Subsistence hunting, or “country food,” is essential for Indigenous Peoples who face high food insecurity and is critical for Indigenous Food Sovereignty. For many First Nations of Canada, subsistence hunting is also inextricably linked to traditional conservation practices, as hunting is an important way of engaging with nature. In the boreal of Canada, large game such as moose (Alces alces) are a primary source of protein for many First Nations. However, resource extraction, including forestry practices and oil and gas extraction, has shifted large game distributions and affected the availability and abundance of food resources. Here, we used remote camera trap data and generalized linear models to evaluate moose habitat use and spatial-numerical response to possible stressors in north-central Alberta, including fire, harvest, oil and gas extraction, and other disturbances. We also examined the effects of human-caused stressors on habitat use by sex and age class data. The proportion of various land cover types and human land use for resource extraction were important in moose habitat use. Overall, adult moose avoided burned areas and grasslands. Notably, male, female, and young moose all used habitat differently and at different spatial scales. However, young moose (with their mothers) strongly selected natural forest disturbances such as burned areas but avoided human-created disturbances such as petroleum exploration “seismic” lines. Female moose with young attempting to maximize forage opportunities do not use human-disturbed forests in the same ways they use naturally disturbed areas. This also aligns with observations from Indigenous communities, which have linked human disturbance to declines in moose densities and displacement from traditional hunting grounds. Understanding and predicting shifts in large game distributions is critical to supporting Indigenous Food Sovereignty and identifying where industries operating on First Nations lands can better engage responsibly with First Nations.

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is a valuable tool for studying plant population genetics and gene flow by pollen in conifers, particularly through the application of chloroplast DNA microsatellite markers (cpSSRs). This study focuses on Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana L.), an economically and ecologically significant tree species in Afghanistan. Despite its importance, comprehensive genetic research on Chilgoza pine has been limited. To address this gap, we developed novel cpSSR markers based on the Chilgoza pine’s chloroplast genome to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and pollen dispersal in a population from Gardiz, Afghanistan. Needle samples from 199 trees across four subpopulations and two age cohorts (young and old) were collected and analyzed. Our findings revealed 27 chloroplast microsatellite markers, of which six exhibited polymorphism. Haplotype analysis identified 32 unique haplotypes, with one most prevalent haplotype. Genetic diversity analysis showed comparatively high levels of diversity, with no genetic differentiation between young and old tree cohorts. Fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) analysis revealed significant but weak family structure and relatedness in young cohorts, suggesting distance-dependent gene flow. Our study underscores the utility of cpSSRs in characterizing genetic diversity and structure, which is crucial for the conservation and sustainable management of Chilgoza pine forests. These findings provide insights for developing conservation strategies and highlight the importance of genetic marker studies to aid the preservation of biodiversity that supports local livelihoods.

The redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii) is one of the most dangerous invasive alien fishes in the world. In order to better understand the feeding patterns of invasive populations in different habitats and seasons, and to reveal the driving force of differences in dietary composition among populations, we used DNA metabarcoding technology to analyze the dietary composition of 23 specimens from five different water bodies (two rivers and three reservoirs) in southern China, and 60 specimens from Shuikou Reservoir in four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The results showed that samples from five different water bodies and four seasons in Shuikou Reservoir were annotated to a total of 22 and 37 phyla of food categories, respectively. Generalist trophic strategies were dominant in C. zillii populations. There was significant spatial heterogeneity in the diet composition, with higher levels of trophic diversity in riverine populations. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity were important environmental factors driving changes in prey taxa of populations in different habitats. Dietary composition of populations in Shuikou Reservoir showed significant seasonal heterogeneity, with summer being the season with the highest level of trophic diversity. Total nitrogen, turbidity degree, pH and permanganate index were the important environmental factors driving the prey taxa changes of populations in different seasons of Shuikou Reservoir. Our results indicated that C. zillii are omnivorous, they have a wide range of recipes in both rivers and reservoirs in southern China, and show high trophic plasticity in different habitats and at different seasons of the year.

