mitochondrial gene rearrangements occurred after the divergence of the Prionovolvinae and Ovulinae subfamilies. Additionally, we found that Ovulidae species display significantly higher Ka/Ks ratios compared to Cypraeidae, indicating different selective pressures possibly linked to their unique feeding habits. Based on these findings, we propose reclassifying certain genera from the Simniinae subfamily to the Prionovolvinae subfamily. This research enhances the understanding of Ovulidae phylogeny and provides genomic resources for future studies.

There is a current trend to relegate the details of molecular and morphometric analyses in species descriptions to electronic Supplementary Information (SI). Reliable species description practice is the basis of organismal biology, conservation practice and law. Material in species descriptions must therefore be available for scientific interrogation. This means not only collecting and safeguarding physical type specimens in museums (1), but also making the identity of specimens and measurements that are used in taxonomic descriptions available in perpetuity. Measurements must be transparent and repeatable, so future researchers can check diagnoses and use all appropriate data to revise taxonomy (1).

Effective conservation requires effective biodiversity monitoring. The pace of global biodiversity change far outstrips the ability of manual fieldwork to monitor it. Therefore, technological solutions, like camera traps, have emerged as a crucial way to meet biodiversity monitoring needs. Camera traps produce vast amounts of data and so AI is increasingly used to label images with species identities. However, AI struggles to identify species from new locations that are not part of the training data (‘generalisation’). Resolving this is crucial for the promise of automated biodiversity monitoring to be realised. Here we use ‘copy-paste’ augmentation to help resolve the generalisation challenge. Copy-paste augmentation refers to isolating animal ‘segments’ from existing images and pasting the segments onto novel backgrounds, to create new, synthetic images that are then used as part of the training data. Theoretically, this could make a model agnostic to backgrounds and therefore more able to generalise to unseen locations. While generation of synthetic images is commonly used as an augmentation method in other fields, such as medicine, it has not been used before in biodiversity science. We found that copy-paste augmentation improved the ability of AI to identify species in new, unseen locations by $8\pm2\%$. There was species-level variation in improvement, but the vast majority of species benefited from the approach. We found mixed results when using copy-paste augmentation on models trained with very small numbers of images (1-8 per species). Copy-paste augmentation improves the ability of AI models to generalise to new, unseen locations. Our method also shows promise for resolving the challenge of long-tailed camera trap data.

Fire is a major ecological driver affecting vegetation growth species distributions, and wildlife habitats, emphasizing its ecological importance’s. This study analysis a vegetation health and fire dynamic in Langtang National Park (LNP) Nepal using MODIS derived fire occurrences data, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Climate Hazard Center Infrared precipitation with stations (CHRIPS) data, Land Surface Temperature (LST) data to examine the vegetation health and fire dynamic over 20 years (200-2020).The Mann-Kendall (MK) trend tests showed a significant increase in NDVI maximum values ( p < 0.05 ), while fire occurrences showed no consistent temporal trend ( p > 0.05 ). While (r = 0.62) a good positive correlation was found between maximum temperature and burn area, increased temperature relates to increase in fire activity and larger burn areas. Similarly VCI maximum highly predicated NDVI values (p = 0.0001), with moderate though significant fires impacting vegetation health. Grassland and needle leaf forests are the major land cover with relatively high fire frequency. Likely due to flammable biomass and seasonal dryness, while broad leaved closed forests displayed better fire resilience. The findings underline the need for integrated fire management strategies involving satellite monitoring, risk zonation, climate responsive planning, and community engagement to reduce fire risks in ecological sensitive area and strengthen ecosystem resilience in the Himalaya.

