Biodiversity Patterns Research Articles

Cryptic Diversity in Scorpaenodes xyris (Jordan & Gilbert 1882) (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) Throughout the Tropical Eastern Pacific.

The tropical eastern Pacific (TEP) is a biogeographic region with a substantial set of isolated oceanic islands and mainland shoreline habitat barriers, as well as complex oceanographic dynamics due to major ocean currents, upwelling areas, eddies, and thermal instabilities. These characteristics have shaped spatial patterns of biodiversity between and within species of reef and shore fishes of the region, which has a very high rate of endemism. Scorpaenodes xyris, a small ecologically cryptic reef-dwelling scorpionfish, is widely distributed throughout the TEP, including all the mainland reef areas and all the oceanic islands. This wide distribution and its ecological characteristics make this species a good model to study the evolutionary history of this type of reef fish across the breadth of a tropical biogeographical region. Our evaluation of geographic patterns of genetic (mitochondrial and nuclear) variation shows that S. xyris comprises two highly differentiated clades (A and B), one of which contains four independent evolutionary subunits. Clade A includes four sub-clades: 1. The Cortez mainland Province; 2. The Revillagigedo Islands; 3. Clipperton Atoll; and 4. The Galapagos Islands. Clade B, in contrast, comprises a single unit that includes the Mexican and Panamic mainland provinces, plus Cocos Island. This geographical arrangement largely corresponds to previously indicated regionalization of the TEP. Oceanic distances isolating the islands have produced much of that evolutionary pattern, although oceanographic processes likely have also contributed.

Putative past, present, and future spatial distributions of deep-sea coral and sponge microbiomes revealed by predictive models

Abstract Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity is key to evaluate and ensure ocean integrity and resilience. Especially for the deep ocean, where in situ monitoring requires sophisticated instruments and considerable financial investments, modelling approaches are crucial to move from scattered data points to predictive continuous maps. Those modelling approaches are commonly run on the macrobial level, but spatio-temporal predictions of host-associated microbiomes are not being targeted. This is especially problematic as previous research has highlighted that host-associated microbes may display distribution patterns that are not perfectly correlated with host biogeographies, but also with other factors such as prevailing environmental conditions. We here establish a new simulation approach and present predicted spatio-temporal distribution patterns of deep-sea sponge and coral microbiomes, making use of a combination of environmental data, host data, and microbiome data. This approach allows predictions of microbiome spatio-temporal distribution patterns on scales that are currently not covered by classical sampling approaches at sea. In summary, our presented predictions allow (i) identification of microbial biodiversity hotspots in the past, present, and future, (ii) trait-based predictions to link microbial with macrobial biodiversity, and (iii) identification of shifts in microbial community composition (key taxa) across environmental gradients and shifting environmental conditions.

Management scale drives bee and forb biodiversity patterns in suburban green spaces

Management scale drives bee and forb biodiversity patterns in suburban green spaces

Linking Biodiversity and Functional Patterns of Estuarine Free-Living Nematodes with Sedimentary Organic Matter Lability in an Atlantic Coastal Lagoon (Uruguay, South America)

We examined the taxonomical and functional traits of free-living nematodes, focusing on their density by genus, maturity index (MI), and trophic diversity index (ITD) to determine whether these indices are sensitive to changes in the organic content of the sediment. Samples were collected in autumn and spring from 12 subtidal sampling stations in Rocha Lagoon, distributed between the outer (near the mouth) and the inner sector. We identified 26 genera, with higher abundance in the inner sector, likely due to increased organic matter and biopolymers. In spring, both sectors had sediments rich in fresh organic matter, dominated by deposit-feeding nematodes and showing low trophic diversity (high ITD values). In autumn, the inner sector maintained similar characteristics to spring sampling, while the outer one was dominated by older organic matter, predatory nematodes and higher trophic diversity. The MI showed low variation between sectors, suggesting a disturbed environment. Our findings support the use of ITD to assess other aspects of communities such as the response of trophic groups to the freshness of organic matter, while the MI seems less effective for assessing the ecological status of Rocha Lagoon. Understanding nematode biodiversity and functional traits is crucial for effective ecological quality assessments.

