Orthoptera species distribution ranges are dynamically shifting because of climate change. This article documents the expansion of the short-winged grasshopper Pezotettix giornae in Western and Central Europe between 1990 and 2024. Published records from Central Europe (Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) are supplemented with data from public databases and targeted field surveys, particularly in southeastern Moravia and the Burda Hills region of southern Slovakia. Whereas P. giornae was previously abundant mainly in the Mediterranean reaching northwards into central Hungary, its range has gradually shifted northward over the past 30 years, now reaching central France, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, with single individuals transported to northern France, northern Switzerland, central Germany, and the Netherlands. The increase in abundance and the number of newly recorded localities indicate the dynamic spread of this species despite its inability to fly. This expansion is facilitated by climate warming, the species’ ability to colonize ruderal and successional habitats, and passive dispersal via transportation, particularly along road and railway corridors. The case of P. giornae demonstrates that even brachypterous species with limited dispersal ability can undergo significant range shifts. This trend has important implications for ecological modeling and the prediction of future species distributions and biodiversity conservation strategies in the changing European landscape.

Objective: This study investigates long-term trends (1991–2024) in the population dynamics of 13 major livestock species in Türkiye by examining changes in species abundance, breed composition and biodiversity structure, with emphasis on the impacts of intensive breeding practices on local genetic resources.Material and Methods: Annual livestock statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) were used to analyse species and breed trends. Biodiversity was assessed using ecological indices including Shannon, Simpson, Pielou’s Evenness, Berger–Parker and Margalef. Multivariate analyses (PCA and hierarchical clustering) and visualizations (heat maps, radar charts and dendrograms) were conducted in Python 3.11. Data were normalized to ensure comparability among species.Results: Commercial cattle and broiler chicken populations increased markedly, whereas native sheep and goat breeds declined. Biodiversity indices showed reductions in species richness and evenness after 2000. Bray–Curtis analyses revealed significant differences in species composition across five-year periods (F = 8.06, p

This study evaluated species composition, forest structure, and biodiversity of the natural mangrove area (NA) and the mangrove restoration (RA) areas on Tha Kam Natural Island (13.495873°N, 100.981029°E) in the Bang Pakong estuary, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Vegetation surveys were conducted using a systematic line transect method with 10 × 10 m sampling plots established along geomorphological gradients. A total of nine mangrove species were recorded across both sites, including eight tree species and one shrub (Acanthus ilicifolius). The RA exhibited a higher tree density (31.71±19.01 trees per 100 m2) than the NA (21.71±9.54 trees per100 m2). However, the NA showed greater structural maturity, as reflected by a higher basal area (0.41 m2 per 100 m2) and greater species diversity (Shannon–Wiener index, H' = 1.140). In contrast, the RA exhibited lower diversity (H' = 0.480) and evenness (J' = 0.268), indicating dominance by Rhizophora mucronata and reflecting an early successional stage. These findings indicate that although reforestation has increased vegetation density, the restored forest still exhibits lower species diversity and limited structural heterogeneity, reflecting an early successional stage. Enhancing these structural and compositional attributes will be essential for strengthening long-term ecosystem resilience and increasing blue carbon sequestration potential in this estuarine mangrove ecosystem. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT HIGHLIGHTS Natural areas (NA) exhibit significantly higher structural maturity with a basal area of 0.41m2/100m2 compared to 0.27m2/100 m2 in restored areas (RA). The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’) in the NA (1.14) is more than double that of the RA (0.48), indicating greater ecological stability. Restored areas show higher tree density (71 individuals/100 m2), reflecting uniform, human-restored stand characteristics. Pioneer species Avicennia and Sonneratia drive active successional recovery in the RA. Ecological profiles of Tha Kam Island serve as a vital baseline for function-oriented mangrove management and blue carbon accounting.

Biodiversity of Aspergillus section Flavi species isolated along the peanut paste production chain in Côte d'Ivoire.

Dynamics of leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release in mangroves under different control conditions: Highlighting the litter quality, decomposer and mixing effect.

The three-dimensional architecture of natural habitats is a key determinant of species biodiversity, harvestable biomass and resilience to disturbance1,2. Indeed, some species, including trees, corals and oysters, alter resource availability and modify biotic and abiotic pressures through their own three-dimensional structures-thereby enhancing their own survival3,4. However, which aspects of the three-dimensional architecture of these ecosystem engineers shape ecosystem dynamics and species survival are rarely examined by empirical studies, leaving much of the broader ecological and conservation impact of ecosystem engineering underexplored4-6. Here we show that oyster reefs have combinations of geometric variables that maximize recruit survival, which is a key factor influencing oyster reef growth and persistence. Using three-dimensional habitat designs that capture the full spectrum of natural oyster reef architectures, as well as a geometric theory7 that links habitat surface area, fractal dimension and height, we show that oyster settlement and survival are greatest at particular combinations of fractal dimension and height that minimize predation. Our study provides a template for understanding optimal three-dimensional habitat configurations for habitat restoration projects that are proliferating globally, without targeting key architectural features of habitat space that maximize restoration success8,9.

