Nature Reserve Research Articles

Assessment of eco‐environmental changes along roads in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau based on remote sensing data: A case study of the Sino‐Nepalese Transport Corridor

AbstractUnderstanding the evolutionary patterns of ecological quality in transport corridor areas and their driving mechanisms is essential for maintaining regional sustainable development. However, an integrated assessment of the ecology of plateau transport corridors is still lacking. This study focuses on the Sino‐Nepalese Transport Corridor (SNTC) and comprehensively evaluates the spatio‐temporal patterns and evolution of eco‐environmental quality from 2000 to 2021 based on remote sensing data and quantifies and explores the potential driving factors. The results indicate significant spatial heterogeneity in the eco‐environmental quality of the SNTC, with an overall bipolar “northeast‐southwest” distribution pattern. The area of poor and worse quality is the largest (32,471.75 km2), accounting for about 47.20% of the total area of the SNTC, distributed in the plateau bare land and the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley. From 2000 to 2021, the eco‐environmental quality showed an initial decline and then an increase, with a relatively gentle overall trend. The increase in the remote sensing ecological index in Region (I) from 0.314 in the first 10 years to 0.334 in the second 10 years, an increase of 6.37%, was mainly attributed to afforestation projects in the “One River and two tributaries Nature Reserve” region. The eco‐environmental quality of the SNTC is influenced by multiple factors including human activities, climate, and topography. Grazing intensity, population density, and digital elevation model are the main negative disturbance factors, while temperature, precipitation, gross domestic product, and afforestation areas promote eco‐environmental quality. In particular, afforestation projects partially offset the negative impact of human activities. These results will provide useful information for understanding the complex effects of human activities and natural factors on the eco‐environmental quality in the plateau transport corridor region and for formulating ecological conservation policies.

Diversity of Helminths of Insectivorous Mammals (Mammalia: Eulipothyphla) from Large Forest Protected Areas of the Middle Volga Region (European Russia)

Insectivores (Eulypotiphla) are a substantial component of Russian forest ecosystems. The parasites of these animals also form an important part of natural biocenoses and act as one of the factors in the formation of biodiversity. The Mordovia Nature Reserve and National Park “Smolny” are large, forested areas located in the center of European Russia. We studied the helminth fauna of insectivores in these protected areas in 2018–2022. In total, using the method of complete helminthological necropsy, we examined 478 individuals of shrews, moles, and hedgehogs and recorded 34 species of parasitic worms, i.e., 8 trematode, 7 cestode, 1 acanthocephalan, and 18 nematode species. The most diverse helminth fauna was found in Sorex araneus (22 species). The composition of helminths in Sorex isidon (12), Neomys fodiens (9), Sorex minutus, and Erinaceus roumanicus (8 species each) turned out to be less diverse. The lowest species diversity of helminths was observed in Neomys milleri (3) and Talpae europaea (2 species). Taking into account the newly obtained data, we conducted a review of the helminth diversity in shrews, hedgehogs, and moles in the Middle Volga region. According to our literature data, the helminth fauna of insectivores in this region consists of 52 species, including 14 cestodes, 13 trematodes, 22 nematodes, and 3 acanthocephalans. Most of them belong to the Palearctic faunal complex (36 species). The helminth fauna of insectivores in the studied protected areas was compared with the helminth fauna of micromammals in other areas of the Middle Volga region. Our comparative analysis showed a high and average degree of similarity in the helminth fauna within individual species and genera of Eulipotyphla.

