Abstract As global food demand rises with population growth, much of the expected land conversion to agriculture is projected to occur in tropical biodiversity hotspots. Balancing food production and biodiversity conservation requires managing agricultural landscapes to serve both goals. To support this, we examined how animal distribution in an oil palm plantation is influenced by landscape context and habitat structure. The study was conducted in Johor, Malaysia, a region dominated by oil palm agriculture. Passive acoustic recorders were deployed across 35 sites within a 1160-hectare oil palm plantation, encompassing a range of yield levels, and distances to natural features. Recordings were collected periodically during the inter-monsoonal period, April-May 2025, targeting peak seasonal and circadian vocal activity of birds and anurans, and analysed using BirdNET and manual spectrogram inspection to identify birds, anurans, and mammals. A total of 89 vertebrate species (75 birds, 12 anurans, 2 mammals) were detected, including several threatened species. Species richness was greatest at sites with taller canopies, lower frond cover, and closer proximity to water and forests, highlighting the importance of maintaining structural complexity and connectivity to maximise biodiversity within plantations. Exploratory analysis found no significant relationship between bird richness, including frugivores, and palm oil yield, thereby suggesting limited short-term effects, though extended studies are required to evaluate longer-term biodiversity influences on production. To enhance biodiversity, we recommend replanting native trees on low-yield blocks, enhancing vertical structure with tree islands, and maintaining clean waterways, while keeping frond stacking to < 50% to balance biodiversity with production.

Abstract Hybridization between widespread species and narrow endemics poses a serious conservation threat, often leading to extinction via genetic swamping. In this study, we applied an integrated approach—combining genetics, morphometrics, and functional ecology—to investigate the implications of hybridization between the widespread species Limonium cossonianum and the Critically Endangered L. estevei . We combined molecular markers (AFLPs, ITS, and chloroplast markers), morphometric analyses, and elemental profiling of leaves and soils. Elemental profiles provided a novel proxy for biogeochemical niche differentiation, while genetic markers resolved phylogenetic relationships and the direction and extent of gene flow. Crucially, our results revealed extensive and asymmetric introgression occurring exclusively from the hybrid into L. cossonianum , with no evidence of genetic swamping affecting the genetic integrity of L. estevei . Elementome analyses showed that L. cossonianum occupies a significantly distinct biogeochemical niche, whereas L. estevei and the hybrid share similar elemental composition. Furthermore, the hybrid’s elementome exhibited a mosaic inheritance pattern, suggesting a novel functional strategy that may contribute to its local persistence. We conclude that the mechanisms of niche differentiation, coupled with reproductive asymmetry, have acted as an evolutionary shield for L. estevei , protecting this species from extinction through genetic swamping. Our findings indicate that, although hybridization does not currently threaten the genetic integrity of L. estevei , its long-term persistence will depend on the conservation of the highly specific edaphic conditions on which the species relies. Given the marked soil specialization documented here, strategies focusing on the preservation of its functional and edaphic niche are likely to be essential.

Abstract This article investigates Salada Farrachuela, a saline wetland situated on outcrops of the Barbastro Gypsum Formation, NE Spain, in an inland area with protected species and habitats of the Natura 2000 European network. Farrachuela is an uncultivated and intermittently flooded wetland harboring organisms adapted to high salinity. However, it is not mentioned in the official description of the Natura 2000 ES2410074 site and is not considered for conservation. The soil of salada Farrachuela differs from both the surrounding soils and the comparable saladas of Monegros, located 60 km south, in terms of gypsum content, electrical conductivity, and the proportion of major ions. The sedimentary functioning of Farrachuela and its gypseous character are illustrated here by a thin section of the soil that also shows valves of Ostracods and other organic residues; moreover, plants and specimens of Heterocypris barbara (Gauthier and Brehm 1928) grew in a lab culture of mud. The salinity and halophilous vegetation differ strongly from the surrounding non-saline gypseous land. The salient features of Farrachuela described here highlight its ecological value. Hopefully, the approach and data presented in this article will serve as a reference for future studies and comparisons with other gypseous wetlands in the world, which are often neglected and lacking appropriate methods.

Abstract This study reconstructs the evolution, over the past 35 years, of the plant landscape in the Oreto River Basin (Palermo, NW Sicily), an area of high ecological value included in the Site of Community Importance ITA020012. A vegetation map produced in 1990 was georeferenced and digitalized, then compared with a new land-use map generated from satellite imagery, field-checked, and classified according to the CORINE Land Cover level 3 system. The analyses show that artificial surfaces increased from 8.86% to 15.89% of the Basin, driven by urban sprawl, while agricultural land declined from 38.83% to 29.10%. Pure citrus groves decreased by 14.69 km², whereas olive groves (+ 3.89 km²) and mixed orchards (+ 5.50 km²) expanded, often in response to growing water scarcity. Natural and semi-natural areas show a slight overall increase (from 52.09% to 54.72%), despite a sharp loss of conifer reforestations (–8.17 km²) due to recurrent fires, which fostered the expansion of natural grasslands (+ 13.80 km²). The fragmentation of relict communities of Chrysojasminum fruticans , Ilex aquifolium , Ostrya carpinifolia , and Platanus orientalis , together with the decline of Carex panormitana near urban areas, highlights emerging conservation concerns. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for integrated policies to curb uncontrolled urbanization, prevent fires, and enhance both forest biodiversity and the traditional agricultural landscape.

Abstract Ten surface water samples were collected from five distinct aquatic environments; the Mediterranean Sea, Estuary, Barge Canal, Nile River and Manzala Lake. Each water body possesses unique ecological characteristics. Zooplankton communities were analyzed across these environments to assess biodiversity and eutrophication status. Results revealed that trophic conditions varied significantly according to the type of water body. Mesotrophic conditions dominated the central part of the study area around the Nile River, while eutrophic conditions prevailed in the southeastern region near Manzala Lake. A total of 23 zooplankton species were recorded and classified into seven major groups. The Mediterranean Sea exhibited the highest biodiversity (11 species), whereas the Barge Canal had the lowest (4 species). Manzala Lake showed the highest standing crop (29520 org/m 3 ), reflecting its nutrient-rich and highly productive environment influenced by agricultural and industrial discharges. This elevated nutrient input promotes marine enrichment and enhances zooplankton diversity, particularly of brackish and euryhaline species. Crustaceans dominated the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting their importance in the marine food web, while meroplanktonic larvae were predominant in the Barge Canal, indicating its function as a spawning zone for benthic organisms. Crustaceans and meroplankton were also dominant in the Nile Delta coastal area and Manzala Lake, reflecting favorable conditions for brackish water communities. Rotifers were the most prevalent group in the Nile River, indicating potential eutrophication and anthropogenic pressure.