Over the past few decades, the climate has undergone significant transformations, with increasing temperatures emerging as one of the most critical threats to marine ecosystems. Mounting evidence of marine heatwaves (MHWs) events in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic region has intensified scientific efforts, revealing that these fragile ecosystems may act as crucial early indicators of wider climate-driven changes in marine environments' biodiversity. This study explores the transcriptional responses of Trematomus bernacchii to thermal stress, focusing on the liver and spleen, key organs in immune defence and metabolic regulation. Adult specimens (total n=30) were collected from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea) during the austral summer (late October 2022) and exposed to a temperature gradient, mimicking MHWs, ranging from 0°C to +3°C; a separate control group was maintained at 0°C. Expression levels of antioxidant-related genes (prdx3, prdx5, cat, sod1, sod2, gpx1, gpx3, gpx4) along with two innate immunity genes (tlr2 and tlr9) were analysed in liver and spleen tissues from five biological replicates. The liver showed an early and dynamic response: gpxs, sod2, Prdxs, and tlrs were upregulated at +1°C and +2°C but downregulated at +3°C, suggesting early mitochondrial antioxidant response and immune activation. In contrast, the spleen remained largely unresponsive at mild stress levels, with marked activation of gpx1, sods, Prdxs, and tlrs only at +3°C. Cat remained unresponsive to thermal stress. These results indicate a delayed but coordinated response, suggesting an energy-conservation mechanism under increasing thermal stress. They underscore the limited plasticity of polar fish physiology and offer molecular insights into the vulnerability of Antarctic marine species in a warming climate.

Landscape disruption in a fragmented world: A critical global analysis.

Vulnerability metrics and climate analogues inform tree species selection and climate bottleneck in a changing climate

Gibbosula rochechouartii is a vulnerable freshwater mussel species endemic to China, with severely degraded habitats. To date, there is no high-quality genome available for this species. In this study, we integrated PacBio HiFi, Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), and Hi-C approaches to generate the first telomere-to-telomere genome assembly for this species. The completed genome spans 2.99 Gb with 93.41% completeness, anchored to 19 chromosomes. Comparative genomic analyses indicate that among all currently published unionoidea genomes, Margaritifera margaritifera is the closest relative to G. rochechouartii. This high-quality reference genome is expected to significantly advance conservation research efforts for this species.

Species vulnerability to climate change depends in part on their capacity to evolve in response to increasing heat. Within terrestrial ectotherms, heat tolerance generally corresponds weakly to current climates, which has led many to conclude that this trait is evolutionarily constrained. However, most studies have not accounted for the role of microclimates, potentially obscuring signals of local adaptation. We examine heat tolerance in 95 species of wild bees that vary in nesting behaviour across the latitudinal extent of Australia. We show that species nest (ground, wooden cavities, or plant stems) micro-climate temperatures predict heat tolerance evolution, where stem nesters have evolved the highest heat tolerances, and ground nesters have evolved the lowest heat tolerances due to their ability to evade extreme heat. A moderate level of phylogenetic inertia in heat tolerance is explained by patterns of related species sharing nesting behaviours. This indicates repeated adaptive evolution of similar heat tolerances, rather than strong evolutionary constraints on heat tolerance. Finally, incorporating nesting behaviour into assessments of climate change vulnerability changes the rank order of which species are most at risk. This underscores the need to understand what drives the evolution of heat tolerance across species to better identify the taxa most at risk to climate change.

Adverse effects of phthalate, trimellitate, and organophosphate plasticizers on phenotypic and transcriptomic responses in the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus.

