Sexual dimorphism in bats is understudied, with conflicting evidence across species and geographic regions. For Desmodus rotundus, the common vampire bat, previous reports on morphological sex differences have been inconsistent. This study aimed to assess sexual dimorphism in D. rotundus using a combination of contemporary field measurements and historical museum specimens. We analyzed six morphometric traits, including body mass, head length, body length, tibia length, ear length, and forearm length. Data were collected from 46 wild-captured individuals from five locations across Colombia in South America. Additionally, forearm length was examined in an expanded dataset of 490 specimens, including additional 444 individuals from museum vouchers collected over the past century. Principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering of the six-trait dataset showed patterns of differentiation between sexes, with partial overlap. Forearm length, analyzed independently in the full 490-specimen dataset, showed strong evidence of sexual dimorphism. Females had significantly longer forearms (mean = 61.8 mm) than males (mean = 58.5 mm), with non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals and a highly significant t-test result (t = −12.68, p < 2 × 10 ⁻ ¹⁶). Sex explained 25.7% of the variation in forearm length (R² = 0.26). Tibia length also differed significantly between sexes of the wild-catch individuals (p = 0.004), with females exhibiting greater values. Comparisons between museum specimens (historical) and wild-caught specimens (contemporary) showed no significant differences across time in either sex. Among females, the difference was not significant (t = −0.93, df = 208, p = 0.355), and the same was true for males (t = −0.01, df = 278, p = 0.992). A follow-up MANOVA on the six morphometric traits indicated a significant effect of sex (Pillai’s trace = 0.389, approx. F(6,39)=4.14, p < 2.2 × 10 ⁻ ¹⁶). After correcting for multiple comparisons, significant sexual dimorphism remained for forearm and tibia lengths, with forearm showing the strongest signal. These findings provide robust support for modest but consistent female-biased dimorphism in D. rotundus. The use of both multivariate and univariate analysis, combined with long-term historical data, enhanced the reliability of signals detected regarding morphological differences. Desmodus rotundus play a role as a primary reservoir for zoonotic viruses, has potential relevance in biomedical research, and provides ecosystem services. Understanding sex-based morphological variation is critical to inform public health, ecology, and biological conservation strategies. Females were consistently larger than males, but segregation was not absolute, with some individuals falling outside the expected data range for their sex. This study contributes to a clearer understanding of morphological variation and lays the groundwork for future research into the ecological and evolutionary drivers of dimorphism in bats.

Abstract. Soil moisture is a key variable in the global water cycle, carbon balance and energy conversion, and is crucial for hydrological control, meteorological forecasting and crop growth. Pengyang County in Ningxia is a typical region with fragile ecology. In this paper, we utilize Sentinel 1 SAR data and Landsat 8 optical imagery to synergistically invert soil moisture in Pengyang County by combining the advantages of optical and microwave remote sensing. The study calculates the vegetation water content through the VWC model, and uses the water cloud model to eliminate the influence of vegetation on the radar signal to obtain the soil backscattering coefficient with the removal of the influence of vegetation. Finally, the BP neural network model was utilized to invert the soil moisture in Pengyang County. The results show that the VH-polarized SAR data are more sensitive to the vegetation structure and moisture content, which is more suitable for soil moisture inversion in this region, and the NDMI has the highest sensitivity to the vegetation moisture content, which contributes more to the soil moisture estimation. The inversion results of the BP neural network model have a high correlation with the measured values, which indicates that the method can effectively invert the soil moisture in Pangyang County. The results of the study can provide a reference for soil moisture monitoring in the region, and provide a basis for decision-making in ecological protection, water conservation and comprehensive regional management.

