Exotic continental gastropods and emerging helminth Parasites: Insights from the Iberian Peninsula.

The red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ), an alien species native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, was introduced into China from Japan in 1929. Its prolific reproduction, rapid growth, omnivorous diet, and broad adaptability have enabled it to colonize and thrive across China. The species' considerable economic value has cemented its status as an essential component of China's aquaculture industry. However, as an invasive species, the crayfish has also had detrimental effects on China's freshwater ecosystems. Escapes from aquaculture operations and deliberate releases have inflicted significant harm on rice paddies, levees, local food webs. Prior research has often focused one-sidedly on either the invasive risks or the economic benefits of the red swamp crayfish, resulting in a lack of comprehensive evaluation of its overall impact in China. This review presents in-depth data on the proliferation of the crayfish in China, highlighting its substantial economic contributions. By examining various facets of its success as an invasive species, the review provides a holistic perspective on the crayfish, both within China and globally, and elucidates its positive and negative impacts. Specifically, P. clarkii as a driver of economic growth and a source of ecological threat, and the urgent need to balance economic utilization with effective ecological management.

Prunus serotina (Ehrh.) is a deciduous tree that has spread quickly across Europe in recent decades, raising concern due to its negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Although recognised as an invasive species in many European countries, it is not included among the European Union’s invasive alien species of concern. This review summarises current knowledge on taxonomy, biology and management. To prevent misidentifications, we present taxonomic challenges and key morphological characteristics. Prunus serotina grows best on nutrient-rich, well-drained substrates and benefits from canopy disturbances or forest management. Key traits contributing to its invasion success include rapid juvenile growth, high and early seed production, vegetative reproduction, sapling bank formation, and allelopathy. High herbivory and pathogen pressure on native tree species also enhance P. serotina establishment and spread. Management strategies include mechanical, chemical and biological control methods, as well as management aimed at reducing forest susceptibility to invasion by enhancing resilience and, in some cases, accepting P. serotina in the forest. Across Europe, management is context-dependent: eradication is prioritised in the Czech Republic due to its limited distribution, while in Germany, Belgium, Poland, and the Netherlands, integration into structurally diverse forests and resilience enhancement are emphasised, often combined with targeted control in protected areas. Overall, P. serotina is an invasive species with negative impacts. In isolated populations of P. serotina, the aim should be to eradicate the species in order to limit further spread. In valuable ecosystems where complete eradication is unfeasible, the goal is to suppress P. serotina. • Review of taxonomy, biology, ekology and invasion history of Prunus serotina . • Key invasiveness traits: rapid growth, high seeding, sapling bank, resprouting. • Management strategies are context-dependent across European regions. • Eradication is prioritised in areas with limited distribution.

Human activities disrupt the parasitoid-mediated control of invasive alien species by fragmenting habitats and intensifying temperature-driven pest proliferation. However, the synergistic effects of changes in human-modified landscapes and climatic gradients on parasitoid-herbivore interactions remain underexplored, limiting integrated pest management. Here, we mapped the habitat suitability and dispersal-risk corridors of two invasive agromyzid leafminers (Liriomyza sativae and Liriomyza trifolii) and evaluated the effects of human activities and climate on the spatial association patterns of parasitoids-agromyzid leafminers on Hainan Island. The core risk patches and high-risk dispersal corridors of the two species were concentrated in towns and cultivated crop-growing areas in the northern plains and coastal regions, underscoring the key role of human activities in driving pest establishment and dispersal. As the temperature increased, human activities reduced the spatial association between agromyzid leafminers and parasitoids. In contrast, land use intensity strengthened their spatial association, likely indicating a trade-off between habitat fragmentation and cropland resource diversity in the spatial association patterns of these two populations. Our study reveals that human activities and climatic factors synergistically reduce spatial association patterns between parasitoids and invasive agromyzid leafminers. This pattern highlights a novel mechanism underlying pest-natural enemy mismatches and provides a conceptual basis for landscape-level strategies to enhance biological control. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Freshwater clams belonging to the genus Corbicula have been identified as exotic animals in New Zealand. Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genome of C. australis from a sample collected in the North Island of New Zealand.