Currently, more than 350,000 chemicals and chemical mixtures have been registered for global production and use, and they are inevitably released into global near-coastal environments during their life cycle. However, the multidimensional adverse effects of these chemicals on marine species populations, assemblages, and biodiversity remain unknown. Herein, we proposed an AI-based framework (AI-4-SSD) for whole-chain predictions of chemical exposure, aquatic toxicity, and risk in the global near-coastal environment. As the core of this framework, a multimodal deep learning model was developed to predict population-level aquatic toxicities of diverse chemicals on eight marine species across three phyla, demonstrating excellent predictive power (R2 of 0.85 in the test set). Using the AI-4-SSD framework, we identified six high-risk chemicals threatening marine species assemblages via direct effects on life-history characteristics, including DDT and 6:2/8:2 diPAPs, from approximately 3,000 target chemicals potentially entering the global near-coastal environment. Specifically, in the Black Sea, we found that cumulative risks from coexposure to hundreds of detected chemicals could drive biodiversity loss during 2016-2019, despite individual chemicals posing negligible risks. This work not only provides a user-friendly prediction framework for rapidly identifying high-risk chemicals but also highlights the necessity of mixture risk management for the conservation of marine biodiversity.

ABSTRACT Our current climate crisis is marked by ongoing ecological losses—species extinctions, land dispossession, biodiversity decline, and climate-related deaths—that rarely receive collective recognition or mourning. These losses unfold gradually and unevenly, making them difficult to name, remember, or grieve. Building on the idea of mourning as ‘relearning our world,’ I argue that mourning is educational insofar as it reorients our habits, identities, relationships, and responsibilities. In pedagogical contexts, it can unsettle students, calling them to witness what has been lost and to link feeling with inquiry. Drawing on a ‘pedagogy of discomfort,’ I show how this work is affectively and ethically demanding, and how discomfort can help sustain our attention (under supportive conditions). By creating spaces for collective witnessing and remembrance, education can resist avoidance and erasure, remain with loss, and support practices that help us learn to live responsibility within damaged yet ongoing worlds.

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a severe and escalating threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services in China. However, a systematic nationwide assessment that identifies invasion hotspots, quantifies their overlap with protected area networks, and pinpoints critical conservation gaps is still lacking. This hinders the development of spatially targeted management strategies. To address this, we developed an integrated analytical framework coupling the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model with the InVEST habitat quality model. Using a high-resolution, county-level distribution database of 293 IAPs, we mapped potential species richness and habitat degradation across China. The geo-detector model was further employed to identify the primary environmental factors and their interactions. Spatial overlay analysis was conducted to delineate core invasion habitats (areas of high invasion suitability and high degradation) and assess their coverage within China's national nature reserves. Nighttime light intensity (DMSP, 34.39%), annual precipitation (Bio12, 14.16%), and mean diurnal range (Bio2, 11.82%) were the factors with the highest contribution in the model, highlighting the statistical interaction between anthropogenic pressure and climatic conditions. The core invasion habitat spanned 20.10 × 104 km2, predominantly (66.04%) concentrated in high-intensity human disturbance zones. Notably, only 11.18% of this core habitat falls within existing national nature reserves, revealing a vast conservation gap of 17.85 × 104 km2. Our results indicate a profound spatial mismatch between invasion hotspots and the current protected area network in China. We prioritize southeastern coastal urban agglomerations-characterized by high anthropogenic pressure (DMSP), high precipitation (Bio12), and low diurnal temperature range (Bio2)-for immediate monitoring and intervention. This integrated assessment provides a national-scale, spatially explicit prediction of invasion risk for 293 plant species in China, and offers an evidence-based decision-support tool for optimizing invasive species management and biodiversity conservation.

