The distribution of ‘cold-adapted’ plant species is expected to undergo severe range loss in the next future. Species distribution models predicting species’ future distribution often do not integrate species ability to respond to environmental factors through genetic traits or phenotypic plasticity. This especially applies to arctic-alpine species whose present-day range is strongly fragmented because of the cyclic vicissitudes they experienced during the Ice Age. We cultivated plants from four European populations of the arctic-alpine species Viscaria alpina from different geographic provenances. Two of the populations were from northern high-latitude regions in Scandinavia; the remainder two populations were from southern mid-latitude mountains. In both areas one population was from a colder site and the other from a warmer site. We cultivated the plants in controlled thermal conditions with two treatments, the one mimicking temperature conditions at the warmest site and the other adding two day-temperature peaks mimicking short-term heat waves. At the end of the experiment, we measured growth in length and mortality of all plants along with a set of ecophysiological variables. We also assessed genetic variation in the four populations based on plastid-DNA sequences. The plants from northern provenances grew more than those from the southern provenances. The plants of all populations performed overall well, in terms of growth rate and ecophysiology, under the heat spell with the plants of the Swedish population exhibiting the highest phenotypic plasticity. Such pattern was associated with highest genetic variation in the Swedish population. Mortality of the plants cultivated under warm temperatures was overall low, but mortality strongly increased in the plants exposed to the heat spell. We conclude that plants of V. alpina populations from different geographic provenances are generally able to cope with scenarios resulting from global warming but drought hampers resilience to heat waves through increased mortality.

The underwater soundscape was recorded in Seaview Bay off Inexpressible Island, Ross Sea region Marine protected area, for three days in December 2021. Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx vocalizations were a prominent sound source that led to variations in ambient sound pressure levels in a frequency range of approximately 150 to 4,500 Hz. Among the 14 call types previously identified, except ultrasound vocalizations, six types of broadcast calls were classified, and their acoustic characteristics were analyzed. We focused on the acoustic characteristics of four low-frequency calls, clustered in a relatively narrow bandwidth, which have been relatively less studied. We identified a new call type of a triple ascending trill consisting of three trill parts, expanding upon the findings of previous studies. The audio data extracted from leopard seal vocalization videos, recorded by a monitoring camera on sea ice, enhanced the reliability of identifications of the underwater triple ascending trill. We present the unique results of underwater passive acoustic monitoring conducted at Seaview Bay, designated as Antarctic Specially Protected Area No 178. Our results could contribute to the development of detection and localization algorithms for leopard seal vocalizations and can be used as fundamental data for studies related to the vocalization and behavior of this species.

Aim: Here we report on a long-term transplant study of a serpentine endemic plant where individuals were transplanted into cooler macro- and microclimatic refugia (i.e. higher elevations and north-facing aspects) in locations outside of its current range. We asked: 1) Did transplanted populations persist outside of their current range in micro- (cooler aspects) or macro- (higher elevations) climatic refugia? and 2) Was population persistence in climatic refugia helped or hindered by soil microbial communities? Location: Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon (USA) Taxon: Horkelia sericata (Rosaceae), Angiosperms Mycota (Fungi) Monera (Bacteria) Methods: At each transplant site, we counted surviving individuals (noting reproductive status) and then collected soil from both the rhizosphere of transplanted individuals and from an equal number of areas of nearby bare soil with no plants. Soil bacterial and fungal communities were assessed using next generation sequencing of 16S and ITS-1 marker genes Results: Of the 15 initial transplant sites, one (high elevation) site displayed population persistence (i.e., ‘successful’ site), defined as having surviving individuals with reproductive success. Four sites had surviving individuals but no reproductive success (i.e., ‘unsuccessful’ sites); the remaining 10 sites had no surviving individuals and were excluded from microbial analyses. The successful site had distinct soil fungal and bacterial community composition and a higher mututalist:pathogen ratio than the unsuccessful sites. Additionally, the mututalist:pathogen ratio did not differ between Horkelia’s rhizosphere and bare ground at the successful site, suggesting that the persistence of this population was enhanced by soil mutualists that were already present at that site. Main conclusions: Taken together, these results highlight that the success of species range shifts into climatic refugia may be influenced by the presence of suitable soil mutualists, emphasizing the need to consider soil microbial communities in future ra

Understanding patterns and mechanisms underlying local adaptation is becoming increasingly important for species conservation amid anthropogenically driven environmental change. Alpine systems are experiencing particularly intense pressure from environmental change resulting from increased rates of warming and corresponding loss of snow and ice. We integrate morphological and genetic analyses to identify traits important for local adaptation in one of the highest elevation breeding birds in North America, the Sierra Nevada Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. We performed an in-depth analysis of how traits with known links to thermoregulation in birds such as wing length, bill size, and feather microstructure vary between two populations at sites with contrasting climate and environmental conditions. We identified loci underlying these traits using a genome-wide association study and further examined regions of the genome related to altitude adaptation and cold tolerance using F ST outlier tests. Together, these results indicate that temperature, food availability, and alpine landscape features may impose multifaceted and potentially conflicting selective pressures on morphological traits important to adaptation in alpine birds. Overall, this work represents one of the first in-depth analyses of the genetic basis of adaptation in an alpine specialist songbird.