As a vulnerable species to extinction, Tapirus terrestris has scarce data on gastrointestinal parasites, particularly regarding the occurrence of zoonotic ciliates such as Balantioides coli. Therefore, gastrointestinal parasites were investigated in this host using parasitological, in vitro culture, and molecular approaches. A total of 45 fecal samples were analyzed from animals under human care and from free-ranging or reintroduced individuals in southeastern Brazil. Overall parasite positivity reached 68.9%, varying among sampling sites. Protozoa from the phylum Ciliophora represented the most frequent group, occurring in 60% of samples (p ≤ 0.05). Nematode forms were identified in 31.1% of samples, predominantly as strongylid-type eggs, as well as eggs consistent with Trichuris spp. (4.4%) and members of the family Spiruridae (4.4%). Coccidian oocysts were detected in 20% of samples and were morphometrically compatible with the genus Eimeria. In vitro culture enabled the successful isolation of 20 ciliate strains, and PCR amplification targeting the ITS1-5.8SrDNA-ITS2 region confirmed B. coli in 24 samples, including isolates obtained directly from feces and in vitro cultures, corresponding to an infection rate of 53.3%. Sequence identity ranged from 98.08% to 100% compared to GenBank references. Phylogenetic analysis grouped all sequences within the B. coli clade and identified genetic variants A0 (50%), B0 (37.5%), and B1 (8.3%). Variant A0 predominated and was detected in both ex situ and in situ populations, whereas B0 and B1 showed more restricted distributions. Additionally, amoebae of the genus Entamoeba were detected in 17.8% of samples. These findings represent the first molecular confirmation of B. coli infection in T. terrestris and reinforce the epidemiological relevance of this host in the circulation of zoonotic protozoa across different ecological contexts.

Canine distemper (CD), caused by Morbilivirus canis of Paramyxoviridae family, is a contagious and potentially fatal viral disease affecting a wide range of domestic and wild canid species. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and associated risk factors among free-roaming dogs in the buffer zone of Bardiya National Park (BNP), Nepal. A total of 91 serum samples were collected from free-roaming dogs and tested for CDV-specific IgG antibodies using an iELISA kit. The apparent seroprevalence was found to be 52.75% (95% CI: 42.5-63.0%), while the Rogan-Gladen adjusted true prevalence was 53.28% (95% CI: 42.92-63.64%). Among seropositive samples, 29.17% had high, 31.25% medium, and 39.58% low antibody titers, indicating mixed stages of exposure. Although older dogs (> 72 months) showed higher seropositivity (80%), no statistically significant association was observed between CDV seropositivity and age, sex, body condition score, and location (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that CDV is enzootic in the free-roaming dog population around BNP, representing a potential reservoir for viral spillover to vulnerable wildlife species such as leopards and tigers.

Climate change is rapidly transforming high-altitude ecosystems, placing cold-adapted species at risk. We assessed the vulnerability of four Himalayan Pika species (Ochotona macrotis, O. roylei, O. nubrica, and O. sikimaria) by integrating species distribution models with landscape metrics and sensitivity indices. Using verified occurrence records and bioclimatic variables, we projected habitat suitability under moderate (SSP 2-4.5) and extreme (SSP 5-8.5) emission scenarios for 2050 and 2070. We compared eight ecological and anthropogenic indices for two dispersal scenarios to identify species most at risk. Species responses varied, but overall exposure and fragmentation were estimated to decline, with concurrent decline in Protected Area (PA) coverage and increase Human Footprint (HFP). HFP is predicted to increase for most species under a highly restricted dispersal scenario (constrained to the current species' range). Overall, we observed habitat loss, gain and stability within the same elevation bands for three species - O. macrotis and O. nubrica above 4000 m, and for O. sikimaria above 3500 m. Ochotona roylei is predicted to follow upslope range tracking, with habitat loss between 3000 - 4000 m, stable habitat at 4000 - 4500m and gain above 4500 m. Models predicted vulnerability at higher elevations (>4500 m) and latitudes (33-34°N), for O. nubrica, contrasting with the typical trailing-edge loss seen in other pikas. Projections for O. macrotis suggested loss at high latitudes (34-35°N) of its sampled range, indicative of vulnerability driven by internal range fragmentation rather than latitudinal tracking. Based on habitat specialization, sensitivity to climate drivers, and projected range change, our study identified O. roylei as the most vulnerable species. Diverse species-specific habitat and climate drivers challenge the assumption of uniform upward elevational shifts driven solely by climate change. Sustaining the pika guild over the long term will require increased habitat protection and management for habitat connectivity to support range shifts and movement as the Himalaya warms.

Abies recurvata Mast. is an endemic and vulnerable conifer species in China. To date, its taxonomic position relative to related taxa (e.g. A. delavayi and A. chensiensis) remains ambiguous. To our knowledge, this work presents the first full chloroplast genome assembly and comprehensive characterization of Abies recurvata (Purple-coned Fir). This genome exists as a circular molecule of 120,063 bp, harboring 113 distinct genes. Additionally, 66 microsatellite repeats and 12 tandem repeats were identified. Phylogenetic analysis challenged conventional taxonomic views, revealing that A. recurvata is distantly related to A. delavayi and A. chensiensis, but instead forms a strongly supported clade with A. fargesii.