Environmental changes and anthropogenic activities have significantly altered plant species distributions and biodiversity in various regions of Egypt, contributing to habitat fragmentation and a decline in plant populations. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of vegetation diversity, species distribution, conservation status, and environmental relationships across diverse habitats in Egypt, including coastal regions (Hurghada and El-Arish) and inland deserts (Wadi El-Gemal and El-Galala). From 2023 to 2024, a vegetation survey was conducted across four study areas in Egypt using stratified random sampling; the survey involved 86 sampled plots, analyzing species composition, growth forms, and cover. A total of 45 species from 16 families were recorded, with Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, and Zygophyllaceae being the most dominant. Species were classified as native or non-native, and their conservation status was determined based on the IUCN Red List criteria. Multivariate analyses (cluster analysis, Detrended Correspondence Analysis, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis) revealed seven distinct vegetation groups (A-G), which were significantly influenced by soil properties such as pH, electrical conductivity, and ion content. The study also calculated diversity indices, with average species richness (SR) of 4.5 ± 2.1 species per plot and a Shannon-Wiener Index (H') ranging from 0.38 to 1.99. Conservation status assessments showed that 95.5% of species were native, with two non-native species recorded. Several species, such as Anabasis articulata and Haloxylon salicornicum, were categorized as Vulnerable (VU), while others, including Panicum turgidum and Phragmites australis, were classified as Near Threatened (NT) or Least Concern (LC). The results of this study underscore the importance of understanding the complex relationships between plant communities and environmental factors to develop targeted conservation strategies. The findings also emphasize the need for continued monitoring and protection of both coastal and inland desert habitats in Egypt to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation and preserve biodiversity.

Abstract Biodiversity indicators, such as temporal trends in relative species abundance, are essential to report on the status, pressures and responses of biodiversity and to guide environmental policies. These trends are often estimated from datasets collected from standardised, long‐term and large‐scale biodiversity monitoring schemes thanks to volunteer‐based citizen science including volunteers with a broad range of naturalist skills. However, the involvement of the general public, predominantly considered as non‐experts, in the observation and inventory of biodiversity raises questions about data quality and reliability. Here, we focused on three nationwide butterfly monitoring schemes involving volunteers with varied naturalist skills in France and the United Kingdom. For each scheme, the temporal trends and interannual variations in abundance of 20 common species/species groups were estimated. Then a detailed analysis was conducted to ascertain which features related to butterfly biology, ecology or the protocols' characteristics best explain the differences in species trends or interannual variations between schemes involving expert naturalists and those relying on the general public. Similar interannual variations between schemes were found for generalist, migratory and easily recognisable butterflies, but no variable explained differences in temporal trends. In addition, considering species groups when it is difficult to distinguish species reliably did not yield poorer results than considering individual species. The considerable amount of data collected by volunteers regardless of their naturalist expertise can be used to generate reliable and robust species biodiversity indicators, including hard‐to‐access locations such as private gardens, something that traditional methods or expert data cannot capture.

Like most of the North Atlantic marine coastal area, the seawater temperature in the English Channel (EC) is showing an increase that began in the middle of the 1980s. Similarly, during the same period, there has been an increase in human activities (extraction of aggregates, harbour sediment dredging and spoil disposal, Offshore Wind Farms). This point of view examines and analyses the changes in biodiversity of benthic species and communities from the EC under climatic and anthropogenic pressures during the four last decades. Four main changes have been recorded: (1) additions to the checklist of benthic species, due to new prospections; (2) changes in the structure of benthic communities, due to human activities; (3) an increase in diversity due to the arrival of non-indigenous species, some of which have effects on the structure of benthic communities; and (4) eastward progression of temperate species, while some boreal species tend to disappear. Situated in temperate mid-latitudes bordering the North-eastern Atlantic, the EC is an excellent open laboratory to observe and understand the impact of climatic change and human activities on marine coastal ecosystems. Today, the increase in seawater temperature and the introduction of non-native species appear to be the main factors that explain the changes in benthic diversity in the EC.

How is the Species Biodiversity Swimming Upstream Amidst the Overall Decline of Global Grassland?

Seamounts are considered biodiversity hotspots that play a relevant role in deep-sea ecosystems. The LIFE IP INTEMARES project aimed to enhance scientific knowledge of the biodiversity and distribution of benthic species and habitats in the Mallorca Channel seamounts (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean): Ses Olives, Ausias March and Emile Baudot. This study develops habitat suitability models, based on the presence/absence of species or assemblages and environmental and fishing variables, to predict and map 11 potential biogenic benthic habitats and pockmarks fields. Rhodolith beds, mainly overlapping with sponge gardens, were found on the circalittoral detritic sandy bottoms of the summits of the shallowest seamounts Ausias March and Emile Baudot. Sponge and gorgonian gardens were found on coralligenous outcrops and rocky flanks, while smaller sponges and pockmarks were widespread on deeper adjacent bottoms. Notably, the bamboo coral Isidella elongata was recorded on bathyal muds between Ses Olives and Ausias March. These results provide a spatial framework to support conservation zoning and the proposal of the Mallorca Channel seamounts as a Site of Community Interest for their inclusion in the marine Natura 2000 network.