The foraging strategies of sympatric ungulates with similar ecological niches are important for understanding ecological niche differentiation, resource utilization, competition, and coexistence and for understanding the ecological impacts on plant communities in the ecosystem. The behavior of the wapiti (Cervus elaphus) and Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) foraging on Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) has affected its succession and renewal in the northeastern forests of China, which has become an urgent problem for the relevant departments. This study analyzed the foraging strategies of the wapiti and Siberian roe deer on Japanese yew from July 2021 to January 2024 using field investigations and infrared camera monitoring in the Muling National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. It was found that the wapiti and Siberian roe deer have different foraging strategies in terms of time, space, and behavior. Temporally, they both preferred to forage for the saplings of the Japanese yew during the winter season, the degree of overlap in foraging rhythms was medium (Dhat1=0.67), and the diurnal foraging activity index (DRAI) of the wapiti was larger than that of the Siberian roe deer. Spatially, the suitable foraging habitat of the Siberian roe deer was twice that of the wapiti, and their overlap was low in the location and direction of saplings and the distance of the seed tree. Behaviorally, the foraging intensity of the wapiti was heavy, and Siberian roe deer was low. Foraging reduced the average primary branch height, number of new branches, and length of lateral branches of saplings, and the influence of the wapiti was significantly greater than that of the Siberian roe deer. This study provides a scientific basis for solving the conservation and management problems of the deer animals foraging on Japanese yew and contributes to further understanding of the competition-coexistence mechanism of sympatric species.

Restoring temperate grasslands often necessitates the introduction of large quantities of seeds, a process that is regulated by seed transfer zones in many countries. These zones are commonly delineated based on abiotic factors. Consequently, it remains uncertain to what extent existing seed zones represent, and thereby protect or erode the spatial distribution of genetic variation. Empirical data on the spatial genetic structure of grassland species are therefore essential to address this knowledge gap. Moreover, as seed zones are increasingly expected to provide genotypes pre-adapted to climate change, such data can also inform predictions of maladaptation and support the identification of suitable donor populations. Here, we focus on Galium album, a widespread perennial grassland species, which we sampled systematically across Germany, with an average of one population per 25 km-square area. Based on 8,348 SNP loci, we analysed the population genetic structure using Bayesian clustering. We identified four spatially coherent genetic clusters, which explained 2.43 % of genomic variation, but showed little congruence with current seed zones. Yet, seed zones still capture a significant component of spatial genetic structure (1.92 %), which is also reflected in a significant isolation by distance among zones. Seed transfer practices are increasingly challenged by climate change, shifting the adaptive requirements for populations. We performed a genotype–environment association analysis using redundancy analysis, and estimated the genomic offset, i.e. the genomic change required to maintain the current genotype-environment relationship under climate change. The genomic offset was generally moderate across Germany, even under a pessimistic climate scenario projected into the more distant future (SSP5-8.5, 2081-2100). For one of the few locations where the temporal genomic offset slightly exceeded a previously proposed threshold, we identified suitable donor regions harbouring potentially pre-adapted genotypes for targeted assisted migration, both within the same and in adjacent zones.

Genetic analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) loci using non-invasive fecal samples is currently the most widely used method in genetic surveys of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). However, Low-quality fecal DNA obtained from fecal samples may affects the correctness of short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping results and poses a challenge to accurately identify individuals. The aim of this study was thus to compare the efficiency of DNA extraction kits in obtaining high-quality fecal host DNA from giant panda fecal samples. In the present study, six commercial kits widely used in fecal DNA extraction, the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit (Q kit), Beaver Beads™ Stool DNA Kit (H kit), Mag-MK Soil & Stool Genome DNA Extraction kit (S kit), Magnetic Soil And Stool DNA Kit (T kit), E.Z.N.A™ Mag-Bind Stool DNA Kit (O kit) and Mag Beads Fast DNA Kit for Feces (M kit), were compared to improve the efficiency of STR genotyping of giant panda fecal DNA samples. Fecal DNA concentration and purity were measured, and STR genotyping was performed using blood and fecal DNA from captive giant pandas to compare the genotype matches at 11 STR loci. Our results show that the most efficient extraction kits were the Q and T kits, and the Q kit had a greater ability to remove PCR inhibitors than other kits. However, different STR genotyping systems require different DNA extraction kits in order to achieve the highest possible genotyping correctness.