Managing shipborne species introduction requires global coordination: Evidence from robustness thresholds in maritime networks.

The seed microbiome, encompassing bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses residing within or on seeds, represents an underexplored but potentially critical determinant of plant establishment and spread. In invasive alien plants, these co‐dispersed microbial communities may function as portable adaptive toolkits that enhance nutrient uptake, pathogen defence, and host plant performance. Here, we specifically evaluate the effects of seed endophytes of invasive alien species on plant performance. To evaluate this perspective, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis following PRISMA‐EcoEvo guidelines, screening Web of Science, Google Scholar and Citation Chaser. Seventeen studies representing 287 effect sizes met the inclusion criteria. We calculated effect sizes as log response ratios (lnRR) for mean plant performance and log coefficient of variation ratios (lnCVR) for variability in plant performance using multilevel meta‐analytic models and meta‐regressions. Across studies, alien invasive seed endophyte inoculation significantly increased mean plant performance, though effects varied widely. In contrast, the responses in performance variability were non‐significant, with a prediction interval ranging from −1.32 to 1.00, indicating high uncertainty and variability across studies. Stronger positive effects emerged under field and laboratory conditions compared to greenhouse or growth chamber experiments, with both bacterial and fungal inocula enhancing mean performance, and bacterial inoculation additionally reducing variability. These findings highlight seed‐associated microbiomes as potentially important contributors to invasion success. By enhancing plant performance, these microbial assemblages can directly shape establishment success and competitive outcomes. This perspective supports a shift to a holobiont view, where seeds and their microbiota function as units of dispersal and establishment, and highlights the need to integrate microbial symbionts into propagule pressure, risk assessment, and management frameworks.

Global climate change is set to create a future where natural hazards become more catastrophic and more frequent, with impacts on real estate expected to be substantial. At the same time, the transition to a low-carbon economy is reshaping asset values, with high-emission assets becoming less attractive. We adopted a systematic map approach to assess how the impact of climate risks, i.e., physical climate risks and transition climate risks, has been assessed in the academic and grey literature related to real estate valuation, published between 2014 and 2023. The retained corpus of 130 documents was coded according to a pre-defined coding framework, covering geographic distribution, evaluation methods, the type of real estate assets and impact assessment methods. Across the 130 included documents (peer-reviewed and grey literature), the evidence base is dominated by studies that quantify physical climate risk effects on real-estate values, most often using econometric capitalization approaches (e.g., hedonic regressions, DiD, repeat-sales). The most frequently studied hazards are hydrological ones, especially coastal and fluvial floods, typically operationalized using official hazard maps (particularly in US case studies) or through proxies such as elevation and distance to from the shoreline. A smaller subset of studies evaluates adaptation-relevant outcomes (e.g., damages via depth-damage functions) or uses alternative valuation variables such as asking prices, appraisals, or operating and maintenance costs in retrofit-focused works. Evidence on transition climate risks is present but much smaller in volume and is concentrated on a limited set of drivers, notably minimum energy performance requirements, energy labels and local externalities linked to renewable-energy deployment. This patterns partly reflects the study's focus on transition risks explicitly linked to decarbonization. In terms of geography, the literature is heavily concentrated in the United States, while European studies cluster in a few large economies (notably Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom). The corpus is overwhelmingly focused on one- and two-family housing, with comparatively fewer studies examining multi-family housing and commercial real estate. A small number of papers touch on ecosystem or environmental amenities changes affecting values, including cases linked to invasive or alien species (e.g., algae blooms), but these studies remain relatively rare in the overall corpus. The systematic map highlights several priority gaps for future research and evidence synthesis. First, transition risks remain underexplored beyond a narrow focus on energy-performance regulation, energy labels and renewable-energy proximity; more work is needed on additional channels such as disclosure regimes, financing and insurance repricing, changing tenant demand, and stranded-asset dynamics. Second, compound and cascading risks are rarely analyzed explicitly, even though real-estate exposure often reflects interacting hazards and changing baselines; advancing datasets and methods that represent multi-hazard interactions is therefore a key priority. Third, the geographic evidence base is skewed toward the United States, and more comparable, data-rich studies are needed across Europe to strengthen external validity. Fourth, research remains focused on single-family housing, limiting transferability to urban contexts where multi-family and commercial assets, and different ownership, tenancy, and financing structures, are central. Finally, ecosystem-related valuation impacts appear in only a small portion of the academic corpus and are limited in grey literature, suggesting a need for clearer conceptualization and more systematic integration of biodiversity and ecosystem mechanisms in real-estate climate-risk assessment.