not-yet-known not-yet-known not-yet-known unknown The distribution of biodiversity along elevational gradients, and the drivers of these patterns, are research hotspots in community ecology; nonetheless, these aspects remain insufficiently understood. To address this, we established 24 plots along an elevational gradient from 300–1400 m on Daming Mountain, Guangxi, China, and examined the patterns and drivers of species and phylogenetic diversity along this gradient, via polynomial regression, correlation analysis, and redundancy analyses. With increasing elevation, species and phylogenetic diversity showed a hump-shaped trend, and the phylogenetic structure shifted from clustering to dispersion (or reduced clustering). Elevation was the primary environmental driver of variation in species diversity, soil available phosphorus and soil pH were the primary factors influencing both species and phylogenetic diversity, and nitrate nitrogen content was the most significant factor affecting species diversity. These findings, which reveal the patterns of diversity of woody plant communities along an elevational gradient on Daming Mountain, will contribute to the development of biodiversity conservation strategies for the region

Aphids are observed on various plant species, with most aphids feeding downward on stems. In this study, I studied the variations in feeding postures of aphids and their mechanisms. My field observations revealed that the majority of individuals from most species fed facing downward, or more precisely, towards the roots. Exceptions included Indomegoura indica on the scapes of Hemerocallis spp., which were aligned with their head facing the sky. Next, I investigated how plant orientation affects three aphid species, Macrosiphoniella yomogifoliae, Megoura crassicauda, and I. indica with different body alignments on upright immature stems. On the stems of the inverted plants, the number of Ma. yomogifoliae and Me. crassicauda in the upward position (head facing the root of the plant) was significantly greater than that in the downward position (head facing the shoot apex of the plant). If their posture is affected by gravity or by certain advantages of the headstand posture, Ma. yomogifoliae and Me. crassicauda are expected to align in a consistent direction, regardless of the orientation of the plant. This suggests that plant cues influence their posture. In contrast, the majority of I. indica were aligned with the head facing the sky on the scape, regardless of Hemerocallis’s direction. This result indicates that the feeding posture of I. indica is affected by gravity and/or aphid’s intrinsic factors. Therefore, this study provides a new perspective on the factors influencing aphid feeding posture preferences.

Altitude-induced variations in hydrothermal conditions and vegetation affect plant nutrients and trade-offs in survival strategies. However, nutrient allocation to different plant organs along altitudinal gradients remains unclear. In the present study, 24 plots were established in the subtropical forests on Daming Mountain, South China, across eight altitudinal gradients (300, 500, 700, 900, 1100, 1200, 1300, and 1400 m). We analyzed the altitudinal patterns and factors influencing carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents and their ratios in the leaves, branches, and roots of woody plants. We found that branches had higher mean C content and C:N and C:P ratios than roots and leaves, whereas leaves had higher N and P content than roots and branches. The roots exhibited a higher mean N:P ratio than the other organs. An increase in altitude led to a significant rise in leaf and branch C content, aligning with the temperature-plant physiology hypothesis, and a decrease in leaf and branch N content and leaf P, which is consistent with the temperature-biogeochemistry hypothesis. The C:N and C:P ratios in leaves and branches increased with increasing altitude, whereas the N:P ratios in branches and roots decreased significantly. A plant N:P ratio above 16 indicated that P was the primary limiting factor for plant growth in the study area. The positive correlation between N and P contents across plant organs reflects the synergistic absorption of these nutrients by plants. Redundancy analysis revealed that leaf stoichiometric traits were predominantly influenced by soil C:P ratio (SCP), altitude (Alt), soil organic carbon (SOC), slope degree, and soil pH; branch stoichiometric traits were impacted by Alt, SCP, soil water content, SOC, and soil C:N ratio; and root stoichiometric traits were affected by SCP and soil total phosphorus. These findings may elucidate the nutrient allocation patterns and adaptive strategies of plants in subtropical mountains, providing a foundation for forest management and restoration.