Seed dispersal is a dynamic process through which diaspores (seeds or seed-bearing fruits) are detached from the mother plant, transported to different sites in the landscape and recruited. A variety of biotic and abiotic factors contribute to seed dispersal processes, resulting in a high diversity of dispersal systems observed in nature. At present, the relationship and classification of seed dispersal processes remain unclear. It is therefore essential to delineate seed dispersal systems and understand their functional traits concerning ecosystem functioning and diversity to elucidate plant distribution patterns and forest regeneration mechanisms. In this review, we present an updated synthesis of the knowledge generated on diaspora dispersal systems (fruits with seeds) regarding their efficiency and legitimacy. In order to achieve this purpose, an exhaustive analysis of 184 bibliographical references was conducted, primarily from the last decade, while ensuring the inclusion of seminal works from preceding years. We specifically describe how endozoochory and diploendozoochory can be considered an efficient and legitimate dispersal system for plants, as well as the potential benefits of a triple endozoochory process. This prompted us to compile a comprehensive account of primary research on each dispersal system. This review demonstrates that diaspore dispersal is a multifactorial process associated with intrinsic attributes of the diaspores, their dispersers, and their interactions with the environment. and proposes a subtype of seed dispersal by endozoochory (triploendozoochory). Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of dispersal systems is imperative for the development of effective forest management and conservation strategies, particularly in the context of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances.

Population genetic studies have traditionally relied on data from short tandem repeat (STR) markers, known as microsatellites, to produce individual genotypes used in population genetics research. However, size fragment analysis from traditional capillary electrophoresis presents scoring challenges and limits data comparisons among labs. Here, we present a new, cost-effective universal microsatellite genotype-by-sequencing assay for Canis species that allows for unambiguous allele calls, flags homoplasy for more accurate assignment tests and estimates of diversity and improves genotyping output from low-template DNA. We note size homoplasy in 18 of 26 loci with the number of alleles being 32% higher in the dataset that included sequence mutations (Namut=334) compared to the dataset based on size alone (Nalen=253). Assignment tests with Bayesian cluster analysis were similar for both datasets, although 64 of 84 samples had higher assignment values to their primary cluster when mutations were considered. We document and code a list of sequence mutations associated with each locus and propose a framework for building an accessible, universal STR dataset for wolves, coyotes, and dogs that improves cluster assignments and admixture estimates in a system with complex demography and hybridization patterns. Overall, the assay provides an improved microsatellite method of genetic monitoring to aid conservation of wolf populations.

Galliformes are one of the most rapidly declining groups of bird species in Europe. The black grouse belongs to species closely related to the types of habitats that are disappearing due to environmental changes caused by man, climate crisis, and an increase in the number of predator species. While the populations of this species in Northern and North-Eastern Europe are still relatively stable, in Central and Western Europe the black grouse is declining very quickly. For example, in Poland, there has been an approximately 100-fold decrease in its population over the last 50 years. However, there is a difference between the rate of decline in black grouse numbers in Central European lowlands and mountain refuges - e.g. the Alps and the Carpathians. The European mountains, still offering habitats shaped by relatively severe climate, may soon be the only type of habitat for this species to survive in this part of the continent. Our study aimed to indicate the main environmental factors determining the occurrence of the species in a mountain refuge, on the southwestern border of this species' continuous range. Based on a comprehensive model containing data on land cover by vegetation, topography, and human disturbance, we assessed environmental factors that shape the probability of black grouse occurrence in one of its last refuges in Europe. Our results reveal a trend for black grouse to prefer habitats of an early succession stage, and those can only persist in specific climatic conditions, or thanks to active protection. Detailed knowledge of the habitat choice of an endangered species is valuable data necessary to avoid the fragmentation of remaining patches of its habitat, to assess the state of the environment in times of climate crisis, and to protect its features that ensure and increase the survival of vulnerable species, such as black grouse.