Advancing terrestrial ecology by improving cross-temporal research and collaboration

Abstract Ecology spans spatial and temporal scales and is inclusive of the history of life on Earth. However, research that occurs at millennial timescales or longer has historically been defined as paleoecology and has not always been well integrated with modern (neo-) ecology. This bifurcation has been previously highlighted, with calls for improved engagement among the subdisciplines, but their priority research areas have not been directly compared. To characterize the research agendas for terrestrial ecological research across different temporal scales, we compared two previous studies, Sutherland and colleagues (2013; neoecology) and Seddon and colleagues (2014; paleoecology), that outlined priority research questions. We identified several themes with potential for temporal integration and explored case studies that highlight cross-temporal collaboration. Finally, a path forward is outlined, focusing on education and training, research infrastructure, and collaboration. Our aim is to improve our understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes by promoting an inclusive and integrative approach that treats time as a foundational concept in ecology.

Oceanic islands act as drivers for the genetic diversity of marine species: Cardita calyculata (Linnaeus, 1758) in the NE Atlantic as a case-study

Geographic distribution, as well as evolutionary and biogeographic processes and patterns of marine invertebrate benthic species are strongly shaped by dispersal ability during the life cycle. Remote oceanic islands lie at the brink of complex biotic and abiotic interactions which have significantly influenced the biodiversity patterns we see today. The interaction between geological environmental change and taxon-specific dispersal modes can influence species evolutionary patterns, eventually delimiting species-specific biogeographic regions. In this study, we compare the population genetic patterns of the marine bivalve Cardita calyculata in the northeast Atlantic, discussing the role of Macaronesian islands during past climatic cycles. The genetic structure and diversity patterns were outlined based on SSR-GBAS loci of 165 individuals and on the mitochondrial COI marker of 22 individuals from the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and the Mediterranean. The highly structured genetic pattern found among regions and within archipelagos suggests the central role of oceanic islands in promoting the divergence of the species in both the NE Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The high degree of divergence in the COI dataset (> 7%) suggests the existence of potential cryptic speciation that needs to be further explored with a more comprehensive sampling. Such patterns are only congruent with a scenario where C. calyculata populations were maintained during glacial/interglacial cycles, supporting the role of the studied archipelagos as drivers of diversity for marine biota. We stress the importance of developing studies for species with various life history and dispersal modes. In such a way, a more profound understanding of the biogeographic and evolutionary significance of oceanic islands can catalyse directed conservation efforts, especially in the context of the ongoing climate crisis.

Spatial pattern of woody plant species richness and composition in primary warm temperate evergreen forest in Kasugayama Hill, Japan

Plant species richness and composition are influenced by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that operate on different spatial scales. Since spatial scales vary continuously in nature, it is expected that multiple factors simultaneously affect species richness and composition at an intermediate spatial scale (i.e., the mesoscale landscape level). Previous studies have shown that local topography and elevation are important factors for shaping intermediate spatial scale plant species richness; however, the relative importance of these factors has rarely been examined. Here, we used spatially explicit woody plant data to examine the factors that characterize the spatial pattern of primary evergreen forest biodiversity at the intermediate spatial scale. We found that the spatial pattern of species diversity in a predominantly warm temperate evergreen forest at the landscape level is mainly characterized by shifts in species composition along the elevation gradient. Our study also found that compositional shift along the elevational gradient was mainly caused by habitat specialization among congeneric species, suggesting that niche partitioning among closely-related species is a fundamentally important feature of the intermediate spatial scale species richness pattern. Furthermore, we found that specialization in a habitat of closely-related species can be established even within a limited environmental gradient. This suggests that biotic interactions among closely-related species may be an important factor driving habitat specialization, and biotic interactions may play an important role in shaping landscape-scale biodiversity patterns.