Plant diversity on the edge: floristics, phytogeography, fire responses, and plant conservation of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in the context of OCBIL theory

Context There have been few long-term studies of the flora, phenology, and ecology of specific reserves in the species-rich flora of the Southwest Australian Floristic Region. Aims This project, extending over five decades, aimed to develop an authoritative flora list and acquire data on phenology, threatened species, endemism, old and young landscapes, phytogeography, old lineages, and fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Methods The study used botanical collection on repeat surveys, herbarium studies, granite outcrop surveys and comparative phytogeographic analyses from maps on the Western Australian Herbarium’s Florabase. Key results Floristic survey recovered 853 taxa, 26% of those known in the Albany local government area. Possibly as many as 950–1000 taxa will be found in the future. The herbarium collections are the second largest of any conservation reserve in the Albany area. Flowering was most evident in spring and least in autumn. Three declared rare species and 20 conservation priority species were identified, as were short-range endemics, old clades, and natural hybrids. Conclusions The flora is dominated by species predominantly from wetter forest regions. Consequently, Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve is correctly placed within the Bibbulmun Botanical Province. Several hypotheses of OCBIL theory (which addresses old, climatically-buffered, infertile landscapes) were supported, with increased local endemism, ancient clades, and reduced rates of natural hybridisation identified for the granite inselberg OCBIL Maardjitup Gurlin/Mt Gardner. Implications Long term studies are invaluable for plant inventory. Continuing the minimal use of prescribed burning is advocated from plant data, in support of approaches to help conserve threatened animals.

Population Status and Conservation of the Largest Population of the Endangered François’ Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) in Vietnam

François’ langur is an Endangered colobine inhabiting limestone habitats in southern China and northern Vietnam. Its global population has been estimated to be just more than 2000 mature individuals. Populations in Vietnam are highly fragmented with reportedly fewer than 200 adults in total and 50 in a single location. Although the François’ langur in Vietnam is highly imperiled as remnant populations persist in only three to four sites, little research has been carried out to provide a reliable estimate of its remaining population. In this study, we conducted field surveys in Lam Binh District, Tuyen Quang Province, northeastern Vietnam. In total, we recorded at least 16 groups of François’ langurs, with 156 individuals, raising the total number of individuals by approximately 10% compared to a previous study. The group structure, group size, activity budget, and density of the Lam Binh population resemble those reported in François’ langurs in China and other limestone langur species. The results show that the behavior ecology of limestone langurs significantly differs from that of forest langurs probably because they occupy separate habitats with distinctly different environmental variables. During our surveys, we detected a number of direct threats to this population, namely illegal logging, hunting, firewood collecting, hydropower development, grazing, and mining. It is recommended that the protection forest be elevated to the nature reserve status to better protect the most important population of the François’ langur in Vietnam.

Application of Machine Learning in Ecological Red Line Identification: A Case Study of Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration

China’s Ecological Protection Red Lines (ERLs) policy has proven effective in constructing regional ecological security patterns and protecting ecological space. However, the existing methods for the identification of high conservation value areas (HCVAs) usually use physical models, whose parameters and processes are complex and only for a single service, affecting the ERL delineation. In this study, the data-driven machine learning (ML) models were innovatively applied to construct a framework for ERL identification. First, the One-Class Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM) was used to generate negative samples from natural reserves and ecological factors. Second, the supervised ML models were applied to predict the HCVAs by using samples. Third, by applying the same ecological factors, the traditional physical models were used to assess the ecological services of the study area for reference and comparison. Take Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration (CY) as a case study, wherein data from 11 factors and 1822 nature reserve samples were prepared for feasibility verification of the proposed framework. The results showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of all ML models was more than 97%, and random forest (RF) achieved the best performance at 99.57%. Furthermore, the land cover had great contributions to the HCVAs prediction, which is consistent with the land use pattern of CY. High-value areas are distributed in the surrounding mountains of CY, with lush vegetation. All of the above results indicated that the proposed framework can accurately identify HCVAs, and that it is more suitable and simpler than the traditional physical model. It can help improve the effectiveness of ERL delimitation and promote the implementation of ERL policies.

Establishing a protected area network in Xinlong with other effective area-based conservation measures.