The anadromous hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) is a commercially and ecologically important fish species distributed across the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the river systems of South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Despite its significance, the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of T. ilisha populations are poorly understood, particularly across the regions. This study provides the first comparative genetic analysis with extensive sampling of T. ilisha populations from Bangladesh and Iraq, utilizing mitochondrial DNA markers—Cytochrome c Oxidase I (COI) and Cytochrome b (CYTB)—to assess genetic variation, population connectivity, and evolutionary history. Genetic analyses of 278 COI and 268 CYTB sequences revealed significant inter-regional genetic differentiation, with Bangladeshi populations exhibiting higher genetic diversity, while Iraqi populations displayed extreme genetic homogeneity. Population structure analyses using analysis of molecular variance and F-statistics (Fst) demonstrated strong genetic differentiation between Bangladeshi and Iraqi populations, with inter-regional variation accounting for over 65% (COI) and 73% (CYTB) of the total genetic variation. Intra-regional differentiation was low among Bangladeshi populations, suggesting gene flow and a largely panmictic population structure, whereas Iraqi populations showed no significant genetic differentiation, indicating a single, genetically uniform stock. Haplotype network analyses supported inter-regional isolation and intra-regional connectivity, with no shared haplotypes between Bangladesh and Iraq. Neutrality tests (Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs) suggested recent demographic expansions in several Bangladeshi populations. Conversely, Iraqi population the Shatt al-Arab showed little sign of expansion. The results underscore the need for region-specific conservation measures. Preserving ecological integrity and sustainable fisheries management in Bangladesh and habitat degradation mitigation and restoration in Iraq are important to avoid further loss of genetic diversity. Future studies should integrate genomic analysis and environmental monitoring for T. ilisha across its distribution so that adaptive management practices can be developed.

This study used environmental DNA(eDNA) metabarcoding to monitor fish communities at 14 sites along the upper Yangtze River across four seasons, aiming to understand seasonal variations in community structure. This study reflects on the current status of fish community structure in the region by leveraging an analytical discussion on the composition of fish species and functional groups, the application of 16 multidimensional diversity indices, and the relationships between fish communities and environmental variables. A total of 120 fish species were detected. The communities predominantly consisted of species that produce sticky eggs, are sedentary, and have omnivorous diets. However, the relative abundance of species producing drifting eggs, migratory, and carnivore fish groups was higher in autumn and winter compared to spring and summer. Except for the functional evenness index(FEve), all other functional diversity indices, as well as α diversity, taxonomic diversity, and phylogenetic diversity indices, were higher in spring and summer compared to autumn and winter. This suggests that fish diversity is greater in spring and summer; however, ecological niche overlap is more pronounced during these seasons. Multiple diversity indices demonstrated a high degree of correlation among them. This study provides practical experience for fish monitoring based on eDNA metabarcoding technology.

Acoustic communication is crucial in many animal taxa for mate selection, foraging coordination, and predator avoidance. While fishes represent a significant portion of vertebrate biodiversity, their acoustic communication remains understudied. Anemonefishes (Amphiprion spp.) exhibit complex social behaviours and vocalisations, yet their acoustic signals have primarily been studied in laboratory settings, limiting our understanding of their natural communication. In this study, we examined the vocal behaviour of wild Amphiprion percula in Papua New Guinea, collecting in situ audio and video recordings to assess the role of vocalisations in social interactions. Our findings suggest that A. percula produces distinct vocalisations across multiple social contexts, with variations in acoustic parameters influenced by behaviour and social rank. We highlight the importance of acoustic communication in interspecific and intraspecific interactions and its role in territorial defence, and the classification of vocalisations in behavioural categories. Additionally, we discuss the potential impact of anthropogenic noise, such as motorboat activity, on anemonefish communication through acoustic masking. These results emphasize the importance of in situ studies for understanding fish bioacoustics and suggest that acoustic signals play a key role in maintaining social hierarchy and cohesion in anemonefish groups. Future research should explore species-specific vocal diversity in situ and assess the ecological implications of noise pollution on coral reef fish communication.

Studies in movement ecology are crucial for understanding how physical performance affects an animal’s ability to find resources, including new ranges or mating opportunities. Invasive species frequently exhibit high levels of boldness and exploratory behaviour, enhancing their ability to establish and spread in new environments. Our study compares the locomotor performance and exploration behaviour of adult male endemic katipō (Latrodectus katipo) and invasive adult male false katipō (Steatoda capensis) spiders collected from a sympatric population. Our aim is to compare the locomotory and exploration behaviour of these two spider species within the context of differences in their distribution patterns and conservation classification. We conducted three laboratory assays—maze, pole, and track—to compare exploration, climbing, and running behaviours. We found that male false katipō are more exploratory than katipō, supporting the hypothesis that invasive species exhibit bolder behaviours. This boldness aligns with the false katipō’s broader habitat range. Male katipō and false katipō had similar pole climbing behaviours, which may reflect the similar use of vertical space within refuges of the two species. False katipō completed the running track faster, and without stopping, compared to katipō. Whereas, katipō would occasionally freeze while being followed down the track with a paintbrush. Our study provides insight into the comparative locomotor performance of katipō and false katipō, highlighting the potential impacts of physical and behavioural traits on invasive species success and native species decline.