As a result of human-induced environmental change, animals increasingly face challenges that differ from those encountered throughout their evolutionary history. While this has caused dramatic declines for many species, some can persist by gathering information to reduce uncertainty, thereby minimising risks and exploiting new opportunities. The strategic use of social information can be particularly useful in enabling such uncertainty reduction. Here, we argue that the behavioural and affective states of others provide vital social information for animals to guide evaluations of risks and opportunities. Specifically, attending and responding to indicators of others' affective states through processes such as emotional contagion may facilitate information transmission. For instance, when exposed to a novel, ambiguous anthropogenic stimulus that could indicate either an opportunity or a threat, animals may use social information about others' affective states to decide whether to approach or avoid the stimulus. To increase immediate and long-term benefits, individuals might also alter their social behaviour and information use flexibly based on critical early-life experiences, the socio-ecological context or the behaviour and states of associates in the social network. Finally, given that an individual's affective state can influence how it copes with changing environments and makes appropriate decisions, we argue that there is a need for greater synergy between animal welfare and conservation efforts. Bridging the gap between ensuring individual-level welfare and population-level resilience will be crucial for ethical policies to protect wild animals responsibly in the face of human-induced rapid environmental change.

The Sanjiangyuan region, located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP), is highly sensitive to global climate change. Reconstructing its Holocene January and July temperatures is crucial for studying climate change and guiding ecological conservation in alpine regions. Current research on paleoclimate changes in Sanjiangyuan region primarily focuses on small subregions, limiting holistic understanding of regional climate.This study utilizes fossil pollen data, for the first time, integrates the Dynamic Multi-proxy Fusion and Scaling(DMFS) model to reconstruct the Holocene January and July temperature change sequences, thereby exploring temperature variations in the Sanjiangyuan region during 12.5 ka BP. The results indicated:12.5-6.0 ka BP: Both January and July temperatures showed a gradual increase,marking climatic improvement. 6.0-4.0 ka BP, both January and July temperatures remained at high levels, despite their fluctuations. During this period, temperatures reached their peak, reflecting a warm, humid, and most hospitable climate.4.0-2.5 ka BP: Both January and July temperatures showed declining trends to varying degrees, the climate became cold and dry. Post 2.5 ka BP: Both January and July temperatures rebounded. Comparisons with other high-resolution environmental records from the QTP confirmed consistent trends and synchronic dry-wet events. This study contributed essential fossil pollen data and paleotemperature records to the Sanjiangyuan region. This will fill a critical gap in paleoclimate research for the Sanjiangyuan region and provide valuable insights for long-term paleoclimate studies.

The idea of rewarding individuals and institutions for environmentally responsible behavior has evolved gradually alongside global concerns over environmental degradation. Green Credit Programs represent a policy innovation that links ecological conservation with economic incentives. This paper traces the historical development of green credit concepts, examining their roots in early environmental movements, economic theories of incentives, and evolving models of sustainable governance. It highlights how green credit programs emerged as tools to balance development with environmental protection and discusses their growing relevance in contemporary climate policy frameworks.

Background: Animal welfare and conservation of species and their natural habitat, has been a primary concern of the scientific and environmental studies. While scientific research and technological advancements are vital for developing ways to tackle environmental challenges and conservation of animal species and welfare, the discipline of humanities also play a crucial role by offering unique perspectives and insights into human-environment relationships, ethical considerations and cultural aspects that influence conservation behaviour and attitude. The academic disciplines of humanities highlight the role of humanities in fostering environmental awareness along with inspiring collective action towards a more harmonious coexistence with nature, by engaging learners through storytelling, art and other humanistic approaches. Integrating the humanities into environmental education cultivates empathy and environmental literacy, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and participate in conservation efforts. Methods: Through close reading and textual interpretation of selected stories from the anthology Animalia indica using the theoretical lens of Animal Studies, the author aims to draw attention of the general public as well as academicians on the effective role of humanities especially literary texts in dealing with environmental issues, which is a global concern and requires a multidisciplinary approach to tackle with. Result: The aim of this research paper is to highlight the role of anthropomorphized animal characters in literature as a humanist strategy to evoke sympathy and concern for the animal species and thereby act as an instrument for animal welfare and conservation.