The dynamics of virulence evolution in vector-born plant pathogens can be complex. Here we use individual-based simulations to investigate how virulence evolution depends on genetic trade-offs and population structure in pathogen populations. Although quite generic, the model is inspired by the ecology of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, and we use it to gain insights into possible modes of evolution of virulence in that group. In particular, we aim to sharpen our intuition about how virulence may evolve over short time scales in response to decreases in vector efficacy. We find that even when pathogens find themselves much more often in hosts than vectors, selection in the vector environment can cause correlational and potentially non-adaptive changes in virulence in the host. The extent on such correlational virulence evolution depends on many system parameters, including the pathogen transmission rate, the relative proportions of the pathogen population occurring in hosts versus vectors, the strengths of selection in host and vector environments, and the extent of virulence per se. But there is a statistical interaction between the strength of selection in vectors and the predominance of pathogens in hosts, such that if within-vector selection is strong enough, the predominance of pathogens within hosts has little effect on the evolution of virulence.

Quercus chungii is an endemic tree species in China, rare and endangered in subtropical areas of China. Understanding its population structure and temporal dynamics is crucial for conserving and restoring Q. chungii population and its associated ecosystems. However, large knowledge gaps remain about its population structure and temporal change, and its key demographic rates across size classes. In this study, we investigated the population structures of Q. chungii in 2013 and 2023 in a nature reserve specifically established to better conserve Q. chungii and its associated ecosystems. We found that Q. chungii increased in its overall abundance, frequency and tree size in the past decade, suggesting active regeneration and fast growth rate of this species and the effectiveness of past conservation efforts. The age structure in 2023 shows a pyramid shape, with a sharp decline in the numbers of individuals from germinated seeds to seedlings and from seedlings to saplings. These lead to the low numbers of seedlings and saplings and high age-specific death probabilities at the early developmental stages. These results indicate potential risks of future population decline. These risks may have already manifested over the past decade, as a high mortality rate during the seedling-to-sapling transition could be one of the primary reasons contributing to the decreased proportion of saplings in 2023 compared to 2013. We propose that future studies may benefit from in-depth studies on the regeneration processes of Q. chungii by considering seed predation and germination under changing climate. This study improves the prediction of population development of Q. chungii and provide theoretical guidance for the conservation of Q. chungii.

The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is a megaherbivore integral to ecosystem functioning in South America’s tropical landscapes but is increasingly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. This study assessed occupancy, detectability, and activity patterns of lowland tapirs across the Orinoquia region of Colombia. We deployed 360 camera traps over 32,000 trap-days from 2015 to 2023 across nine study areas, evaluating the influence of habitat characteristics and anthropogenic factors on tapir presence using hierarchical occupancy models. Our results revealed a naïve occupancy of 0.40 and an overall detectability of 0.46. Model-averaged estimates identified dense forest cover as a critical positive predictor of tapir occupancy (Ψ = 0.58, CI: 0.39–0.64), while proximity to water resources similarly enhanced both occupancy and detectability. Conversely, anthropogenic landscapes such as pastures negatively impacted occupancy probabilities (Ψ = 0.45, CI: 0.40–0.51), whereas crop areas, primarily those used for household consumption, showed a surprising positive association. Our findings underscore the importance of dense forests and water bodies for tapir conservation and suggest that effective management strategies must address habitat fragmentation, road expansion, and human-wildlife conflicts. Future conservation efforts should include intensive monitoring, community-based participatory approaches, and consideration of climate change impacts to ensure the long-term survival of tapir populations in this rapidly changing landscape.

Fish diversity is essential for maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, particularly in rivers impacted by overfishing and hydropower projects, such as the Jinsha River, the upstream segment of the Yangtze River. During initial phases (August and November, 2023) of the 10-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin, we investigated fish diversity, seasonal variations, and their correlation with environmental factors in the Jinsha River using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Utilizing two pairs of 12S rRNA primers, MiFish-U and AcMDB07, we identified 61 fish species across 5 orders, 17 families, and 52 genera, including 4 national protected and 7 invasive alien fish. Among them, Cypriniformes constituted the predominant group within the fish community, accounting for 65.6%. This finding aligns with the results from a recent fish catch study, which recorded 68 species of fish belonging to 4 orders, 15 families and 48 genera, including 4 national protected species and 8 invasive alien fish. The alpha diversity analysis revealed compositional differences in the fish community across various regions and seasons. Furthermore, key environmental factors, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate nitrogen, total suspended solids and conductivity, were found to be highly correlated with the fish diversity in the Jinsha River. Consequently, we provided detailed seasonal data on fish diversity and its correlations with environmental factors, which will aid in the systematic management and restoration of fishery resources and the assessment of the 10-year fishing ban in the Jinsha River.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown The distribution of biodiversity along elevational gradients, and the drivers of these patterns, are research hotspots in community ecology; nonetheless, these aspects remain insufficiently understood. To address this, we established 24 plots along an elevational gradient from 300–1400 m on Daming Mountain, Guangxi, China, and examined the patterns and drivers of species and phylogenetic diversity along this gradient, via polynomial regression, correlation analysis, and redundancy analyses. With increasing elevation, species and phylogenetic diversity showed a hump-shaped trend, and the phylogenetic structure shifted from clustering to dispersion (or reduced clustering). Elevation was the primary environmental driver of variation in species diversity, soil available phosphorus and soil pH were the primary factors influencing both species and phylogenetic diversity, and nitrate nitrogen content was the most significant factor affecting species diversity. These findings, which reveal the patterns of diversity of woody plant communities along an elevational gradient on Daming Mountain, will contribute to the development of biodiversity conservation strategies for the region