Increasing invasion risk of the global invader Phenacoccus solenopsis: environmental niche expansion and potential economic impacts on cotton production.

Global ecosystems are under constant threat from nonindigenous species, with the potential to cause both economic and ecological harm on a global scale. The green crab (C. maenas) has invaded global coastlines, increasing resource competition and predating upon native organisms. Recent evidence also suggests the green crabs within the Canadian Pacific estuaries possess an acute tolerance to extremely dilute and freshwater (FW) environments compared to historical literature. If Pacific green crabs are indeed tolerant to limited FW exposure, this could increase their ecological range to forage or avoid competitive interactions and predation. Here we evaluate the response of Pacific C. maenas to acute FW exposure, and the implications of increasing temperatures on haemolymph composition in a dilute environment. With an average survival time of 25.4 ± 1.22h in FW following acclimation to 6.6 ppt seawater (SW), Pacific green crabs exhibited an acute tolerance to exposure in extremely dilute environments. Pacific green crab's haemolymph osmolality, branchial cyclic AMP (cAMP), oxygen consumption, haemolymph protein, and hemocyanin are largely unaffected within at least the first 6h of FW exposure. Branchial cAMP in particular was shown to be over 2-fold higher in green crabs acclimated to 18°C when compared to those acclimated at 12°C, suggesting that endocrine differences might be correlated to temperature rather than salinity. We propose that the invasive green crabs residing within the Canadian Pacific estuaries of Vancouver Island exhibit a limited but increased tolerance to extremely dilute environments compared to those historically measured in Atlantic populations.

Paraleyrodes minei is an invasive alien species in China, representing a new record for Yunnan Province and a new sugarcane pest. The mitochondrial genome of P. minei was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing platform. The genome sequence was assembled and annotated, and its structural characteristics and nucleotide composition were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree of 18 species in the family Aleyrodidae was constructed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods to analyze the phylogenetic relationship of P. minei within the family Aleyrodidae. The results indicated that the mitochondrial genome of P. minei was 18,774 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 1 non-coding control region. The A+T content of the mitochondrial genome of P. minei was 80.93%, indicating a marked A+T preference. ATN was used as the start codon for the PCGs, and TAA, TAG, TA, and T were used as the stop codons. In the secondary structure of tRNA, the TΨC arm was missing in trnA, trnC, and trnG, and the DHU arm was missing in trnS1 and trnS2, with G-U base mismatches present. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the 18 species of 10 genera in the two subfamilies of the family Aleyrodidae clustered into two major branches: the subfamilies Aleyrodinae and Aleurodicinae. All 10 genera were monophyletic groups; among them, the genus Paraleyrodes and the genus Aleurodicus formed a sister relationship, and both belonged to the subfamily Aleurodicinae. This study represents the first successful sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of P. minei, as well as the first mitochondrial genome of the genus Paraleyrodes, laying the foundation for the control of P. minei and the analysis of phylogenetic relationships among various genera of the family Aleyrodidae.

Large-scale assessment of non-indigenous macroalgae in Mediterranean sensitive habitats: Toward a standardized procedure.

Crystallization often occurs in the presence of foreign species ranging from the complex growth media in biological systems to the presence of modifiers or impurities in synthetic processes. Many of these systems contain multiple foreign species, yet relatively few studies examine the cooperative interplay between combinations of crystal growth modifiers for the purpose of tailoring or suppressing crystal formation. Here we examine modifiers of calcium oxalate monohydrate, a key component of kidney stones and a model system for studying pathological crystallization. Organic modifiers designed as therapeutic targets of human diseases frequently operate in solutions with a high ionic strength. In this study, we tested combinations of organic and inorganic ions, focusing on physiologically relevant alkali metals, and showed that the judicious selection of modifier pairs and their relative concentrations leads to unexpected transitions between cooperative modes of antagonism and synergism. These findings reveal effective crystal growth modifier combinations and highlight the active role of the background electrolytes.