Interaction with pollinators has been proposed as one of the most important factors shaping the diversity of flowering plants. Spatial variation in the directions of the selective pressure exerted by pollinators drives the evolution of adaptive differentiation. Thus, across-population studies of flower traits and plant-pollinator interaction are therefore an important step to understanding the diverse selective pressures that drive floral evolution in zoogamous angiosperms. In this study, we combine observational data and field experiments to describe the assemblages of pollinators, breeding systems, and reward properties in studied populations of the Middle East geophyte, Fritillaria persica. Natural populations of this species include two floral color morphs with greenish or purple flowers, in both morphs the nectaries of the outer whorl are covered by the tepals of the inner one. Our study documented geographical variation in the pollination system of two color morphs of F. persica. Visitors recorded in both populations were similar qualitatively, however, their contribution varied. Nectar sugar concentration and profile were generally constant in studied populations, we recorded differences only in nectar volume and concentration of amino acids. These results suggest that the observed variation in nectar production is likely to be a result of environmental factors, rather than pollinator-mediated selection. In the context of reward, we also tested how uncovering the hidden nectar reward from outer tepals influences potential pollinators. Uncovering hidden reward did not change the time spent in one flower or inflorescence penetration, however, it increased the number of seeds produced. The similarity of nectar properties and pollinator assemblages suggests that in the context of pollination, F. persica represents a rather generalistic strategy, and observed differences may be caused by abiotic factors.

1. Environmental pressures, particularly those driven by anthropogenic activity, can induce rapid behavioural and physiological adaptation. Insects, due to their ecological importance, are especially affected by the widespread use of insecticides. While physiological resistance to insecticides is well documented, less is known about how such resistance influences behaviour, particularly oviposition site choice, a decision with direct consequences for offspring survival. 2. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we investigated whether genetic resistance conferred by the detoxification gene Cyp6g1 affects oviposition preferences and survival across life stages when exposed to insecticides. We presented resistant and susceptible female flies with a choice between food laced with acetone, insecticides to which they are resistant to, or insecticides to which Cyp6g1 does not confer resistance, and examined larval and adult survival under matching exposure conditions. 3. We found that resistant females differ from susceptible flies by avoiding laying eggs on food containing DDT, an insecticide they are resistant to, suggesting that resistance is associated with a parallel shift in behaviour. Larval survival was closely tied to maternal oviposition choice, with Cyp6g1-mediated resistance conferring survival benefits only against insecticides it can detoxify. In contrast, adult survival was less affected by genotype, highlighting the importance of oviposition site selection in shaping transgenerational fitness. 4. Our results suggest that resistance alleles can impact not only physiological resistance but also incur behavioural adaptations such as toxin avoidance that act synergistically to mitigate insecticide exposure. 5. Furthermore, our results show that these resistance alleles influence behaviour in ways that affect their frequency in natural populations.

Understanding the mechanisms explaining thermal tolerance variation is crucial for predicting the impact of climate change on ectotherms, especially those living near their upper thermal limits. Among the various forms of plasticity, developmental plasticity holds promise as an adaptive trait for marine ectotherms to buffer the negative effects of ocean warming; however, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we examine the capacity of two bi-parental progenies of the black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, to modify their later-life thermal tolerance and performance, through developmental thermal priming. Embryos (3-24 hours post-fertilization) were incubated until hatching at either control (28°C) or warm (32°C; ecological extremes) temperatures, and raised four months under common conditions at 28°C. Our results reveal family-specific effects of early-life thermal priming, significantly enhancing spat thermal tolerance in one family, while reducing it in the other. Main molecular pathways of heat stress response (at the sublethal temperature of 34°C) were conserved across families and independent of the early-life priming treatment. Nevertheless, a network-preservation approach allowed further characterizing the subtle, nested environmental ‘memory’ mediated through network reorganization, particularly in gene regulatory pathways involved in the Unfolding Protein Response (UPR). This study revealed a complex relationship between early environments and later phenotypes, but still holds out the promise of hormetic priming for ecological conservation and aquaculture improvement.