Occurrence and toxicological assessment of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in loggerhead turtle eggs undergoing climate-induced nesting expansion in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea.

Ecosystem dynamics can lead to trade‐offs between reaching harvest targets and protecting vulnerable species across fisheries management decisions. However, in the context of rebuilding overfished populations, considering predator–prey interactions might provide opportunities to minimize or reverse these trade‐offs if overfished prey can recover when predators in shared habitat are harvested. To understand whether and under what conditions such opportunities might arise, we explore the effect of predator harvest on the rebuilding outcomes of a recovering prey that experiences bycatch mortality. We developed an age‐structured model with predation and harvest to evaluate changes in the population dynamics of prey at steady state and in their rebuilding time under increasing harvest of predators. We parameterized our models based on yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus), a U.S. West Coast Groundfish stock under a rebuilding plan, and one of their known predators, lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus). We found that lingcod harvest reduced the long‐term spawning biomass and increased the rebuilding time of yelloweye rockfish regardless of their prey specialization; these negative effects were due to yelloweye rockfish bycatch in the lingcod fishery. However, the degree to which predator harvest affects prey rebuilding depends on prey specialization, where the steady‐state dynamics of yelloweye rockfish were less affected by lingcod harvest and rebuilding occurred more rapidly when lingcod acted as a specialist compared to a generalist predator. As efforts to leverage ecosystem attributes in fisheries management are applied to recovery strategies, we highlight the role that the nature and strength of biological interactions can play in shaping outcomes of recovery.

In the absence of an internationally coordinated management strategy, continued exploitation of the North Sea is expected to exacerbate underwater radiated noise (URN), heightening risks of adverse impacts on marine life. Identifying indicator species and their habitats is a fundamental step in the EU framework for setting a scientifically grounded underwater noise limit value (UNLV). While past research has primarily emphasized marine mammals, there is an increasing effort to highlight that the impacts of URN extend to fishes and invertebrates. To support indicator species selection in the North Sea for URN risk assessment, a trait-based vulnerability scoring system for marine mammals, fishes and invertebrates was developed. Each scoring system evaluates multiple attributes related to a species' capacity to detect and produce sound, as well as the documented impacts from both impulsive and continuous anthropogenic noise, and highlights species of particular concern and socio-ecological significance. Five potential indicator species were identified from each of the three taxonomic groups (marine mammals, fishes and invertebrates) for URN risk assessment. The proposed vulnerability scoring system serves as an adaptive framework, open to iterative refinement as bioacoustics knowledge advances. Although data gaps persist, the establishment of regional UNLV to safeguard vulnerable species should not be delayed. By linking URN exposure with key habitats of identified indicator species, this approach facilitates an ecosystem-based management of URN in the North Sea and provides a transferable framework for other regions.

Identifying suitable habitat shifts and climate refugia under climate change is essential for the conservation of freshwater fish, particularly in mountainous river systems. However, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluation frameworks to quantitatively assess the degree to which regional fish assemblages are affected. In addition, asymmetric habitat shift patterns in fish populations of mountainous rivers remain insufficiently explored. To address these gaps, we developed a climate-responsive evaluation framework—CR-TOPSIS—based on the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and applied it to assess current and future habitat changes for the Top 15 climate-sensitive species and other key protected species in the Qinba mountainous region, integrating environmental DNA surveys and targeted traditional capture, cross-validated against regional checklists and expert review with MaxEnt modeling. Projections were made under two climate scenarios (SSP126 and SSP585) for the period 2070–2100. Results indicated pronounced asymmetric habitat shift patterns, with leading-edge expansion consistently exceeding trailing-edge contraction across climate scenarios. Species distribution centroids exhibited a clear northward shift, averaging 1.76 km under SSP126 and 2.64 km under SSP585, reflecting enhanced redistribution under stronger warming. Coldwater and bottom-dwelling species experienced disproportionate habitat loss under high-emission scenarios, whereas eurythermal and pelagic-spawning species showed comparatively higher adaptive potential. Core climate refugia, defined by 100% spatial overlap across scenarios, covered approximately 0.51 × 10³ km² and were primarily concentrated along the midstream Hanjiang River and its tributaries, remaining stable under both climate pathways. This study demonstrates the utility of integrating molecular monitoring and species distribution models to detect climate-sensitive shifts, evaluate species vulnerability and conservation prioritization in montane freshwater ecosystems. • Developed a CR-TOPSIS framework to evaluate climate sensitivity of freshwater fish species. • Integrated eDNA data and MaxEnt modeling to predict future habitat suitability under SSP126 and SSP585. • Revealed consistent asymmetric habitat shifts, with leading-edge expansion exceeding trailing-edge retreat. • Identified coldwater and benthic species as highly vulnerable to warming and hydrological change. • Mapped climate refugia concentrated in the midstream Hanjiang River, providing conservation targets.