Protected areas (PAs) are pivotal to biodiversity conservation, yet their efficacy is compromised by insufficient funding and management. So-called other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) present a paradigm shift and address PA limitations. Such measures can expand conservation areas, enhance connectivity, and improve the existing system. To assess the conservation status of biodiversity in Tibetan cultural areas in China, we investigated the spatial distribution of wildlife vulnerable to human disturbance (large- and medium-sized mammals and terrestrial birds) in Xinlong, a traditional Tibetan cultural area. In particular, we compared a PA (Xionglongxi Nature Reserve) and OECMs targeting species conservation. We also investigated the relationship of wildlife with human temporal and spatial activities. The OECMs complemented areas not covered by PA, especially in rich understory biodiversity regions. More species in OECMs tolerated human presence than species in the PA. Existing biodiversity reserves failed to cover areas of high conservation value in Tibet and offered limited protection capacity. Expanding PAs and identifying OECMs improved Xinlong's system by covering most biodiversity hotspots. Building on the tradition of wildlife conservation in Tibet, harnessing OECMs may be an effective means of augmenting biodiversity conservation capacity. We recommend further evaluation of OECMs effectiveness and coverage in Tibetan area as a way to enhance the current PA system.

Plant Cover of Besitchai State Nature Reserve (Azerbaijan)

The article highlights the ecological significance of the Besitchay State Nature Reserve, located in the Zangilan region of Azerbaijan. The author examines in detail the geographical location of the reserve and its plant cover, describing various types of plant formations and associations. Considerable attention is paid to the study of meadow, swamp, aquatic, and forest vegetation as well as the importance of preserving rare plant species, such as the Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis), which is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. The results are important for evaluating the current state of biodiversity and for developing measures to conserve it.

Cocconeis crisscrossis sp. nov., a new monoraphid diatom (Bacillariophyta) from southern China

A novel monoraphid diatom species, Cocconeis crisscrossis You, Yu, Kociolek & Wang, sp. nov. is examined and described from the Qingyi River and Maolan Nature Reserve of southern China. The morphological description is based on light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations and the new species is compared with similar taxa in this genus. The characteristics unique to Cocconeis crisscrossissp. nov. include its central area extending irregularly to both sides, it having closed valvocopulae with heavily silicified fimbriate margins and poles of the valvocopulae have ‘sword-shaped’ siliceous extensions. These features differentiate this new species from others in the genus. This new species was found in alkaline waterbodies, including streams, waterfall and ponds. It was usually found as an epiphyte on the stones; however, it was present on other substrates such as mosses.

Biological response to Przewalski’s horse reintroduction in native desert grasslands: a case study on the spatial analysis of ticks

BackgroundReintroduction represents an effective strategy for the conservation of endangered wildlife, yet it might inadvertently impact the native ecosystems. This investigation assesses the impact of reintroducing endangered Przewalski's horses into the desert grassland ecosystem of the Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR), particularly its effect on the spatial distribution of ticks. In a 25 km2 core area of Przewalski's horse distribution, we set up 441 tick sampling sites across diverse habitats, including water sources, donkey trails, and grasslands, recording horse feces and characteristics to analyze the occurrence rate of ticks. Additionally, we gathered the data of 669 fresh feces of horses. To evaluate the spatial dynamics between these feces and ticks, we used methods such as Fixed Kernel Estimation (FKE), Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation index, and Generalized Linear Models (GLM).ResultsThe dominant species of ticks collected in the core area were adult Hyalomma asiaticum (91.36%). Their occurrence rate was higher near donkey trails (65.99%) and water sources (55.81%), particularly in areas with the fresh feces of Przewalski's horses. The ticks’ three risk areas, as defined by FKE, showed significant overlap and positive correlation with the distribution of Przewalski's horses, with respective overlap rates being 90.25% in high risk, 33.79% in medium risk, and 23.09% in low risk areas. Moran's I analysis revealed a clustering trend of the fresh feces of Przewalski's horses in these areas. The GLM confirmed a positive correlation between the distribution of H. asiaticum and the presence of horse fresh feces, alongside a negative correlation with the proximity to water sources and donkey trails.ConclusionsThis study reveals the strong spatial correlation between Przewalski's horses and H. asiaticum in desert grasslands, underlining the need to consider interspecific interactions in wildlife reintroductions. The findings are crucial for shaping effective strategies of wildlife conservation and maintaining ecological balance.