Priority habitat 91E0* (alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior) constitutes a key riparian biodiversity hotspot, yet it is increasingly threatened by woody invasions that alter the community composition and reduce the habitat’s heterogeneity. Ten permanent plots (15 m radius) were surveyed in the Nestos River delta (NE Greece) in 2019 and 2023, following a manual control campaign conducted in 2021, targeting Amorpha fruticosa and Acer negundo. Because systematic plot-level vegetation data were collected only in 2019 and 2023, the study evaluates before–after changes rather than continuous annual dynamics. Woody species composition and diversity, community turnover (Bray–Curtis dissimilarites/PCoA; PERMANOVA), invasive dynamics (negative binomial GLMs), and community-weighted Ellenberg-type indicator values and their relationships with the soil properties (0–30 cm) were assessed. Across the surveys, 18 woody taxa were recorded, dominated by native riparian trees and shrubs, together with four established alien species. The total alien abundance declined from 943 to 385 individuals between 2019 and 2023, driven by A. negundo (−68%) and A. fruticosa (−39%). The woody community composition differed significantly between years (R2 = 0.12; p = 0.013) and river banks, whereas plot-scale diversity indices changed modestly and evenness increased. The mean community-weighted moisture affinity increased (CWM_F: 6.28 → 7.07), nutrient affinity remained high, and reaction values declined slightly. The soil’s properties did not differ between the treated and control plots; nevertheless, Shannon diversity was positively correlated with organic C, total N, exchangeable Ca and K, and clay content. Permanent plot resurveys thatintegrate soil properties and indicator-based community metrics provide robust baselines to support Article 17 reporting under the EU Habitats Directive and to guide spatially targeted invasive-species management in Mediterranean alluvial forests (habitat 91E0) undergoing restoration actions.

The Urban Biotic Homogenization (UBH) hypothesis predicts that urban areas are ecologically homogenous at both intra- and inter-city scales. This hypothesis has played a central role in the field of urban ecology over the past two decades. However, the body of literature testing this hypothesis shows mixed results, with only half of studies finding support for UBH. Here we argue that the UBH hypothesis has been overstated in magnitude and scope. While UBH does occur in certain scenarios, metacommunity theory suggests that in many scenarios, biotic heterogeneity should arise. Furthermore, unique social-ecological processes can create or maintain biotic heterogeneity at the local patch to landscape scales. Urban biotic homogenization versus diversification may be scale-dependent, though this is largely overlooked in research. Thus, we argue that biotic heterogeneity as a phenomenon may explain a majority of urban biodiversity's species diversity and distribution. We present three core tenets of urban ecosystems, which we argue facilitate biotic heterogeneity rather than homogeneity: metacommunity dynamics, human dimensions of management and variation in urban typologies within and across cities. We present examples from the literature and a series of novel research questions that can catalyse investigations into the relationships between urbanisation and biotic heterogeneity, and what applications can come from such research.

<h2>Abstract</h2> This study aimed to assess bird diversity in rural Tehsil Sahiwal from September to November 2023, with a focus on species distribution, abundance, and IUCN status. Multiple line transects surveys were used to observe the birds in the research area, and the Shannon‒Wiener diversity index, Margalef richness index and species evenness index were used to calculate the diversity and abundance of the bird species. A comprehensive observation of 783 individual birds revealed their distribution across 29 species from 10 different orders, spanning 26 families at the study sites. Notably, the Ciconiidae family presented a minimum of only 3 individuals, and Corvidae had the maximum with 120 individuals. The Ciconiiformes order had the fewest individuals, with only 3, while Passeriformes showed the highest abundance, with 507 individuals. Among the observed birds, 634 were residents (81 %), 16 were winter visitors (2 %), and 133 were summer breeders (17 %). Evaluating their conservation status on the basis of the IUCN Red List, revealed 4 threatened species (2 vulnerable (Yellow-eyed pigeon and River tern) and 2 near threatened (Black-tailed Godwit and Painted Stork)), with 25 classified as least concern. The diversity index (H′ = 3.06) indicates high ecological diversity, suggesting that the area supports a wide range of bird species. The richness index (R = 4.20) reflects a high level of species richness relative to the number of individuals sampled, while the evenness index (E = 0.90) shows that individuals are uniformly distributed among species, which is indicative of a stable ecosystem. This study offers valuable insights into bird diversity and distribution in the agricultural landscape of Tehsil Sahiwal. While low-level threats like habitat destruction and lack of awareness were noted, timely interventions are essential. Long-term monitoring is needed to assess habitat changes, confirm conservation strategies, and maintain species diversity and evenness.