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) is an endemic species of ENT – Indonesia, currently listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. The study seeks to understand the status of sandalwood among agroforestry farmers, on how the ecosystem balance of the sandalwood trade has been maintained for centuries under traditional management, and how current institutional arrangements or policies seem to be leading to unsustainable sandalwood production and trade. Primary data were collected through a survey of eight villages in the South Central Timor district, West Timor, purposively selected based on the distribution of the sandalwood ecosystem; secondary data and information were obtained from manuscripts and open-access sources. The research showed that the current sandalwood trees are mostly found in Mamar, a traditional agroforestry system, with dominant respondents (32%) maintaining populations of fewer than 15 trees, and only 2% respondents own more than 50 trees; however, accounted 80% respondents were willing to plant sandalwood. The paper highlighted that traditional sandalwood management practices during the early sandalwood trade contributed to the sustainable, environmentally sound nature of the sandalwood natural production system. Conversely, induced sandalwood management practices, in general, lead to overexploitation and social distrust, creating unsustainable sandalwood production. The paper suggested that sandalwood cultivation should focus on private land in Mamar, and that regulations and technical standards for sandalwood production and trade should be designed to increase participation and promote sustainable, environmentally friendly dryland management. Sandalwood trees should receive special consideration and be valued more in biodiversity and carbon credit schemes to attract more upland farmers to plant and conserve them.

Papillomavirus (PV), a transmissible oncogenic pathogen, has recently been identified in both healthy and diseased giant pandas, posing a critical threat to this endangered species and highlighting the need for sensitive diagnostics. Here, we present an accumulation-mode organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) immunosensor for the sensitive detection of giant panda PV. We cloned and expressed the codon-optimized E6 protein gene of giant panda PV to generate polyclonal antibodies. The sensor employs a crystalline C4N photogate containing pyridinic nitrogen and graphitic nitrogen with a narrow bandgap (1.27 eV), broad ultraviolet-visible absorption, and high gating effect (a current gain of 10,000) for efficient charge separation and migration. This OPECT immunosensor achieves a detection limit of 40 fg mL-1, a broad dynamic range from 0.1 pg mL-1 to 161 ng mL-1, and high specificity. It enables accurate analysis of giant panda clinical samples, offering a robust tool for PV surveillance in this vulnerable species.

ABSTRACT Michoacán possesses extensive forest cover yet has undergone rapid and sustained land use transformations driven by illegal logging and the expansion of the ‘avocado strip’. This study utilized Random Forest (RF) classification of Landsat imagery (1986–2025) to analyze landscape dynamics, identifying Near-Infrared (NIR) and Shortwave Infrared 2 (SWIR 2) bands as the most critical predictors. Change detection analysis revealed severe deforestation: dry forest declined by 4,344 km2 and evergreen forest by 1,698 km2, fueling a corresponding increase in exposed soils (3,270 km2) and croplands (2,158 km2). To assess ecological impacts, MaxEnt was employed to model the distribution of 35 vulnerable species (16 Near Threatened, 10 Vulnerable, and 9 Endangered) with Nighttime Land Surface Temperature in December emerging as the most influential variable. The biodiversity assessment (2000–2025) indicated that the Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) suffered the greatest loss of potential distribution area (exceeding 50%), while the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) and the Mexican Ground Pit Viper (Agkistrodon bilineatus) exhibited the greatest gains (approximately 50% increase). Given that these threatened ecosystems are poorly represented within current protected areas, these findings underscore an urgent need to integrate conservation strategies into regions undergoing intense agricultural conversion to mitigate further biodiversity loss.