Year after year, billions of long-distance migratory birds join year-round resident tropical birds during the overwintering period (dry season in the tropics) marked by harsh environmental conditions. The overlapping habitat use and apparent resource overlap during this time suggest potential interspecific competition between residents and migrants. Previous studies have explored the effects of such competition on migrants, but the impact on residents has been neglected. This review critically evaluates and summarizes the findings in the literature about interactions between migratory and resident birds in tropical ecosystems, using the necessary and sufficient conditions recommended by Dhondt 2012 to assess interspecific competition. This review reveals that interspecific territoriality, consistent aggression (interference competition), and alterations in foraging behavior and microhabitat impacted resident birds. High dietary overlap observed in some species pairs suggests potential exploitation competition, although our understanding of year-round residents’ diets and the full scope of these interactions remains limited. The complexity of these relationships underscores the need for comprehensive research to disentangle seasonal effects from competitive pressures and to assess impacts on resident fitness, distribution, and abundance. Inconsistent methodologies and inadequate spatio-temporal scales have hindered a clear understanding of this phenomenon. We emphasize the importance of long-term studies, including observations before and after migrant arrival at wintering grounds, to detect shifts in resource availability and foraging niches. Given climate change’s influence on migration patterns and food resources, elucidating these biotic interactions is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies for resident tropical avifauna. Particularly, as many resident birds exhibit high levels of endemism, higher sedentarism, and specialized foraging habits, they may be more vulnerable to ecological changes than migrants, who are more flexible, generally occupying broader foraging niches. This review highlights critical knowledge gaps and proposes directions for future research to enhance our understanding of migrant-resident bird dynamics in tropical ecosystems.

Incomplete characterization of cryptic species complexes in pollinator communities can limit our understanding of ecosystem function, population dynamics, effects of environmental perturbations, and conservation planning. Molecular tools to distinguish morphologically identical bee species are therefore necessary but require refinement and validation to make robust inferences. Here we present newly developed primers and demonstrate their successful use for identification of two cryptic bee species, Halictus ligatus and Halictus poeyi, with overlapping ranges in the mid-Atlantic USA. We found that H. ligatus is present at higher elevations while H. poeyi is present at lower elevations, with both species present at three sample sites in central North Carolina, USA. The data generated in this study was combined with publicly available sequence data and analyzed to make inferences about the species ranges of these two bees in the Western Hemisphere. These clarified species distributions help us better understand local pollinator communities, associated habitat features, and abiotic conditions amenable to each, as well as provide insights into patterns related to their speciation.

The island ecosystem, due to its inherent fragility, is highly susceptible to both natural disturbances and human activity, resulting in fragmented habitats for island plant populations. This study investigates the population structure and dynamics of Heliotropium arboreum in such fragmented environments, aiming to understand its survival and adaptability. We selected six H. arboreum populations across different habitats, analyzing their diameter class structures, static life tables, and survival curves through a field survey using sample line investigations. Structural and dynamic characteristics of each population were examined, and future trends predicted using time series analysis. Results indicated that the second, third, and fourth age classes comprised the majority, representing 63%-86% of individuals, suggesting a growing population with an irregular pyramid-like structure. However, some age classes show decline, with weak growth rates, high sensitivity to external disturbances, and low stability. With increasing age, standardized survival numbers declined, mortality rates rose, and survival curves approximated the Deevey Type II pattern. Without intervention, the population is projected to face serious reductions as individuals age, potentially leading to extinction. Thus, we recommend minimizing human interference, implementing targeted protection strategies, increasing research and education, and promoting natural renewal through seedling propagation and artificial cultivation.

Modification and deterioration of old-growth forests by industrial forestry have seriously threatened species diversity worldwide. The loss of natural habitats increases the concentration of circulating glucocorticoids and incurs chronic stress in animals, influencing the immune system, growth, survival, and lifespan of animals inhabiting such areas. In this study, we tested whether great tit (Parus major) nestlings grown in old-growth unmanaged coniferous forests have longer telomeres than great tit nestlings developing in young managed coniferous forests. This study showed that the patches of young managed coniferous forests had lower larval biomass than old-growth forests. Since insect larvae are the preferred food for great tit nestlings, the shortage of food may divert energy resources away from growth, which can show up as physiological stress, often raising the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. The H/L ratio revealed a significant difference in stress levels, being the highest in great tit nestlings developing in young-managed pine forests. We also found that the development of great tit nestlings in young managed forests had significantly shorter telomeres than in old-growth forests. Although nestling survival did not differ between the habitats, nestlings growing up in old-growth forests had greater telomere lengths, which can positively affect their lifespan. Our results suggest that the forest habitats affected by industrial forestry may represent ecological traps as the development of young birds in deteriorated environments can affect the age structure of populations.