Wetlands are a cornerstone habitat for avian biodiversity, especially in current landscapes where concrete jungles are ever-expanding and replacing other natural habitats. Gatehara Bird field is one such wetland located in Kalol, Gandhinagar, that supports a healthy population and diversity of birds, showing its importance for avian conservation and ecological health. A systematic survey recorded 173 species of birds belonging to 54 different families, with an estimated total abundance of around 29,036 individuals. The wetland supports significant populations of 13 species of high conservation priority as mentioned in the State of India’s Bird Report 2023. The avian community exhibits a value of 0.9594 on Simpson’s Index 1-D and a Shannon-Weiner diversity Index (H) value of 3.704, showing high avian diversity and richness, along with Evenness (e^H/S) of 0.2347. The site is critical for migratory waterbirds, with winter migrants forming a substantial portion of the community dependent on the wetland for food, nesting and as a stop/satellite wetland during their migration journey. The site supports a significant population and diversity of species facing global decline in their numbers, 43.4% of species found here are facing a global decline in population trends. The site acts as a crucial node within the Central Asian Flyway, supporting a massive congregation of waders like Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-winged stilt, Sandpipers, Shanks etc. The study establishes Gatehara bird-field as a wetland of state and national importance when compared to Ramsar sites like Thol Lake Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, and other stop-over sites Like Pariyej, Chhari Dhandh, Chhaya Rann wetlands in Gujarat. This study and comparison with other wetlands highlight the importance of Gatehara for the rich local as well as migratory avifauna critical need for its immediate formal protection and safeguard of its rich biodiversity against escalating anthropogenic pollution and threats.

Abstract Understanding the factors shaping phenological patterns is essential to unravel species coexistence and biodiversity dynamics. This study investigated the phylogenetic and climatic drivers of reproductive phenology in Myrcia species from the Restingas of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil. We monitored the reproductive phenology of nine sympatric Myrcia species for one year and assessed the influence of climatic variables (precipitation and day length) and phylogenetic relatedness using phylogenetic signal metrics and eigenvector regression. Our findings indicate a strong climatic control over reproductive phenology. Flowering predominantly occurred during periods of lower precipitation and longer days, whereas fruiting was concentrated in the rainy season. Day length significantly influenced floral bud and flowering activity, whereas precipitation negatively affected these phases but promoted fruit maturation. Despite the close phylogenetic relationships among species, we found no significant phylogenetic signal in phenological traits, suggesting that reproductive timing is shaped more by environmental factors than by evolutionary history. The lack of phylogenetic conservatism in phenology highlights the role of ecological adaptation in shaping reproductive strategies in this diverse community. Although temporal overlap among species was observed, it did not align with phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that competition or facilitation mechanisms operate independently of evolutionary history. These findings highlight how tropical plant communities adjust their reproductive cycles in response to environmental constraints, reinforcing the dominant role of ecological factors over phylogenetic constraints in shaping phenological patterns.

Morocco boasts remarkable ecological, orographic, geomorphological, and climatic diversity, which divides the country into seven distinct biogeographical zones. Diptera species richness, including the family Tachinidae, is relatively high in zones such as Rif, Middle Atlas, and High Atlas, but significantly lower in Eastern Morocco and the Sahara. Given the increasing impacts of climate change on species distributions and biodiversity conservation, we employed ecological niche modelling (ENM) to assess current and future habitat suitability for four key parasitoid tachinid fly species [Cylindromyia brassicaria (Fabricius), Gonia atra Meigen, G. bimaculata Wiedemann, and Tachina fera (Linnaeus)] in Morocco. Using MaxEnt modelling with occurrence records and environmental variables, we assessed present-day distributions and projected changes by 2050 under two climate scenarios (SSP126 and SSP585). Model performance was robust across species, with average AUC values ranging from 0.867 to 0.921 and average TSS values ranging from 0.503 to 0.533 across the four tachinid species. Annual precipitation emerged as the dominant predictor for most species, while temperature variables showed species-specific importance. Currently, suitable habitats are concentrated in northern Morocco, particularly in the Atlas Mountains and Mediterranean coastal regions, with 31.8–33.7% of the study area being climatically suitable. Future projections indicate habitat contractions for all species, particularly under SSP585, with reductions ranging from 10.25% to 36.20% by 2050. The High Atlas region was identified as a potential climatic refuge, maintaining relatively high habitat suitability under both scenarios. These findings provide critical insights for long-term biological control strategies using these parasitoids under current and future climate conditions. Additionally, the results can inform effective conservation and restoration efforts for tachinid species, particularly those that are threatened or endangered.