Promoting the value realization of ecological products is a central issue in practicing the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.” This is particularly urgent for alpine regions, which are vital ecological security barriers but face stringent developmental constraints. This study takes Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province as a case study. It establishes a Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting framework tailored to the characteristics of alpine ecosystems and conducts continuous empirical accounting for the period 2020–2023. The findings reveal that: (i) The total GEP of Golog is immense (reaching 655.586 billion yuan in 2023) but exhibits significant dynamic non-stationarity driven by climatic fluctuations, with a coefficient of variation as high as 11.48%. (ii) The value structure of the GEP is highly unbalanced, with regulatory services contributing over 97.6%. Water conservation and biodiversity protection are the two pillars, highlighting its role as a supplier of public ecological products and the predicament of market failure. (iii) The spatial distribution of GEP is highly heterogeneous. Maduo County, comprising 34% of the prefecture’s land area, contributes 48% of its total GEP, with its value per unit area being 1.68 times that of Gande County, revealing the spatial agglomeration of key ecosystem services. To address the dynamic, structural, and spatial constraints identified by these quantitative features, this paper proposes synergistic realization pathways centered on “monetizing regulatory services,” “precision policy regulation,” and “capacity and institution building”. The aim is to overcome the systemic bottlenecks—“difficulties in measurement, trading, coarse compensation, and weak incentives”—in alpine ecological functional zones. This provides a systematic theoretical and practical solution for fostering a virtuous cycle between ecological conservation and regional sustainable development.

The Banbakri antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus), commonly known as the Nilgai, is distributed across and neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Texas, Mexico, Italy, and South Africa. Increasing human encroachment, habitat degradation, and agricultural expansion have led to a rising incidence of crop raiding by Banbakri, causing substantial economic losses to farmers, particularly in northern and central India. This review examines the human–Banbakri conflict arising from competition for agricultural resources, drawing on secondary data from scientific journals and reports. Banbakri antelope have increasingly moved from natural habitats to human-dominated landscapes in search of water, food, and crops. Bihar hosts the largest population (295,366), followed by Uttar Pradesh (254,444). The species causes significant damage to major crops, fruits, and vegetables, sometimes up to 58% yield loss-forcing farmers to alter cropping patterns. Crop depredation can be identified through direct sightings, photographs, hoof prints, plant damage, and dung traces. The review highlights ecological interactions between Banbakri antelope besides agriculture and underscores the urgent need for an Integrated Banbakri Pest Management (IBPM) framework to balance conservation priorities with rural livelihoods, emphasizing evidence-based, socially acceptable, and ecologically sustainable solutions.

The present study investigates the diversity of terrestrial orchid species in Kamrup district, Assam, based on extensive field surveys conducted across all the season from 2021 to 2025. The study employed with herbarium preparation and identification followed by standard protocol and using authentic literature. A total of 10 species were collected, representing 8 genera, with Zeuxine being the most dominating with 3 species. Each species described included their taxonomy, habitats and flowering periods. Most importantly, the work reports four rare species which underpin the ecological importance and conservation priority of these ground orchids in Kamrup. This work highlights the need to focus on understudied terrestrial orchids to protect and conserve them. Conserving orchids is essential because they are highly sensitive ecological indicator and contribute significantly to the ecosystem stability.

Human perceptions of urban wildlife can shape conservation priorities and public support for biodiversity initiatives, however research on human-bird relationships remains spatially biased towards the Global North. Here we assessed the perceptions of 36 urban bird species across four South African urban contexts using a mixed-methods approach. Survey respondents (n = 1,977) rated species likeability on a 5-point Likert scale and provided open-ended explanations for their ratings. Quantitatively, South African urban birds were generally well-liked, with notable variation among species: the Malachite Kingfisher ( Corythornis cristatus , mean ± SE = 4.91 ± 0.02) and Orange-breasted Sunbird ( Anthobaphes violacea , 4.91 ± 0.02) scored highest, and the Common Myna ( Acridotheres tristis , 2.50 ± 0.03) scored lowest. To analyse the approximately 71,000 open-ended responses, we employed ChatGPT, a generative AI large language model, to identify eight themes underlying species appeal. The highest-rated species were primarily valued for aesthetic appeal and emotional connections, while the lowest-rated species were associated with aggressive behaviours and negative ecological impacts. Factor analysis revealed three perceptual clusters, demonstrating that some species evoke multidimensional responses whilst others are viewed through a single dominant lens. Notably, aesthetic patterns did not universally predict appeal and many highly rated raptor species were valued for emotional connections rather than physical traits. Additionally, negative perceptions did not apply uniformly to all non-native or problematic species, with some receiving moderately positive responses despite ecological concerns. These findings highlight the complexity of human-bird relationships in urban contexts and demonstrate that large language models can enable qualitative analysis at large scales. By offering an African perspective, this study contributes to a more inclusive understanding of how urban residents perceive and value birds.