The common crane (Grus grus), like other soaring species of birds, uses a migration strategy to minimise the risk of wind drift over open sea, resulting in aggregation of birds along migratory corridors. With the planned large-scale development of offshore wind farms there is a need for an improved understanding of the potential interactions between cranes and the wind turbines as they cross the sea during migration. By using laser rangefinder tracking and GPS-tagged crane individuals we studied the vertical flight behaviour in relation to weather conditions as they cross the Arkona Basin between Sweden and Germany. The effect of weather conditions on the vertical distribution (i.e. flight altitudes) of the cranes was modelled using generalized additive mixed models. The results show that the flight altitude of common cranes crossing the basin strongly depends on the wind and visibility conditions. Both during the spring and autumn migration the cranes utilise thermal winds at the coast to soar, and frequently reach altitudes >300 m. Despite variability in wind and visibility conditions, the model predictions showed that the flight altitude descended towards the central offshore parts of the basin with a steeper descending trend during headwind and during poor visibility. The Arkona Basin is currently the focus of large-scale offshore wind farm development activities with a full built out of the region’s capacity for offshore wind projected to cover approximately 80% of the migration corridor. Our results indicate that the overall collision risk of migrating cranes will depend on the frequency of adverse conditions which cause the birds to fly at rotor height over the wind development zone.

Mediterranean inland saline lakes may play an important role in the carbon cycle due to the metabolic capacities of their prokaryotic communities. However, these lakes are not homogeneous and have different environmental characteristics. In this work, the structure and function of the prokaryotic communities inhabiting water and sediments of 15 Mediterranean inland saline shallow lakes have been studied. These lakes are grouped in categories according to their salinity, conservation statuses and alterations, which determine the structuration of the prokaryotic communities and their carbon-related metabolisms. Each salinity category and conservation status showed characteristic prokaryotic taxa. Relative abundance of methanogenic archaea tended to increase along the salinity gradient, but this did not result into increased methane emissions. The relationship between metabolic rates and the predicted abundance of their marker genes depended on the type of metabolism. Archaea played a relevant role in the organisation of interactions between community members and were markers of good conservation status. Water communities were shaped by the salinity gradient, conservation status and seasonality, while sediment communities were mostly determined by the salinity gradient. This work highlights the importance of combining molecular studies with in situ metabolic measurements to better understand carbon fluxes in inland saline aquatic ecosystems.

The shifting climatic regime of maritime Antarctica is driving complex changes across trophic levels that manifest differentially across species and regions. Land-breeding pinnipeds have increased their seasonal attendance near Palmer Station since earliest observations in the mid-1900s, and Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) now represent a significant but unstudied predator population in the area during the austral summer. To characterize the timing of abundance and fine-scale distribution of this seasonal attendance, we carried out regular drone surveys of terrestrial habitats near Palmer Station in the austral summer of 2020. Using repeat animal counts and photogrammetric data products, we modeled fur seal abundance at survey sites over the period of observation, modeled habitat suitability based on fine-scale topographic habitat characteristics, and estimated abundance across terrestrial habitats near Palmer Station as a function of date and site suitability. Estimated peak abundance occurred on March 11 (day 71) of 2020, and high habitat suitability was most associated with low-slope and low-elevation inshore terrain, and relatively dry, sun-exposed, and wind-sheltered locations. Models estimated 2289–5544 (95% confidence interval) fur seals on land across all potential terrestrial habitats (41 discrete sites) near Palmer Station and Wylie Bay on the south coast of Anvers Island during peak abundance. This constitutes a first estimate of the aggregate timing and abundance of terrestrial occupancy of Antarctic fur seals in this region—a critical first step in understanding the phenology and ecological role of this largely nonbreeding predator population. These findings establish a baseline from which to estimate future changes in this seasonal population and the potential pressures it exerts on sympatric terrestrial and marine biota, as the physical environment and food chain of the western Antarctic Peninsula transform under long-term climatic changes.