Local adaptation, environmental tolerance, and dispersal mutually influence the evolution of one another and each are in turn influenced by landscape spatial structure. While each of the three have been investigated frequently in isolation in relation to spatial structure, the three have rarely been considered together. In this study, we explored how the magnitude of landscape environmental heterogeneity (compositional heterogeneity), and environmental spatial autocorrelation jointly affect the evolution of environmental niche optima, tolerance, dispersal frequency, and dispersal distance using a spatially explicit individual based model simulating organisms living, reproducing, and dispersing within grid-based fractal landscapes. Compositional heterogeneity tended to have the strongest influence over patterns while spatial autocorrelation typically played a mediating role. We found that niche adaptation and dispersal patterns were driven by a balance between pressure to avoid risk imposed by spatial heterogeneity and pressure to hedge against risk imposed by temporal environmental fluctuations. Dispersal frequency and dispersal distance were affected differently by spatial structure, underscoring the importance of considering the two independently.

Understanding ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that drive biodiversity patterns is important for comprehending biodiversity. Despite being critically important to the functioning of ecosystems, the mechanisms driving belowground biodiversity are little understood. We here investigated the radiation and trait diversity of soil oribatid mites from two mountain ranges, i.e. the Alps in Austria and Changbai Mountain in China, at similar latitude in the temperate zone differing in orogenesis and exposed to different climates. We collected and sequenced soil oribatid mites from forests at 950 to 1700 m at each mountain and embedded them into the chronogram of species from temperate Eurasia. We investigated the phylogenetic age of oribatid mites and compared the node age of species with the mountain uplift time of the Alps and Changbai Mountain. We then inspected trophic variation, geographical range size and reproductive mode, and identified traits that promote oribatid mite survival and evolution in montane forest ecosystems. We found that oribatid mites on Changbai Mountain are phylogenetically older than species in the Alps. All species on Changbai Mountain evolved long before the mountain uplift, but some species in the Alps evolved after the orogenesis. On Changbai Mountain more species possess broader trophic variation, have larger geographical range sizes and more often reproduce via parthenogenesis compared to species from the Alps. Species on Changbai Mountain survived the mountain uplift or colonized the mountain thereafter supporting the view that generalistic traits promote survival and evolution in phylogenetically old soil animal species. Collectively, our findings highlight that combining species traits and phylogeny allow deeper insight into the evolutionary forces shaping soil biodiversity in montane ecosystems.

Golden jackals (Canis aureus) have rapidly expanded their range across Europe, raising ecological and socioeconomic concerns. As a highly vocal species, jackals can be monitored using acoustic surveys, such as howl surveys or passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), to estimate population sizes and habitat preferences. A recent advancement in PAM is acoustic localisation, which estimates the source of sounds by measuring the time differences of their arrival at multiple synchronised recorders. This technique can improve the accuracy of population and density estimates by more precisely calculating distances between jackals and recorders. However, GPS-synchronised acoustic recorders are costly, which limits their broader use. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a low-cost recorder, the CARACAL, for acoustic localisation of golden jackals. We deployed ten CARACALs over a 10km2 area of the Lunca Mureşului Natural Park, Romania for seven nights. Alongside passively recording jackal howls, we also conducted howl surveys. We recorded jackal howls on every night of the survey and successfully localised 27 jackal and 16 human howl events, with human howls being localised to within an average of 41 m of their actual location. The average distance between the recorders and localised jackal howls was just under 1 km, with howls being detected from as far as 2.5 km away. However, some jackal howls were not detected by active recorders that were as little as 0.9 km away. Based on these results, we recommend a conservative spacing of 0.8-1 km between recorders in future deployments. Overall, this study highlights acoustic localisation as a valuable tool for improving monitoring efforts and gathering more detailed data on jackal ecology. This information could significantly contribute to understanding their expanding range across Europe, while informing the development of effective monitoring and management strategies for golden jackals.

