ABSTRACT Odonata is a cosmopolitan, indicator group of insects residing on all continents except Antarctica, with notable species richness in Africa's tropical montane forests. In East Africa, this group is threatened by habitat loss and degradation driven by rapid population growth. This study investigated odonate assemblages and their conservation concern in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP, Afromontane) and Bugoma Central Forest Reserve (BCFR, mid‐altitude) in the Albertine Rift in Uganda. From December 2022 to July 2023, 61 sites were cross‐sectionally surveyed (26 in BCFR, 35 in BINP) to analyse community composition, habitat preferences, and conservation threats. Odonate key habitats in these forests were mapped. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed distinct odonate communities in BCFR and BINP with limited overlap. Odonate diversity was computed using both Shannon diversity indices and species richness. BCFR registered a significantly higher overall species richness (median = 3.0) than BINP (median H = 2.0, p < 0.01). However, BINP hosted more range‐restricted and globally threatened species, with a higher threat‐based score (median TBS = 2.00) compared to BCFR (median TBS = 0.00, p < 0.01). Threatened species such as Neodythemis munyaga (Endangered) and Albertine Rift endemics such as Stenocypha molindica and Stenocypha jacksoni were strongly associated with BINP's high‐altitude, pristine streams characterized by clear water with low salinity, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. Substantial anthropogenic pressures were recorded in BCFR, threatening critical odonate habitats. We emphasise the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts to preserve the forest ecosystem services and their unique odonate diversity.

ABSTRACT The Alboran Sea, located at the western Mediterranean Sea, hosts a diverse and ecologically important cetacean community, including endangered species. However, current marine protected areas (MPAs) in the region are limited in scope, and existing conservation strategies are insufficient to address the wide‐ranging ecological needs of cetaceans. This study aims to synthesise existing national and international conservation initiatives in the Alboran Sea, develop a prioritization framework and propose a global protection framework for the basin. Our main results highlight that the Alboran Sea presents diverse protection figures including multiple sites of community importance (SCI) for the conservation of cetaceans, as well as it has been designated a cetacean critical habitat, and three different important marine mammal areas (IMMAs) have been identified. In addition, by using species distribution models and a prioritization approach, we identified key areas requiring enhanced protection for multiple cetacean species. The prioritization analysis considered various conservation scenarios, including minimising area costs and accounting for human threats such as fishing and pollution. Three critical areas emerged from our analysis, bridging existing SCIs. So, in this context, we propose the establishment of new protected areas in the northern site of the basin and advocate for a large‐scale marine sanctuary—the Mediterranean Gate Sanctuary—due to the overlap of several national and international proposals for protection. A threat‐based, species‐ and space‐oriented conservation approach is recommended to effectively safeguard the region's biodiversity. By fostering stakeholder engagement and transnational collaboration, this sanctuary could address the ecological challenges cetaceans face and ensure sustainable marine management in the Alboran Sea.

ABSTRACT Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, yet they are rapidly declining due to climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. Population reductions threaten sexual reproduction in sessile coral species, as increased distances between colonies hinder gamete encounters. Once populations fall below critical density thresholds, natural recovery may become impossible even after stressors are removed. Biobanking of coral germplasm has therefore emerged as a key strategy to preserve genetic diversity and support reef restoration. This study developed and validated a cryopreservation protocol for sperm of the Brazilian endemic reef‐building coral Mussismilia harttii , representing a milestone in coral conservation for the Southwestern Atlantic. Spermatozoa were exposed to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol (MeOH) at concentrations of 10%, 15% and 20% and subjected to controlled slow freezing and ultra‐rapid freezing. Postthaw analyses assessed motility, mitochondrial activity and viability. The best results were obtained with 20% DMSO and controlled slow freezing, yielding 29.7% ± 0.84% motility and 83.6% ± 2.2% viability. Mitochondrial activity (MTT assay) was higher with 15% MeOH (1.63 ± 0.17) than with DMSO (0.74 ± 0.17). Cryopreserved sperm (20% DMSO + slow freezing) achieved a 100% fertilization rate, statistically equivalent to fresh sperm ( p = 0.4533). This optimized protocol enabled the establishment of the first coral sperm repository in the South Atlantic, currently storing 2.4 billion viable M. harttii spermatozoa. This repository provides a crucial resource to safeguard genetic diversity, strengthen assisted breeding programs and enhance the long‐term conservation and restoration capacity of Brazilian coral reefs.