Developing Prototype Digital Twins for biodiversity conservation and management: achievements, challenges and perspectives

The BioDT project, funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Programme, seeks to investigate and push the boundaries of methodological, intellectual, data, technical and relevance aspects of the digital twin (DT) approach for understanding and predicting biodiversity patterns and processes. In this special issue, we present the reasoning and goals of the project and the overall advancements made towards the development of ten prototype Digital Twins (pDTs). Based on models of ecosystems, species and biological processes, digital twins integrate diverse data sources with advanced modelling and simulation techniques to provide a comprehensive, dynamic and data-driven understanding of biodiversity. Leveraging the EuroHPC LUMI infrastructure and data and expertise from GBIF, eLTER, DiSSCo and LifeWatch ERIC research infrastructures, the project aims to develop hybrid models combining the strengths of statistical and process-based models for improved predictive capabilities. While there are specific challenges and limitations to biodiversity DTs, the pDTs of BioDT lay the foundation for model-data fusions that will offer potential benefits to a wide range of end-users, from researchers and conservation organisations to policy-makers, land managers, educators and private sector companies. By fostering global interoperability in biodiversity data and research, BioDT paves the way for future collaborative efforts in biodiversity conservation and management.

Elevational patterns of species richness and phylogenetic diversity in a Mediterranean island

Understanding the abiotic factors influencing biodiversity patterns on Earth is a crucial task for conservation scientists. At the regional level, meso-climate factors, primarily associated with elevational gradients, are of great importance. However, disentangling these factors can be challenging due to the influence of other variables, such as geological substrata. To address this issue and better understand elevational gradients, it is essential to study geologically homogeneous terrains, particularly in Mediterranean islands where such research is lacking. In this study, we investigated the distribution of plant species richness along the elevational gradient of the Limbara massif, which consists predominantly of granite rocks and ranks as the third-highest peak in Sardinia at 1,359 meters a.s.l. We employed generalized linear models to analyze richness patterns, considering various factors, including all plant species, functional species groups categorized by Raunkiær life forms, chorological groups of species, alien species and phylogenetic diversity. Our findings revealed a hump-shaped model of species richness along the elevational gradient, with lower elevations exhibiting the highest species richness. Additionally, endemic species richness increased with higher elevations, while alien species were predominantly found at lower elevations. These results indicate that the Limbara massif possesses a significant elevational gradient in species composition, likely reflecting a unique plant evolutionary history. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of published floras as valuable sources of biodiversity data for such studies.

Small Streams Support Beta Diversity in Neotropical Fish Assemblages in the Upper Paraná River Basin

ABSTRACTVariation in species composition along an environmental gradient (β‐diversity) can inform our understanding of biodiversity patterns and species composition. Beta diversity can be partitioned into species contributions to beta diversity (SCBD) and local contributions to beta diversity (LCBD). While SCBD describes the variations in species composition among samples, LCBD measures the uniqueness of a biological community within a larger ecosystem. Recently developed metrics enabled the estimation of species contribution to total beta diversity (SCBD) and the contribution of individual sites to total beta diversity (LCBD). Utilising these metrics, a one‐time survey of 275 sampling points within four sub‐basins of the Upper Paraná River Hydrographic Basin (low‐flow streams, < 5 m3/s) was conducted to assess fish community composition. Our results show that limnological influences at different scales contribute to higher LCBD. However, land use and species richness were not directly linked to this outcome, suggesting that sites with fewer fish species along sub‐basins contributed to higher beta diversity. It was concluded that beta diversity is more influenced by limnological characteristics and the position of sampling sites along the longitudinal gradient than that based on variations in species composition (SCBD). Moreover, high LCBD values were even found in portions of the gradient with lower species richness. This means that small streams in the sub‐basins of the upper Paraná River are unique and are comprised of varied habitats that contribute to increasing diversity. As such, they should be seen as a target in the development of environmental policies designed to conserve their pristine condition.