Floral motifs form a central element of Malay batik, serving as visual expressions of belief, identity, and ecological awareness. This study examines how the bunga matahari (sunflower), a non-native botanical form, has been localized within Malay batik traditions on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. While research on native floral motifs is established, the adaptation pathways of foreign species remain underexplored, creating a significant gap in understanding how global forms are culturally assimilated. The research employs a collective case study of Kelantan and Terengganu and draws on Zakaria Ali’s six Malay aesthetic principles and integrates data from interviews, visual and thematic analyses, and institutional sources. The findings reveal that both regions share a symbolic language of vitality and harmony but differ in execution---Terengganu emphasizing structure and formality, while Kelantan favors rhythm and chromatic fluidity---illustrating how artisans transform global imagery into expressions of local identity. This study contributes a comparative framework for analyzing regional esthetics and demonstrates how adaptive creativity sustains cultural heritage, offering vital insights for the preservation and practice of batik as a living tradition.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence data of Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps (Actinopterygii, Loricariidae)

The crocodile monitor is an arboreal predator, and its ocular adnexa remain poorly characterized. This study provides the first detailed histochemical characterization of the ocular adnexa in this species, including the upper and lower eyelids, the nictitating membrane, the Harderian gland, and the lacrimal gland, based on two adult individuals. Because the available material was limited, the findings should be interpreted as descriptive baseline observations. Histological slides were analyzed using microanatomical assessment, histochemistry, and Picrosirius Red staining under polarized light. Both eyelids were covered by scales and contained a pigmented corneous β-protein-rich epidermis. A collagen-rich dermis with a thick stratum compactum and an osteoderm located between the dermis and hypodermis were identified. The posterior palpebral epithelium was non-keratinized and contained abundant goblet cells producing mainly acidic mucins. The lower eyelid also contained a dense regular tarsal plate and lymphoid tissue. The nictitating membrane was folded and pigmented, contained hyaline cartilage, and showed conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue. Birefringence patterns suggested Type I-like collagen in the perichondrium and Type III-like collagen in the cartilage matrix. The Harderian gland, a large acinar gland, opened onto the bulbar surface of the nictitating membrane and secreted mainly acidic mucins with a moderate neutral mucin component. The small lacrimal gland produced predominantly acidic mucins without detectable neutral mucins. These findings provide a baseline for the protective and secretory ocular structures of the crocodile monitor and represent the first detailed histochemical characterization of the studied orbital glands. In addition, this study contributes to comparative anatomy, veterinary medicine, and exotic animal conservation.

Islands host a disproportionately high richness of threatened native and invasive alien species. Despite intense research efforts, mechanisms underpinning extinction risk or invasion success are still not fully understood, which hinders the development of effective conservation strategies. The two-sides-of-the-same-coin (2sotsc) hypothesis, which states that traits involved in extinction risk and invasion success are identical, but with opposite values, remains largely untested at local scales where management occurs. Using five functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, maximum height, seed mass and dispersal syndrome) for 187 plant species from Reunion Island (Indian Ocean), we compared (i) threatened and non-threatened native woody species and (ii) invasive and non-invasive alien species. Seed mass was greater in threatened than in non-threatened woody natives. We found no trait difference among woody aliens, while specific leaf area was lower in invasive than in non-invasive aliens (woody and non-woody). Since different traits capture species differences in terms of extinction risk and invasion success, the underlying mechanisms are likely to differ. The species-centred perspective of the 2sotsc hypothesis appears too simplistic, which calls for better integrating community- and ecosystem-level impacts to resolve the complexity of extinction and invasion dynamics on islands and support informed conservation decision-making.