Abstract. Salamida EMM, Tabugo SRM. 2026. Novel primers for mini-barcoding of seahorses for wildlife trade and seafood forensics. Biodiversitas 27 (3): d270335. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270335. Seahorses are charismatic fish facing increasing threats from habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. They are targeted and trafficked in the global market, further threatening their status. The high levels of both interspecific and intraspecific variability are also affecting the accuracy of species definition. Thus, this study developed a systematic pipeline for designing DNA mini-barcode primers using accessible software and integrated bioinformatics tools to enhance the detection of vulnerable seahorse species in wildlife trade and seafood forensics. The overarching goal is to support conservation efforts and promote the sustainable use of marine resources. DNA mini-barcodes, short sequences under 200 bp, show promise and can be useful for identifying species from degraded or processed samples. In this study, cytochrome b gene sequences—known for combining conserved and variable regions—were the basis for designing species-specific mini-barcode primers. These primers were tailored to improve molecular identification from low-quality seahorse samples, such as dried or frozen specimens commonly encountered in trade. Novel primers were initially evaluated using in silico Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), yielding four top-performing primer sets, which were subsequently validated by actual PCR. A total of nine Hippocampus spp. samples (four dried, five frozen) were used to test primer efficacy. PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis results confirmed that all primer sets successfully amplified DNA and produced good-quality PCR products. Sequencing data revealed accurate base-calling, with high percentage identity matches to reference sequences. These novel primers show potential for species identification in seahorse monitoring and enforcement contexts.

Watercraft strikes pose a significant threat to marine turtles because they surface to breathe and spend much of their time in habitats that overlap with areas of high watercraft traffic. Although reduced watercraft speeds have been shown to lower the likelihood and severity of watercraft-strikes with marine turtles, their effectiveness depends on high boater compliance. To improve compliance, it is important to assess current adherence to speed restrictions and to identify site-specific factors influencing compliance. This is particularly important in regions where interactions between vulnerable species and watercrafts are greatest. This study assessed boater compliance with existing speed restrictions in three regions along the Florida Gulf Coast (Destin region; St. Petersburg region; and Sarasota region) previously identified as having high densities of stranded marine turtles with documented watercraft strike injuries. Compliance ranged from 42% to 70% across locations. At each location, compliance was influenced by discrete factors, including speed restriction, time of day, month, watercraft type, and signage presence. Our results are valuable for maximizing compliance as they provide information on where and when noncompliance is occurring. This will help guide targeted studies into causes of noncompliance and facilitate communication strategies to increase compliance.

Abstract Urban ecosystems form fragmented landscapes characterized by low biodiversity and high impervious surface cover, which can affect insect demography and ecological interactions. In particular, solitary wasps may be especially sensitive to urbanization, given their role as important regulators of insect populations through predation and parasitism. We investigated how different degrees of urbanization affect the nesting ecology of three cavity‐nesting solitary wasps of the genus Trypoxylon . We hypothesized that increasing impervious surfaces limits resource availability, thereby impairing wasp nest construction and reproduction. From October 2021 to April 2022, we used trap‐nests to monthly record Trypoxylon aureovestitum, T. platense and T. rogenhoferi nesting at 55 sites distributed across nine cities in the central region of Argentina, spanning a range of areas and population sizes. At each site, we defined a circular 500‐m radius buffer area where we estimated the degree of urbanization (proportion of impervious surface) and measured flower abundance and richness. Abundance of built nests decreased significantly with increasing urbanization, whereas brood cell abundance per nest, the survival of immature stages, sex ratio and the number of parasitized brood cells at each site did not change with urbanization. The sex ratio differed between species, with a female bias in T. aureovestitum , a male bias in T. platense and no clear pattern in T. rogenhoferi . Furthermore, nest abundance increased with floral richness, while brood cell abundance per nest and parasitoid abundance decreased. Urbanization influenced the abundance of Trypoxylon wasps. Specifically, a decrease in nest abundance with increasing urbanization may reduce population sizes, potentially increasing species vulnerability to local extinction. Furthermore, our results suggest that certain species may be more flexible than others, and hence more likely to survive and thrive, in these anthropogenic settings. Finally, the influence of floral resources on wasp reproduction highlights the complex effects that local plant communities have on the reproductive success and ecological interactions of these solitary wasps.