Seeing the Big‐ to Fine‐Grained Picture: Exploring the Baseline Status of Mammal Occupancy Across Myanmar Using Scale‐Optimised Modelling

ABSTRACTAimMyanmar, an Indo‐Burmese biodiversity hotspot, lacks baseline data on species occurrence and distribution. This hinders biodiversity monitoring and optimisation of conservation and development plans. We aim to document baseline mammal occupancy, interactions with environmental factors and scale‐dependent responses.LocationHkakaborazi National Park, Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary, Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, Rakhine Yoma Elephant Range, Say Taung and Myinmoletkhat Key Biodiversity Areas distributed across Myanmar.MethodsCamera trap data throughout Myanmar were used to analyse species occupancy. We conducted a multiscale hierarchical spatial modelling process, using local and pooled data across Myanmar. We also optimised spatial scale across five scales and six predictors, using univariate occupancy models. We then selected scale‐optimised variables for multivariate modelling, repeating this process for each species across local, regional and national datasets.ResultsThe study identified 47 terrestrial species and observed strong scale‐dependent nonstationarity in occupancy estimates. Relationships with environmental variables differed among species and were highly scale dependent. Importantly, occupancy estimates produced by pooling data across sites were greatly different from any of the estimates for the individual sites, suggesting that high heterogeneity in occurrence and abundance across sites among species requires local or nested occupancy estimates to account for spatial heterogeneity and variation.Main ConclusionsFuture conservation efforts should focus on Northern Myanmar if range‐restricted and rare species are to be protected, while focus should still be given to common species which serve as potential indicators of overall community structure. The nonstationarity of occupancy results from different datasets underscores the potential for misleading interpretations from aggregated data in nonstationary ecological systems. Metareplicated analyses of local, geographically and ecologically proximal regional datasets provide an important view of spatial variation in occupancy patterns guiding conservation design and improving understanding of the drivers of biodiversity patterns and change across large regions, such as Southeast Asia.

Glacier Retreat Induces Contrasting Shifts in Bacterial Biodiversity Patterns in Glacial Lake Water and Sediment

Glacial lake ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes due to accelerated glacier retreat. As glaciers recede, their influence on downstream habitats diminishes, potentially affecting the biodiversity of glacial lake microbial communities. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding how bacterial biodiversity patterns in glacial lakes are altered by diminishing glacial influence. Here, we investigated shifts in bacterial communities in paired water and sediment samples collected from seven glacial lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, using a space-for-time substitution approach to understand the consequences of glacier retreat. Our findings reveal that bacterial diversity in lake water increases significantly with a higher glacier index (GI), whereas sediment bacterial diversity exhibits a negative correlation with GI. Both the water and sediment bacterial communities display significant structural shifts along the GI gradient. Notably, reduced glacial influence decreases the complexity of bacterial co-occurrence networks in lake water but enhances the network complexity in sediment. This divergence in diversity and co-occurrence patterns highlights that water and sediment bacterial communities respond differently to changes in glacial influence in these lake ecosystems. This study provides insights into how diminishing glacial influence impacts the bacterial biodiversity in glacial lake water and sediments, revealing contrasting patterns between the two habitats. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive monitoring to understand the implications of glacier retreat on these fragile ecosystems.

Oceanographic monitoring in Hornsund fjord, Svalbard

Abstract. Several climate-driven processes take place in the Arctic fjords. These include ice–ocean interactions, biodiversity and ocean circulation pattern changes, and coastal erosion phenomena. Conducting long-term oceanographic monitoring in the Arctic fjords is, therefore, essential for better understanding and predicting global environmental shifts. Here we address this issue by introducing a new hydrographic dataset from Hornsund, a fjord located in the southwestern part of the Svalbard archipelago. Hydrographic properties have been monitored with vertical temperature, salinity and depth profiles in several locations across the Hornsund fjord from 2015 to 2023. From 2016 onward, dissolved oxygen and turbidity data are available for the majority of casts. The dataset contributes to the so far infrequent observations, especially in spring and autumn, and extends the observations, typically concentrated in the central fjord, to the areas adjacent to the tidewater glaciers. Because sediment discharge from glaciers and land is an inseparable part of the glacier–ocean interactions, the suspended sediment concentration in the water column and the daily sedimentation rate adjacent to the tidewater glaciers are monitored with regular water sampling and bottom-moored sediment traps. Here we present the planning and execution of the monitoring campaign from the collection of the data to the postprocessing methods. All datasets are publicly available in the repositories referred to in the “Data availability” section of this paper.

Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review

Iran is a country characterized by high biodiversity and complex biogeographic patterns. Its diverse landscape and steep climatic gradients have resulted in significant faunal diversity and high level of endemism. To better understand these patterns, we investigated the historical environmental drivers that have shaped Iran’s current geological and climatological conditions, and, consequently, have shaped the current zoological distribution patterns. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the country’s zoological diversity and zoogeography by reviewing published studies on its fauna. We analyzed nearly all available catalogs, updated checklists, and relevant publications, and synthesized them to present a comprehensive overview of Iran’s biodiversity. Our review reports approximately 37,500 animal species for Iran. We also demonstrated that the country serves as a biogeographic transition zone among three zoogeographical realms: the Palearctic, Oriental, and Saharo-Arabian, where distinct faunal elements intersect. This biogeographic complexity has made it challenging to delineate clear zoogeographical zones, leading to varying classifications depending on the taxon. The uplift of mountain ranges, in particular, has played a crucial role in shaping faunal diversity by serving as barriers, corridors, and glacial refugia. These mountains are largely the result of orogeny and plate collisions during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, coupled with the development of the Tethyan Sea and the uplift of several ranges during the Miocene. Despite these insights, our understanding of biodiversity distribution in Iran remains incomplete, even for some well-studied taxa, such as certain vertebrate families and arthropods. We highlight the existing gaps in knowledge regarding zoogeographical patterns and propose approaches to address these gaps, particularly concerning less-studied species and the highly diverse group of insects.

Temporal dynamics of alpha and beta diversity of lake algae: Opposing patterns and influencing factors over the past 200 years

Abstract Better understanding of the responses of algal biodiversity to multiple pressures, such as climate warming and eutrophication, is a key issue in aquatic ecology. Alpha and beta diversity may have various patterns over temporal scales, especially in the Anthropocene, when external pressures became more multifaceted. However, the limited availability of historical data hampers the exploration of algal biodiversity through time. Recently, sediment DNA has emerged as a potential tool for elucidating temporal patterns in algal communities. Here, we used sediment DNA to reconstruct temporal turnover and diversity of algal communities in four remote lakes in northern China over the past 200 years. Furthermore, to distinguish the contributions of possible influencing environmental factors, we conducted structural equation modelling. Our results revealed that algal communities have experienced rapid shifts since the Anthropocene, characterized by increased alpha diversity and decreased temporal beta diversity. Warmer climate and eutrophication were associated with changes in alpha diversity, while temporal environmental variation was associated with temporal beta diversity. This study revealed opposing patterns in alpha and beta diversity for algal communities, possibly caused by warming, eutrophication and lower temporal environmental variation, respectively. While climatic factors played a major role in remote lakes with a natural environment, lakes that are more human impacted may be more structured by nutrient‐related factors. Under climate warming and intensified human activities, remote lakes may encounter complex pressures in the near future. Our findings offer valuable insights into patterns in aquatic biodiversity and possible factors underlying multiple pressures.

Variation in Successional Dynamics Shape Biodiversity Patterns over a Tropical-Temperate Latitudinal Gradient.