Projects aimed at protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services often depend on the collaboration of multiple conservation organizations and other partners. These organizations typically have different conservation objectives, and whether organizations can agree on priorities for conservation action determines the scope for potential covariation in the organizations' return-on-investment (ROI) estimates. We decomposed the covariance of ROI levels into individual components to determine the relative contribution of spatial patterns in conservation benefits, cost, and threat to an agreement on conservation priorities. We applied our approach to land protection priorities in the contiguous United States when seeking to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. Use of ROI to prioritize projects, instead of considering only conservation benefit measures, improved the level of agreement, because of the introduction of cost and threat as shared covariates, and increased overall covariance. When one organization prioritized recreation and others did not, the covariance of recreation benefits with cost and threat introduced more complexity and negated much of the improvement in agreement that using ROI offered. Our results suggest that there is much scope for collaborative conservation approaches when conservation decisions are based on ROI, and our results could help identify potential partnerships where conservation priorities will be particularly well aligned.

Abstract Tracking has enabled rapid advances in knowledge of the movement behavior and habitat use of shorebirds and is thus making a growing contribution to their conservation. However, realizing the full potential that tracking holds for conservation involves understanding what has been performed on shorebirds to date and identifying regional and taxonomic knowledge gaps. To this end, we reviewed the literature on 195 species across 10 shorebird families. We determined the number of shorebird tracking studies published over time, types of tracking devices used, reporting rates for data archiving in online repositories, and coverage of the major flyways by the data collected. Using Movebank, we further identified tracked species that have not appeared in the literature. We included 351 peer‐reviewed publications in the review. Tracking data were lacking for 50% of the species reviewed. Considerably more tracking studies were conducted in temperate regions and in flyways that include wealthy countries than in the tropics. Of the 351 publications, 26.9% reported data were archived in an online repository, although the annual rate increased over time. We identified 16 species whose conservation needs and a lack of data make them relevant priorities for future tracking. Improving data archiving practices and coordination around tag deployment to cover understudied regions is key to maximizing the utility of tracking for shorebird research and conservation.

The article investigates the distribution, degradation status, and conservation measures of natural forage areas, such as meadows and pastures, which constitute the main fodder base for livestock farming in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. It is noted that improper and uncontrolled use of these areas has led to changes in the botanical composition of meadows and pastures, as well as degradation of soil and vegetation cover. In this context, the efficient and sustainable use of natural forage lands in agriculture is of great importance. The study reveals that meadows are mainly located in the subalpine grasslands of mountainous regions and river valleys; summer pastures are situated in the alpine meadow zone, while winter pastures occupy the semi-desert zone of the Araz plain. The total area of natural forage lands in the Autonomous Republic amounts to 82,532 hectares, of which 3,177 hectares are meadows, 9,228 hectares are summer pastures, and 70,127 hectares are winter pastures. Intensive use of pasture lands has resulted in soil compaction due to trampling; in summer pastures, the turf layer has been damaged, and soil erosion and degradation have been observed. In winter pastures, the spread of weed species and soil salinization have increased. Currently, 7,325 hectares of summer pastures and 56,642 hectares of winter pastures have become unsuitable for agricultural use. Overall, 63,967 hectares (approximately 80%) of natural forage lands are assessed as degraded pastures. This trend contributes to landscape deterioration, loss of biological diversity, and an increased risk of desertification. Therefore, the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of natural forage resources require the implementation of comprehensive measures. The article also proposes specific recommendations aimed at preventing the degradation of meadows and pastures.