[1]¿p#1 Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.; Asteraceae) is an economically significant agricultural product in Canada, with 70% of commercial production in peatlands (Histosols) in southern Quebec. Insecticide application has been the primary method for managing lettuce pests in Quebec however more sustainable strategies are needed to control lettuce pests effectively. In this context, conservation biological control is a highly promising alternative, involving the cultivation of flowering strips within the agricultural ecosystem to attract and support natural enemies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of alyssum (Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv.; Brassicaceae) in attracting syrphids (Diptera: Syrphidae), some of which are voracious predators of lettuce pests during their larval stage. A total of 1,934 specimens of 16 species were collected from annual flowering plants grown in three different lettuce farms in Quebec. The most abundant species was Toxomerus marginatus (Say), accounting for approximately 70% of the specimens. The second and third most abundant were Sphaerophoria philanthus Meigen and Allograpta obliqua (Say), corresponding to nearly 10.3% and 4.6% of the samples, respectively. All other species constituted less than 4% each. A group of 82 female specimens, initially identified as belonging to the Sphaerophoria philanthus/asymmetrica/abbreviata species complex, underwent Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) DNA sequence-based delimitation analyses, which suggested the presence of three molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Fourteen of the 16 identified species or MOTU are aphid predators at the larval stage. Our findings suggest that alyssum flowers can successfully attract natural aphid predators in lettuce fields in Quebec. This approach may help mitigate lettuce pest-related problems and decrease the dependence on insecticides in lettuce crops, promoting more sustainable pest management practices.

Roosting sites are integral to bird habitats, with their use and selection by birds serving as indicators of behavioral adaptations to environmental pressures. Black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) typically choose to roost in shallow water environments, but a phenomenon of ”terrestrialization” of roosting sites has been observed among the eastern wintering population. Although this phenomenon was discovered in the last century, due to various limitations, research on the terrestrial roosting behavior of black-necked cranes remains insufficient. To address this, our study equipped 14 black-necked cranes from the eastern wintering population with GPS trackers from 2015 to 2020 and combined remote sensing imagery to investigate their terrestrial roosting behavior. Our findings indicate that environmental factors and the location of feeding grounds influence the proportion of terrestrial roosting by black-necked cranes. On land, black-necked cranes prefer to roost on high ground, avoiding valleys. Compared to shallow water roosting, black-necked cranes roosting on land are more likely to engage in nocturnal movements.

Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are a keystone species and an important product to the commercial shellfish industry in Delaware. Oysters are known as “environmental engineers” that provide a structured habitat to the ecosystem, thus promoting biodiversity. In order to further investigate the role oysters play in increasing biodiversity, real-time monitoring and environmental DNA (eDNA) were conducted at different sites around Rehoboth Bay, Delaware, USA. The sites include pilot artificial reefs, private aquaculture farms, and a control site without any oysters or habitat structure. Underwater GoPro Hero 3+ and 8 cameras were deployed every two weeks from June – October in 2022 and 2023. Cameras were deployed for approximately 2-3 hours at a time, and upon retrieval, cameras were reviewed for any signs of aquatic life, and all documented species were identified and recorded for comparisons between sampling sites. Water samples were collected simultaneously for eDNA analysis to serve as a complementary method for species identification. DNA Isolation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were performed to amplify gene sequences for targeted species. Using camera technology, 23 different animal species were recorded across the five study sites. The most abundant species included Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia), Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus), Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus), and Hermit Crabs (Pagurus longicarpus). The eDNA analysis also successfully detected these species, highlighting the effectiveness of eDNA as a tool for species monitoring. Notably, there was considerable overlap between species identified through both real-time monitoring and eDNA methods. These findings contribute to ongoing oyster restoration initiatives and sustainable aquaculture practices in the Delaware Inland Bays (DIB), while also enhancing our understanding of complementary biodiversity monitoring techniques.

As catastrophic wildfires increasingly devastate the interior landscapes of British Columbia, Canada, conventional approaches to post-wildfire recovery often overlook Indigenous values, knowledge systems, and food sovereignty. In collaboration with six Northern St’át’imc communities and guided by the “walking on two legs” framework, which brings together Indigenous and Western knowledge systems led by Indigenous worldview, we reanalyzed post-wildfire vegetation trajectory data from the McKay Creek wildfire. We replaced colonial-era “native/non-native” plant classifications with culturally grounded categories to better reflect Indigenous wildfire recovery priorities. Vegetation trajectories were based on percent cover data collected across 80 plots, stratified by burn severity and pre-wildfire invasive plant presence. Our results show that conventional plant classifications may obscure critical vulnerabilities in traditional plant food systems and protein sources. While ”native” plant cover exceeded 25% across all treatments, our cultural plant classifications ranged from just 7% to 18%. While elevation emerged as a key factor in post-fire vegetation dynamics, government-defined “Mule deer forage” plant classification indicated increased forage at higher elevations, while the Indigenous-informed classification, “Mule deer preferred forage” showed the opposite trend. These findings demonstrate that classifying plants by cultural knowledges reveals a more accurate picture of post-wildfire recovery. Conventional plant classifications may overestimate ecosystem resilience and thus overlook areas requiring urgent intervention. Indigenizing Western scientific approaches can strengthen ecological restoration by aligning data interpretation with Indigenous sovereignty and community-led priorities. This study offers a concrete model for advancing culturally appropriate wildfire recovery while supporting the implementation of legal obligations to protect Indigenous food sovereignty under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Our study suggests that reframing plant classification by Indigenous values not only deepens understanding of post-wildfire recovery but also supports more effective, place-based decision-making for long-term ecosystem stewardship.