AbstractSuccessional dynamics can vary because of a range of ecological and environmental factors, but our understanding of biogeographic variation in succession, and the processes contributing to community development across ecosystems, is limited. The pattern and rate of recruitment of dispersive propagules likely differs over large spatial scales and can be an important predictor of successional trajectory. Over a 20° tropical-temperate latitudinal gradient, we measured sessile invertebrates over 12 months of community development and successive 3-month recruitment windows to understand succession and how it is influenced by recruitment. Succession and recruitment patterns varied over latitude. In the tropics, fast temporal turnover, fluctuating abundances, and lack of successional progression suggest that the contribution of stochastic processes was high. As latitude increased, successional progression became more apparent, characterized by increasing species richness and community cover and a shift to more competitive taxa over time. At temperate locations, species identities were similar between older communities and recruiting assemblages; however, community composition became more variable across space over time. Such divergence suggests an important role of early colonizers and species interactions on community structure. These findings demonstrate differences in the processes contributing to community development and biodiversity patterns over latitude. Understanding such biogeographic variation in community dynamics and identifying the prevalence of different processes can provide insights into how communities assemble and persist in response to environmental variability.

The genetic consequences of historic climate change on the contemporary population structure of a widespread temperate North American songbird

Studies of widely distributed species can inform our understanding of how past demographic events tied to historic glaciation and ongoing population genetic processes interact to shape contemporaneous patterns of biodiversity at a continental scale. In this study, we used whole-genome resequencing to investigate the current population structure and genetic signatures of past demographic events in the widespread migratory American goldfinch (Spinus tristis). Phylogenetic relationships inferred from whole mitochondrial genomes were poorly resolved. In contrast, a genome-wide panel of > 4.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) strongly supported the existence of eastern and western populations separated by western mountain ranges and additional population structuring within the western clade. Demographic modeling estimated that the eastern and western populations diverged approximately one million years ago, and both populations experienced subsequent population bottlenecks during the last glacial period. Species distribution models showed a severe contraction of suitable habitat for the American goldfinch during this period, with predicted discontinuities that are consistent with multiple, isolated glacial refugia that coincide with present-day population structure. Low overall genetic differentiation between the eastern and western populations (FST ∼ 0.01) suggests ongoing gene flow accompanied divergence, and individuals with admixed genomic signatures were sampled along a potential contact zone. Nevertheless, outlier SNPs were identified near genes associated with feather color, song, and migratory behavior and provide strong candidates for further study of the mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation and speciation in birds.

Surprisingly good fit of pressure-based cropland condition map and bird census data at the national scale

As the world is struggling to halt the rapid decline of biodiversity, the assessment and mapping of ecosystem condition is getting ever increasing attention. Croplands are artificial ecosystems, but as they occupy a large portion of land, they significantly influence biodiversity. Yet, there is a knowledge gap about their suitability to support and maintain wildlife on a national scale. Large-scale condition mapping is meant to address this gap; the good condition of croplands includes their ability to support biodiversity. However, the lack of suitable databases is often a challenge when creating such maps. As there is a strong causal relation between pressures on the ecosystem and its condition, pressure indicators can be used as proxies to approximate condition when more direct indicators are lacking. The validation of condition maps based on pressure proxies is a key but challenging step. In this study, we tested a previously designed pressure-based cropland condition map for Hungary using bird census data. Besides validating the composite condition indicator, we also tested some key elements of the mapping process, such as the choice of variables and thresholds.Using multiple comparisons of means by Tukey’s contrast and Random Forest modelling, we examined the relationship of (1) the continuous pressure-based cropland condition variables, (2) their rescaled, ordinal version (called sub-indicators), and (3) the composite cropland condition indicator (sum of the sub-indicators) with a biodiversity measure, the standardised relative richness of characteristic farmland bird species (rRRCS). To get a picture of the spatial patterns of the examined relationships across Hungary, individual Random Forest models were constructed for all the spatial units of the bird census database, using focal analysis with a 30 km radius moving window.We found significant differences in the mean rRRCS for nearly all sub-indicator categories, signifying that the literature-derived thresholds were mostly sound. Categories with higher (better) condition scores had higher mean rRRCS; the differences are significant in the mid-range but not in the extreme categories, indicating a need for a meaningful simplification of the categories. The goodness-of-fit (R2) of the Random Forest models was found to be high, but it is spatially heterogeneous (ranged from 0.69 to 0.89, with a median value of 0.81), similarly to the variable importance. The proportion of semi-natural areas proved to be the most important condition variable. The proportion of maize and alfalfa were more important than parcel size. Our results show that condition maps based on pressure proxies can reflect patterns of biodiversity surprisingly well. They also highlight the spatial context dependence of the uncertainty of condition maps.