This article critically examines the conceptual boundaries and applications of the terms biocultural and ecocultural in interdisciplinary research addressing biodiversity threats in rural communities. The aim is to clarify their meanings and propose recommendations for their use in sustainability science. We conducted an integrative conceptual review combining a narrative literature analysis and corpus linguistics methods on 54 documents across four disciplinary areas: Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation, Economics and Heritage, Ecocriticism and Literature, and Sociocultural Discourses. The narrative synthesis explores theoretical interpretations, while the corpus analysis quantifies term frequency and collocations to identify patterns of use. The results reveal that biocultural perspectives emphasise species-focused interactions, traditional knowledge, rights, ecoethics, and governance, whereas ecocultural approaches foreground discourse, communication, identity, education, and long-term ecological processes. Both frameworks converge in their concern for sustainability and cultural–ecological interdependence but differ in scope and temporal depth. This study contributes scientifically by offering a situated, interdisciplinary analysis of these concepts, and socially by underscoring the need for dialogical frameworks that respect local knowledge and expand applications beyond rural contexts to urban, educational, and policy domains. Recommendations are provided to guide interdisciplinary teams in adopting context-specific conceptualizations for research and action.

Equilibrium concepts and the expectation of compensatory density dependence remain fundamental to fisheries science, but stock collapses and an increasing appreciation of environmental factors have raised questions about their real-world applicability. To explore the demographic variability of harvested marine fishes, we have calculated metrics commonly used in conservation biology to describe the demographics for 77 assessed stocks from the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific Oceans using life-tables. We found that median annual population growth rates ([Formula: see text]) were centered around 1, and surprisingly, they were only slightly higher when the effect of fishing was excluded. For most stocks, as abundance declined, [Formula: see text] tended to increase and become more variable as would be expected from compensatory dynamics. The population growth of several stocks was sustained by a limited number of years with exceptionally high rates. However, the ability of a stock to increase from low abundance appeared largely independent of life history characteristics and exhibited stronger geographical differences among stocks of the same species (notably Atlantic cod). Life history characteristics alone were poor predictors of annual population growth or future recovery potential, whereas regional factors appeared to be more influential. Overall, recovery potential remained relatively high, with simulations indicating that 62 of the stocks would be highly likely to double in size within 20 years in the absence of fishing. Low recovery potential was exclusively observed in stocks with a low median [Formula: see text] and low variability in [Formula: see text]. These results suggest that understanding stock-specific (rather than species-specific) demographic parameters is necessary to promote sustainable management or develop rebuilding plans for collapsed stocks.

A new species of Peperomia with alternate leaves from Kaua‘i, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated, with notes on its conservation status, distribution and ecology. We present a dichotomous key to all five Hawaiian Peperomia species with alternate leaves and include notes on two possibly extinct Hawaiian Peperomia species, namely P.degeneri and P.subpetiolata. Peperomiakauaianasp. nov. differs morphologically from its Hawaiian congeners by its unique combination of diminutive leaves 5–14(–18) mm long, 4–11(–14) mm wide, palmately 5- to 7-nerved, ovate to ovate-orbicular with margins revolute, petioles 2–5 mm long and spikes 11–17(–22) mm long. Plants have been documented in three distinct windward Kaua‘i locations to date, including the southern ridges of Wahiawa, the central ridges of Wai‘ahi and the north-eastern ridges of the Makaleha Mountains. Peperomiakauaiana represents a newly-described wet forest species endemic to the island of Kaua‘i and is currently in need of conservation. Its discovery raises the total number of endemic Hawaiian Peperomia species to 24 and single-island endemic Peperomia on Kaua‘i to three.

ABSTRACTDrought, a recurring climatic challenge characterized by water scarcity, significantly affects the growth and functional stability of terrestrial vegetation. This study closely examines how extreme droughts vary and how the vegetation recovery period changes on the basis of multi‐source meteorological and remote satellite data. It also assesses the impacts of specific drought characteristics on vegetation recovery time in Guizhou Province, China. The results indicate that drought events are predominantly observed in the summer and autumn seasons across most of Guizhou Province, with a notable cessation of these dry spells often occurring in September and October. The northern and southwestern regions of Guizhou Province tend to experience the onset of drought conditions at an earlier date than other regions, with a concomitant trend of earlier termination of drought events in the northern locales. Droughts typically last 3–5 months, with mild and moderate droughts being the most common. The spatial distribution of vegetation recovery period from the droughts follows a discernible pattern, with most areas recovering within 2 months after drought ceases, whereas the Guiyang, Zunyi, Qiannan, and Qiandongnan regions need 4 to 6 months to recover in some years. Furthermore, substantial variations in vegetation recovery patterns have been observed among diverse land cover types. The average recovery period of forests ranged from 1.60 to 2.98 months, that of shrublands from 1.76 to 3.21 months, whereas the vegetation in croplands showed a relatively shorter recovery period, with most areas returning to normal levels within approximately 1 month. The recovery characteristics of vegetation were jointly influenced by the features of drought. Drought duration and severity often prolonged the length of the recovery period. This study provides a scientific basis for the formulation of regional drought management and ecological conservation strategies.