ABSTRACT The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (common name: red sea plume) is attracting global attention because of its ability to reduce methane emissions in livestock systems. However, its habitat and distribution within the Great Barrier Reef (GBR)—one of the world's most iconic marine ecosystems—remain largely unexplored, posing challenges for conservation and the sustainable development of the seaweed industry. To help bridge this gap, we used habitat suitability modelling to identify areas in the GBR with favourable environmental conditions for A. taxiformis . We combined traditional and community‐contributed data with marine spatial datasets to generate a predictive model using a machine learning approach (MaxEnt). Our findings indicate that A. taxiformis may occupy a broad habitat range along the GBR, spanning nearshore and offshore areas from the northern to southern sectors, albeit with some gaps. These potential habitats include areas with no previous records. Highly suitable habitats were found in areas with water depth of less than 20 m, minimum average seawater velocities of 0.3–0.5 m s −1 , and minimum photosynthetically active radiation levels of 25–28 E m −2 day −1 . Future projections suggest that more areas will become more suitable by 2050, possibly indicating habitat expansion. The identification of unreported potential habitats of A. taxiformis in the GBR provides a foundation for targeted monitoring and adaptive conservation and management strategies at both species and ecosystem levels.

ABSTRACT The inclusion of all Anguilla eel species in CITES Appendix II, now being discussed, is an insufficient measure. Four severely threatened species should be in Appendix I, whereas the other 13 species qualify for Appendix II. More ambitious CITES amendments are needed to achieve effective protection of Anguilla eels.

ABSTRACT Stakeholders' engagement in conservation planning is key to the success of any in situ conservation programme. Therefore, an understanding of stakeholders' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions is important. In this study, we investigated the accidental and intentional illegal catch of the endangered Ganges River dolphin ( Platanista gangetica ) in the lower Gangetic plains region, Bangladesh, and assessed the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of dolphin‐stakeholder groups in the value chain (88 general fishermen, 16 catfish fishermen, eight dolphin hunters, six dolphin oil producers and 31 fishing store keepers). General fishermen and dolphin hunters captured 139 P. gangetica since 2000, of which 93% were sold for making dolphin oil. The fate of accidentally caught dolphins was affected by the level of education of fishermen. Only 3.4% of general fishermen and 9.7% of fishing store keepers were aware of the threatened status of the species. Respondent stakeholders had no training on dolphins and their conservation, and were unaware of dolphin conservation laws. Poor knowledge of fish oil, an alternative to dolphin oil for catfish fishing, was also recorded. Stakeholders' responses to various dolphin conservation issues revealed a conflict of interests among stakeholder groups and negligence regarding several conservation issues. We recommend the inclusion of all stakeholder groups in dolphin conservation management, ensuring proper education through training and frequent policing for illegal catch. In addition, rewarding general fishermen for each successful release of accidentally caught dolphins and exploration of alternate livelihood opportunities for dolphin hunters are also suggested.

ABSTRACT The Chinese tapertail anchovy ( Coilia nasus ) stands as the last self‐sustaining anadromous species maintaining large upstream migratory populations in the Yangtze River basin. The migratory ecology of C. nasus remains poorly understood owing to challenges in tracing natal origins and freshwater habitat use. To address this, we developed a Sr isotope baseline ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) using water samples and juvenile otoliths (younger than 2 months). Distinctive 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in Poyang Lake served as reliable natural markers, enabling 100% accurate identification of Poyang Lake origin freshwater‐resident Coilia brachygnathus individuals, making it possible to trace the natal origins and freshwater habitat use in Poyang Lake. However, the classification success rates of the low and middle reaches of the Yangtze River main channel, Dongting Lake and Shijiu Lake are relatively low. Otolith 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio analysis of adults revealed strong natal homing, with 97.7% (127/130) of specimens captured in Poyang Lake originating from Poyang Lake. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr profiles demonstrated the diversity in the timing of their migration out of Poyang Lake, illustrating variations in life history. Three distinct life‐history categories emerged from 87 Sr/ 86 Sr profiles: long‐term residents (> 60% juveniles) exhibiting prolonged lacustrine residency, medium‐term residents transitioning to the Yangtze mainstem prior to marine migration and short‐term residents (body length, < 28 mm) demonstrating rapid freshwater outmigration. Notably, almost all juveniles completed marine transition before the first annulus formation (one exception). These findings establish critical ecological benchmarks for assessing the impacts of the construction, management and operation of the Poyang Lake Hydraulic Project on C. nasus life‐history diversity and population connectivity.

No abstract is available for this article.