Challenges and opportunities when studying movement ecology in science and practical conservation

Movement is a key mechanism influencing biodiversity patterns and ecosystem processes. Movement ecology science aims to understand the causal relationships between environmental conditions, animal movements, interactions and coexistence of species, as well as effects of movement patterns on ecosystem processes. In contrast, practical conservation primarily aims to understand organisms' movements to improve species management, protection, legal monitoring or risk assessment, and species-habitat interactions. Despite the many studies of movement ecology in basic and applied sciences as well as in practical conservation in terrestrial ecosystems, knowledge gain and transfer between disciplines are limited. Better integration and linking of both disciplines would result in diverse science-practice synergies, but these are currently constrained by numerous challenges that need to be overcome. From a scientific perspective, knowledge gain from practice is limited by multitude of case studies with limited spatial and temporal resolution. This can be overcome by improving access and combining the diversity of data for a research area that often deals with small sample sizes. From a practical perspective, the movement ecology framework which is often dedicated to basic research, and access and language barriers of scientific publications limit the application of scientific results in practice. Here movement ecologists should be encouraged to consider conservation issues more frequently in addition to basic research. The transfer of scientific results could be improved by scientists providing sufficient details for practitioners to extract relevant information and publish at least an open-access abstract in local language with clear management recommendations. Further, the use of open-access repositories allows both, scientists and practitioners an overview of the multitude of studies and helps to share data in order to derive general conclusions. Challenges impacting science and practice can be conceptual, organisational and technical in nature. Such constrains can be overcome, for example, by providing verified trapping protocols, using recent technological developments and analytical methods combined with trainings on these state-of-the-art tracking and analysing tools. In particular, collaborative project planning between scientists and practitioners can help to improve the sampling design of applied studies and broaden the data base for science in order to significantly advance the movement ecology framework and gain comprehensive knowledge for practical conservation.

Megabenthic Diversity Patterns on a Seamount in the Philippine Sea: Implications for Conservation Planning on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge.

The oligotrophic tropical western Pacific region is characterized by a high density of seamounts, with the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) being the longest seamount chain here. Effective spatial management plans for seamount ecosystems necessitate an understanding of distribution patterns and key environmental factors influencing benthic communities. However, knowledge regarding deep-sea biodiversity patterns over intricate topography remains limited. In this study, we investigated a seamount with a water depth of 522 m at the summit located in the southern section of KPR. Survey transects were conducted from 522 m to 4059 m. By analyzing video-recorded data obtained by a human-occupied vehicle (HOV) during dives and environmental variables derived from bathymetry, distinct assemblages were identified through noise clustering. α- and β-diversity patterns within the seamount megabenthic community were analyzed across the depth gradient, along with investigation of their environmental drivers. A total of 10,596 megafauna individuals were documented, categorized into 88 morphospecies and statistically separated into six distinct community clusters using noise clustering analysis. Species abundance and richness were highest within the 700-800 m water depth range, declining notably beyond 2100 m, indicating a critical threshold for habitat classification in this region. The β-diversity of megabenthic communities was high (0.836). Although β-diversity patterns along the depth gradient were mostly dominated by differences in species richness, the contribution of species replacement increased with depth, becoming dominant at depths greater than 3000 m. Depth emerged as the primary driver of spatial variation in community structure, while near-bottom current velocity, topographic parameters (bathymetric position index, slope), and substrate type also influenced the formation of microhabitats. The study highlights the depth gradients, thresholds, and other intricate environmental factors shaping the spatial heterogeneity of these communities. It provides valuable insights for the future development of effective survey and conservation strategies for benthic biodiversity on the KPR.