Dicranum shennongjiaense W.Z.Huang & R.L.Zhu (Dicranaceae, Bryophyta), a new species from Central China supported by morphological and molecular evidence

ABSTRACT Introduction Dicranum Hedw. is one of the most taxonomically challenging genera of mosses, having 93 accepted species worldwide. Although recent integrative taxonomic revisions have clarified the delimitation of most species within this genus, the circumscriptions of some Dicranum species remain unsolved. During our recent survey of Dicranum in China, an intriguing species with an unknown combination of morphological traits was discovered in the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, Central China. We carried out a study to provide morphological and phylogenetic evidence with which to determine the taxonomic status of this Chinese species. Methods The phylogenetic evidence was obtained through the combined analysis of five loci (rps4–trnT, trnL–trnF, trnH–psbA, rps19–rpl2 and rpoB) and one nuclear region (nrITS1–5.8S–ITS2). Morphological characteristics were investigated by microscopic examination of specimens. Key results and conclusions A new moss species, Dicranum shennongjiaense W.Z.Huang & R.L.Zhu, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological evidence. This new species is characterised by its falcate leaves, rectangular and elongated laminal cells with strongly protruding upper angles on the dorsal side in the upper leaf portion, irregularly bistratose laminal cells above the midleaf, one layer of guide cells in the costa, and sharp serrations on the dorsal side of the costa in the upper leaf portion. Additionally, D. baicalense Tubanova, previously known only from Russia, is newly reported for China. A key for identification of the Chinese species of Dicranum sect. Dicranum is provided.

Validation and development of eDNA metabarcoding primers for comprehensive assessment of Chinese amphibians.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a powerful, non-invasive tool for biodiversity assessments. However, the accuracy and limitations of these assessment techniques are highly dependent on the choice of primer pairs being used. Although several primer sets have been used in eDNA metabarcoding studies of amphibians, there are few comparisons of their reliability and efficiency. Here, we employed lab- and field-tested sets of publicly available and de novo-designed primers in amplifying 83 species of amphibian from all three orders (Anura, Caudata, and Gymnophiona) and 13 families present in China to evaluate the versatility and specificity of these primers sets in amphibian eDNA metabarcoding studies. Three pairs of primers were highly effective, as they could successfully amplify all the major clades of Chinese amphibians in our study. A few non-amphibian taxa were also amplified by these primers, which implies that further optimization of amphibian-specific primers is still needed. The simultaneous use of three primer sets can completely cover all the species obtained by conventional survey methods and has even effectively distinguished quite a number of species (n = 20) in the Wenshan National Nature Reserve. No single primer set could individually detect all of the species from the studied region, indicating that multiple primers might be necessary for a comprehensive survey of Chinese amphibians. Besides, seasonal variations in amphibian species composition were also revealed by eDNA metabarcoding, which was consistent with traditional survey methods. These results indicate that eDNA metabarcoding has the potential to be a powerful tool for studying spatial and temporal community changes in amphibian species richness.

A story of becoming a horticultural threat, cypress jewel beetle Lamprodila festiva (Coleoptera, Buprestidae): analytical approach of its European escalation based on bibliographical sources

The cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila festiva, as one of the most destructive local invasive pests in Europe is currently an extreme threat to the coniferous Cupressaceae trees. The beetle spread at an unprecedented pace and intensity and poses a threat to many countries. Our study aimed to map the Palearctic distribution of L. festiva and measure the dispersal's pace and directions. Besides, one of our goals was visualising the adult’s seasonal activity and their host plant choice preference. A meta-analytical assessment was carried out to answer these questions based on the related bibliographical sources available in scientific databases. Our results confirmed that L. festiva has spread with extraordinary speed and success across the western Palaearctic areas, where the consequences of global warming have provided optimal conditions. The first population successful reproduction was started at five well-differentiated natural reserve areas across Europe in a latent manner. The flight season of L. festiva typically occurs from May to July, with the peaks varying depending on the area of distribution. Our studies have shown that L. festiva is a typical oligophagous pest, favouring certain species within its range of host plants. Thus, the genera Thuja, Platycladus and Juniperus species are most affected by its damage. Starting from its exceptional distribution characteristics, realising biological explanatory and applied protection research related to this species can become an urgent expectation in the future.