1. Widely used methods to assess population genetic structure and differentiation rely on independence of marker loci. Following the assumption, the common metrics, for example FST, evaluate genetic structure by averaging across loci. Common metrics do not use information in the associations among loci at the individual level and are often criticized for failing to measure true differentiation even when loci segregate independently. 2. We introduce a new concept to measure β-variation (Effective Number of Different Populations, ENDP). It requires the following steps: (a) calculation of a proper dissimilarity between genetic profiles of all individuals; (b) calculation of suitable pairwise distances between the samples based on the dissimilarities between individuals; (c) calculation of diversity (in terms of Hill numbers) and dispersion of samples based on the pairwise distances between samples; (d) ENDP is then estimated as a combination of the diversity and dispersion. ENDP estimates β-variation independently of within-sample α-variation. This new concept differs from the existing standard where β-diversity is estimated based on the ‘partition of variation’ scheme (beta=gamma-alpha or beta=gamma/alpha). 3. Estimates of ENDP are obtained by evaluating information in the available genetic profiles of individuals including association of loci. Therefore, ENDP can be used even in an absence of panmixia. 4. We illustrate the use of this concept by analyzing the population genetic structure of a sexual species (a trematode parasite) occupying connected populations across a broad geographic area. Analysis is complicated by two coexisting cryptic sister clades and the potentially mixed-mating system of this hermaphroditic parasite.

Seagrasses provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, sediment stabilisation and nursery habitat for juvenile fish. Zostera muelleri is ubiquitous within Australian and New Zealand estuaries however as a species is relatively understudied. We sourced seeds from a thermally-affected east Australian estuary and investigated if germination rates differed between ambient and thermally affected seeds over a variety of temperatures (16°C, - 28°C) to determine how seagrass systems might react in a warming climate. Germination for the experiment was low and totalled 5% of all seeds however similar numbers are typical in seed germination studies. Germination was highest at 16°C and was enhanced through the simulation of a 48-hour freshwater pulse. Thermally affected sites germinated faster and had greater mean maximum germination when compared to control sites regardless of experimental temperature. These findings indicate that Zostera muelleri in this system may be exhibiting transgenerational plasticity due to the thermal stress the parent experiences. This result provides an alternate viewpoint to current literature by suggesting that unknown transgenerational effects may provide Z. muelleri with greater germination plasticity against temperatures expected under predicted climate change scenarios than previously expected.

Diamesinae is one of the eleven subfamilies of Chironomidae, characterized by its preference for cold waters, typically found in mountainous regions. We aimed to study the biodiversity and distribution of two genera of this subfamily found in high-altitude streams in the Andes (Paraheptagyia and Limaya), by combining morphological and molecular analyses. A database with 190 larval specimens of Diamesinae, collected between July and October of 2011 from 20 streams in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, at altitudes above 2000 m.a.s.l. was used. Paraheptagyia was found in the three countries, whereas Limaya was only found in Ecuador and Perú. Morphological analyses were based on 105 larvae mountings, using several specimens for each morphospecies, as a result, the antennal ratio (AR) was a valuable differentiator for Limaya, whereas Paraheptagyia could not be distinguished by using morphological characters. The ABGD, ASAP, and bPTP methods were used to delineate operational taxonomic units (OTUs) using 130 Molecular sequences (113 for Paraheptagyia and 17 for Limaya). For the genus Limaya, two OTUs were identified using all methods, one for Ecuador and one for Peru. Seven OTUs were identified for the genus Paraheptagyia. Five of the seven OTUs were found in Peru and the other two were shared between Ecuador and Colombia. The presence of the Huancabamba depression on the border between Ecuador and Peru likely acts as a genetic barrier, limiting gene flow. The difference in branch length between Peruvian and Ecuadorian/Colombian species supports Brundin’s (1966) hypothesis, indicating a south-to-north colonization pattern.