Invasive alien species (IAS) such as Silurus glanis and Procambarus clarkii represent major ecological threats but may also serve as effective bioindicators of environmental contamination; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate their potential for multi-contaminant monitoring and assess their suitability as alternative feed and food resources within a circular economy framework. Multi-contaminant profiles were investigated in S. glanis and P. clarkii from Avigliana Lakes (NW Italy), analyzing trace elements, rare earth elements (REEs), and organic contaminants in fish muscle, and microplastics (MPs) in intestinal tracts. In S. glanis, total trace element concentrations and ΣREEs were markedly higher in Small Lake than in Great Lake, with ΣREEs reaching 0.445 and 0.056 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Mean concentrations of the regulated elements in Great Lake were 0.017 mg/kg w.w. (As), 0.003 mg/kg w.w. (Cd), and 0.16 mg/kg w.w. (Pb), increasing in Small Lake to 0.19, 0.03, and 1.86 mg/kg w.w., respectively. In P. clarkii, contamination levels were lower, with ΣREEs averaging 0.074 mg/kg w.w. and mean concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb of 0.25, 0.006, and 0.21 mg/kg w.w., respectively. Organic contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs), and pesticides, were generally below limits of quantification. MPs were detected in 100% of specimens, with mean concentrations of 4.2 ± 2.15 and 4.4 ± 2.70 MPs per intestinal tract in S. glanis (Great and Small Lake, respectively) and 2.7 ± 2.39 MPs/intestinal tract in P. clarkii. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) indicated significant site-related differences in S. glanis and species-related differences between S. glanis and P. clarkii within Great Lake. Most regulated contaminants were below applicable EU thresholds; however, Pb in S. glanis from Small Lake exceeded the maximum level established for fish muscle intended for human consumption.

Morphology, distribution and assemblage impacts of three non-indigenous foraminiferal species on the Swedish west coast: Implications for shipping-related biopollution.

Biotic resistance, the reduction in invasion success caused by native communities, plays an important role in the long-term dynamics of biological invasions. A large body of empirical research on biotic resistance has accumulated since the last comprehensive review on the subject 20 years ago, enabling us to achieve a refined understanding of biotic resistance and its dynamics. Here, we aim to reshape research on biotic resistance to alien plant invasions by (i) synthesizing existing evidence on biotic resistance and (ii) exploring the so far rarely considered interplay between biotic resistance mechanisms (i.e. competition, aboveground and belowground antagonisms, and diversity-invasibility effects) and the potential eco-evolutionary changes in biotic resistance over time. To address the first aspect, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 240 experimental studies to assess the mechanisms by which and the extent to which biotic resistance of native communities affects the performance of alien plant species. We show that competition with native plant species, aboveground antagonism (e.g. herbivores) and diversity-invasibility effects significantly reduced alien plant performance, whereas there was no evidence for consistent effects of belowground antagonism (e.g. soil pathogens). Competition exerted the strongest biotic resistance, followed by aboveground antagonism. However, the strength of biotic resistance also depended on the alien plant performance measure considered (vegetative performance, survival, reproductive performance, or population growth). From the small set of studies that considered more than one biotic resistance mechanism, we did not detect an overall synergistic effect of combined mechanisms. The meta-analysis results also revealed that biotic resistance first decreased with the residence time of the alien plant species but increased again after approximately 200 years. In a subset of studies directly comparing species of different origin, we did not detect a difference in biotic resistance to alien versus native species. To address the second aspect, we expanded the limited empirical evidence on temporal dynamics by presenting a conceptual causal network and an accompanying mathematical model to explore the eco-evolutionary dynamics of biotic resistance mechanisms. Our conceptual and mathematical models highlight that biotic resistance is determined by both the attributes of the alien species (i.e. invasiveness) and of the recipient community (i.e. invasibility). Both factors can change over time as inter- and/or intraspecific selection cause changes in the composition and overall density of the native community and the alien species. As invaders evolve and the successful ones persist, biotic resistance initially decreases, then increases again due to intra- and interspecific adaptation of the native community. Using the findings from the comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies and our modelling approach, we highlight research avenues to better understand the temporal dynamics of biotic resistance to plant invasions, including how biotic resistance depends on multiple mechanisms and performance measures, how it may differently affect alien versus native species and crucially, how it changes over time.