Temporal niche partitioning among sympatric wild and domestic ungulates between warm and cold seasons

The coexistence of sympatric species with similar ecological niches has been a central issue in ecology. Clarifying the daily activity patterns of sympatric wild ungulates can help understand their temporal niche differentiation and the mechanisms of coexistence, providing information for their conservation. The Baotianman National Nature Reserve in northern China is rich in wild ungulates, but little is known about the daily activity patterns of wild ungulates in the area, making it difficult to develop effective conservation strategies. We studied five representative wild ungulates (i.e. forest musk deer, Chinese goral, Reeve’s muntjac, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar) of the region using camera-trapping data, focusing on the seasonal daily activity patterns and effects of seasonal grazing of domestic sheep, to reveal their coexistence based on temporal ecological niche differentiation. Comparative analyses of the seasonal daily activity showed that forest musk deer exhibited a single-peak activity in the warm season. Other ungulates exhibited multipeak activity. All five ungulates differed significantly in daily activity patterns. Notably, wild boar and Reeve’s muntjac showed high overlap coefficients between the cold and warm seasons. In both cold and warm seasons, the five wild ungulates and domestic sheep displayed low overlap in their daily activity rhythms potentially indicating temporal ecological niche differentiation. The results suggest that temporal isolation might be a strategy for wild ungulates to avoid domestic sheep and reduce interspecific competition, and that temporal ecological niche differentiation potentially promoted the coexistence among the studied sympatric ungulates. This understanding may provide new insights for the development of targeted conservation strategies.

The Responsibility to Protect: International Conservationists, Decolonization and Authoritarianism in the DR Congo, 1960–75

As colonial rule in the Congo neared its end, western conservationists grew concerned about the potential collapse of the national parks left behind by Belgium. However, despite half a decade of political turmoil following independence, the nature reserves in the central African country survived. The Second Republic under Mobutu then ushered in a new era for the parks. Lobbied by international conservationists, the autocrat authorized harsh repressive measures against ‘intruders’ and established four new national parks. This created or exacerbated conflicts that still breed violence today. Drawing on archival documents from leading conservation organizations, this article examines the evolution of the Congo's nature protection regime during the crucial 15 years following independence. Thus, it contributes to a growing body of studies critically assessing the role of nongovernmental organizations in shaping contemporary Africa. As I will demonstrate in this article, some international experts swiftly recognized decolonization as an opportunity. To promote authoritarian measures in the parks, they exploited nationalist sentiments and the Mobutu regime's quest for international recognition. Consequently, violence became further normalized as a means of conservation in the Congo.

Soil and Vegetation Characteristics of Grassland have a Greater Influence on the Abundance and Diversity of Earthworms than the Mowing Intensity in a Managed Nature Reserve

Effects of mowing on vegetation parameters have been well studied. However, less is known about mowing effects on soil fauna and if soil properties alter this. We investigated earthworm communities in a long-term experiment 14 years after its establishment in 5 dry, fresh and moist grassland plots located in the Natura 2000 site Lainzer Tiergarten near Vienna, Austria (238–402 m a.s.l., 48°10′ N, 16°12′ E). The grasslands were either mowed once a year or every second year, or not mowed since being established. Earthworms were assessed using the non-destructive octet electro-shocking method. Additionally, vegetation composition, soil conductivity, temperature and moisture were assessed. We found 13 earthworm species across all treatments, although their abundance was generally low with 6.1 ± 4.7 worms m−2. The total earthworm abundance and species diversity was higher in dry compared to fresh and moist grasslands but was not affected by mowing frequency. Endogeic earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea) and epigeics (Lumbricus rubellus) were more tolerant to mowing than anecics (Lumbricus terrestris, Allolobophora longa). Since plant species richness was highest in annually mown grasslands and earthworm species richness was positively related to plant species numbers, we recommend regular, low-input management to promote above- and belowground biodiversity in these grasslands.

First report of leaf spot on Daphniphyllum macropodum caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora in China.

Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq., an evergreen arbor, is widely cultivated in southern China for its ornamental and medicinal value (Su et al. 2013). In October 2019, a severe leaf spot was observed on D. macropodum in Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve in Ji'an city, Jiangxi, China (114°06'23″E, 26°32'25″N). The plants were about 15 years old, and the disease incidence was estimated to be 15% (4/26 plants). The disease primarily appeared as small black spots on the leaves. At the late stage, the spots enlarged and coalesced into regular or irregular gray necrotic lesions with dark margins. We collected five samples per plant and total 20 samples were collected to isolated the pathogen strains. The margin of the diseased tissues was cut into 5 mm × 5 mm pieces; surface disinfected with 70% ethanol and 2% NaOCl for 30 s and 60 s, respectively; and rinsed thrice with sterile water. Tissues were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C in the dark. Pure cultures were obtained by single-spore isolation method, and the representative isolates, JRM3, JRM6, and JRM8 were used for morphological studies and phylogenetic analyses. The colonies of three isolates grown on PDA were white, cottony, and flocculent, contained undulate edges with dense aerial mycelium on the surface at 25 °C. Conidiomata was black conidial masses on PDA. Conidia were 5-celled, clavate to fusiform, smooth, 19.3 to 24.4 long × 6.1 to 8.6 μm wide (n = 50). The 3 median cells were dark brown to olivaceous, the central cell was darker than the other 2 cells, and the basal and apical cells were hyaline. All conidia developed one basal appendage (3.4 to 8.3 μm long; n = 50), and 2 to 3 apical appendages (18 to 32 μm long; n = 50), filiform. The morphological characteristics of the isolates are comparable with those of the genus Neopestalotiopsis (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2014). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, β-tubulin 2 (TUB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) were amplified from genomic DNA for the three isolates using primers ITS1/ITS4, T1/Bt-2b, EF1-728F/EF-2 (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2014), respectively. The sequences of the isolates were submitted to GenBank (ITS, OQ372202 to OQ372204; TUB2, OQ390129 to OQ390131; TEF1-α, OQ390126 to OQ390128). A maximum likelihood and Bayesian posterior probability analyses using IQtree v. 1.6.8 and Mr. Bayes v. 3.2.6 with the concatenated sequences placed JRM3, JRM6, and JRM8 in the clade of N. clavispora. Based on the multi-locus phylogeny and morphology, three isolates were identified as N. clavispora. To confirm pathogenicity, eight healthy 10-year-old D. macropodum plants growing in the field were chosen, and 4 leaves per plant were wounded with a sterile needle and inoculated with 10 μL conidial suspension per leaf (106 conidia/ml). Eight plants inoculated with sterile water were used as control. All the inoculated leaves were covered with plastic bags to maintian a humidity environment for 2 days. The leaves inoculated with conidial suspension showed similar symptoms to those observed in the field, whereas control leaves were asymptomatic for 10 days. The same fungus were re-isolated from the lesions, whereas no fungus was isolated from control leaves. N. clavispora was determined as the pathogen of a variety of plant diseases, including Kadsura coccinea (Xie et al. 2018), Dendrobium officinale (Cao et al. 2022), Macadamia integrifolia (Santos et al. 2019). However, this is the first report of N. clavispora infecting D. macropodum in China. This work provided crucial information for epidemiologic studies and appropriate control strategies for this newly emerging disease.

Driving Mechanisms of Spatial Differentiation in Ecosystem Service Value in Opencast Coal Mines in Arid Areas: A Case Study in the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone

The valuation of ecosystem services (ESs) is crucial for preserving ecosystems, assessing natural resources, and making decisions regarding compensation. In this study, we employed the InVEST model’s habitat quality (HQ) module to calculate the HQ and degradation levels in the study area using land use/land cover (LULC) data from 2000 to 2020. Our analysis utilized quantitative methods, including spatial correlation, hotspot analysis, and geo-probing, to determine the value of ESs and identify trends. Furthermore, we examined the spatial and temporal variation in the significance of ESs and their driving factors. The results show the following. (1) The primary LULC types in the Zhundong coalfield from 2000 to 2020 are grassland and barren areas. (2) The average value of the HQ index in the study area exhibited a generally decreasing trend. Between 2000 and 2010, HQ significantly declined, particularly in the region’s large barren industrial and mining zones. However, over time, the proportion of sites with minimal degradation improved steadily, resulting in better overall HQ in the study area by 2020. This pertains to the measures put in place by the local government to safeguard and rehabilitate the ecosystem. (3) The spatial distribution of the ecosystem service value (ESV) aligns with changes in HQ and LULC, with significant hotspots primarily observed in forest and grassland areas, nature reserves, and areas around water sources. (4) LULC, temperature, annual precipitation, and elevation are the main drivers of spatial variation in the ESV in the Zhundong area; the spatial variation in the ESV in the Zhundong coalfield is primarily influenced by the interaction between human factors and natural factors, in which LULC plays a dominant role. This study’s findings can guide the development of rational ecological planning, integrating resource conservation mining with effective zoning management.

Introduction to the special issue of The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia

Context This paper introduces the special issue of Pacific Conservation Biology devoted to the natural history of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve on the south coast of Western Australia. Methods This paper provides the background to the special issue. Key results Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve was gazetted in 1967 for the conservation of the native biota, including two species; the Djimaalap/noisy scrub-bird (Atrichornis clamosus) and Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii), both believed extinct for over 100 years before being rediscovered on the Reserve. The Reserve is 4774.7 ha in area, with wetlands, heathlands, granite outcrops, sand dunes, beaches, cliffs, and islands. Since it was established, mean annual rainfall has decreased by 16.8%, mean annual maximum temperature has increased by 0.2°C, and mean annual minimum temperature has increased by 0.7°C. Conclusions The paper poses the question: what do the changes of drier winters, hotter summers, and more extreme weather events mean for managers of conservation areas such as Two Peoples Bay? Implications Changing climate will pose problems for the managers of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in ensuring the conservation of the Djimaalap/noisy scrub-bird and Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo.

The inputs of autochthonous organic carbon driven by mangroves reduce metal mobility and bioavailability in intertidal regions

The significance of mangroves in carbon storage is widely acknowledged. However, the potential role of carbon enhancement driven by mangroves in mitigating the risk of metal exposure remains unclear. In this study, a natural mangrove reserve located in Futian was selected to investigate the potential role of autochthonous organic carbon on metal bioavailability. The presence of mangroves seemed to have little effect on the accumulations of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI/III), Pb(II), and Ni(II) in surface sediments. Metal mobility and bioavailability, however, were found to be directly influenced by the presence of mangroves. Compared with mudflat, mangrove sediments exhibited an obvious in the bioavailability of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI/III), Pb(II), and Ni(II) by 19–79 %, with the highest reduction occurring in the interior of mangroves dominated by K. obovata. Mangroves also significantly enhanced the accumulation of organic carbon in sediments, regardless of carbon components. Moreover, the results from random forest analysis further showed that autochthonous organic carbon was the most important carbon component that negatively related to metal bioavailability. In summary, this is the first study to provide a linkage between mangrove cover and increased autochthonous organic carbon input, which decreases metal bioavailability. The present data also suggest that mangroves are an efficient natural barrier to alleviate the risk of metal exposure in intertidal regions.

An unusual new species of Melandrya Fabricius, 1801 (Coleoptera: Melandryidae) with new distributional notes for two additional Melandrya from Southwest China

An unusual Melandrya species with raised, pale yellowish-orange elytral spots like many species of Helotidae is described as Melandrya (s. str.) helotoides sp. nov. from Guizhou Province in southwest China. It is the ninth species of Melandrya from China. New distributional records are also provided for Melandrya (Bonzicus) incostata Fairmaire, 1889 and Melandrya (Bonzicus) coccinea (Lewis, 1895). All three species are reported from Leigongshan National Nature Reserve. The record for M. (B.) coccinea represents a new provincial occurrence for Guizhou Province. Habitus illustrations of the three species are provided.