Understanding residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (EDS) is crucial for protected areas governance. This study, conducted in China’s Three-River-Source National Park (TNP), employed participatory rural appraisal and household questionnaires to examine local cognitive patterns of ES and EDS, along with their socio-spatial heterogeneity and perceived synergies and trade-offs among them. The key findings are as follows: (1) Cultural services received the highest scores, followed by regulating services, whereas provisioning services, especially food provisioning, were rated as relatively inadequate. Safety threats were considered the most severe EDS. Overall, a Matthew Effect emerged: services with high current perception scores showed an improving trend, while those with low scores deteriorated. (2) Spatially, ES/EDS evaluation scores exhibited a “core zone &lt; general control zone &lt; peripheral zone” gradient. Socio-demographic and economic factors also influenced residents’ perceptions; women and the elderly were especially more concerned about food and energy supply shortages and safety issues. (3) The relationships among the various ES and EDS are primarily synergistic rather than trade-offs. Specifically, gains in regulating services were associated with enhanced cultural services, while declines in provisioning services and intensified safety threats coincided with the deterioration of material EDS. These findings offer a scientific basis for managing protected areas in high-altitude, ecologically fragile regions and provide practical insights for balancing ecological conservation with community development.

Against the backdrop of China’s comprehensive rural revitalization strategy and ongoing national park development, how universities can leverage scientific research innovation and talent resources to engage in sustainable development practices within local communities has become a focal point for both academia and policymakers. This study examines the “Harmonious and Beautiful Mountains and Seas” (HBMS) rural revitalization platform established by the Landscape Architecture discipline at Hainan University, summarizing its practical experience and analyzing its operational mechanisms. From the perspective of innovative governance, the study identifies three core values—“Nurturing Culture,” “Rural Brilliance,” and “Constructing Meaning”—and, on this basis, explores mechanisms for enhancing community resilience and pathways for brand-oriented operation in national park communities. The study aims to elucidate a novel model of university–rural collaborative revitalization. Research indicates that the “Mountain–Sea Synergy” model is not a singular community development solution, but rather a practical governance framework centered on multi-stakeholder collaborative governance mediated by universities. Its core value manifests across three dimensions: cultural revitalization, youth empowerment, and community-building significance. This model provides replicable endogenous development insights for national park communities operating under ecological conservation constraints, while also enriching university–rural collaborative research with practical case studies within the Chinese context.

This study aims to assess the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on the monetary valuation of ecosystem services valuations (ESVs) in the coal mining-affected region of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, India. The key objectives include: (i) analyzing LULC dynamics from 1990 to 2021 and predicting changes for 2061, and (ii) quantifying the gains and losses in ESVs across different land categories. To achieve this, satellite imagery was used to generate LULC maps for the years 1990 and 2021, while future projections for 2061 were developed using the Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model. The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs based on per-hectare value coefficients assigned to specific land use types. Results reveal that between 1990 and 2021, the total ESV declined by approximately USD 18.52 million, primarily due to the loss of vegetation and water bodies. A further projected decline of USD 38.82 million is anticipated between 2021 and 2061, totaling a cumulative loss of USD 57.34 million over the study period. While cropland and built-up areas recorded marginal increases in ESVs, these gains were insufficient to compensate for the substantial losses in regulating and supporting services. The findings underscore the critical need to integrate ecosystem service valuation into land-use planning, particularly in mining-intensive landscapes. The study demonstrates that without policy interventions favoring ecological conservation, continued land transformation will undermine long-term environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience in the region.