Ballistic seed dispersal (ballochory) involves the autonomous explosive release of seeds from adult plants. The unconventional physical mechanism of this strategy has understandably drawn scientific attention. There has been a bias toward researching physiological and physical aspects of ballistic plants, with the evolutionary ecology being comparatively neglected. Although ballochory is represented in 23 plant families, it has never become common. This fact should invite curiosity regarding the selective pressures that encourage its evolution. As a stimulus to this, we collate existing evidence into an initial hypothesis regarding ecological situations in which ballochory would be selected in the context of costs that can explain its rarity. We suggest that ballochory might be selected for in plants experiencing high predation from specialised predators on and/or directly underneath the parental canopy. Moving forward, we suggest experimental manipulations to test this hypothesis and promote a research agenda in the field of ballistic seed dispersal that illuminates its intriguing evolution.

The Gaur (Bos gaurus), a globally vulnerable and protected priority species in Nepal, has experienced habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and zoonotic diseases. As a consequence, their population is isolated significantly in Parsa National Park and Chitwan National Park. However, their distribution even in these protected areas are limited with topographical features. This study focuses on habitat suitability modeling of the Gaur in Parsa National Park utilizing the ensemble modeling approach to identify key eco-geographical and climatic variables influencing gaur suitable habitat and estimate suitability in and around Parsa National Park, Nepal. Potential eco-geographical variables, after multicollinearity test were integrated with ground presence points for analysis. The model achieved an Area Under Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistics (TSS) value of 0.981 and 0.867 respectively indicating its effectiveness in predicting a suitable habitat for Gaur. It revealed that isothermality, waterholes, mean diurnal range, mean temperature of wettest quarter, settlements, slope, and river, influenced highly in Gaur’s habitat suitability in and around Parsa National Park. Study identified only 35.84% (327.09 km2) area was categorized as a suitable area (low-medium: 102.92 km2 (11.28%), medium to high: 101.08 km2 (11.07%) and optimum: 123.09 km2 (13.49%)) for gaur distribution. Eastern part of park (newly extended area around Halkhoriya lake) and south-central section of park (around Bhedaha, Mahadev, Bhata Khola) show the suitable habitat for Gaur. However, wildlife-friendly infrastructure in the East-West Highway (that fragments the park) within park can facilitate Gaur’s movement among these crucial habitat patches. These findings highlight priority to restore water sources to maintain long-term protection of species considering existing geological condition and climate change scenario in the park.

The utility of eDNA for fish species and community monitoring is well-established using targeted amplification (i.e., qPCR and ddPCR) and passive sequencing approaches (i.e., metabarcoding). However, the lack of optimized and standardized methods reduces the sensitivity of this approach and precludes the reliable comparison of findings across studies, respectively. DNA extraction is a prime target for optimization efforts because the extraction method is highly variable across eDNA studies despite being the most influential factor in detection efficiency across the entire post-collection workflow. Sequence analysis is arguably the least standardized step in the workflow, with new bioinformatics pipelines frequently emerging in the literature and being implemented with innumerable unique combinations of parameter values. The current study aimed to support the optimization and standardization of eDNA methods for fish detection by assessing two commercial DNA extraction kits manufactured by Qiagen and Macherey-Nagel on cost, time, and performance specifications and comparing the success of brook trout detection by metabarcoding across three bioinformatics pipelines, qPCR, and ddPCR. Our protocols were effective in detecting brook trout in all 20 samples analyzed. Brook trout eDNA was detected by ddPCR in nine (90%) Qiagen extracts but only seven (70%) Macherey-Nagel extracts. In comparison, detection success was equal across the two extraction kits using qPCR (70%) and metabarcoding (100%). The metabarcoding pipelines performed equally well in detecting brook trout with no significant differences in read numbers associated with the target species. Under our experimental conditions, the Qiagen kit was selected as the preferred kit due to its overall good performance and considerably lower cost despite a slightly longer extraction time.

Premise: Plants, particularly those with limited distribution ranges and small population sizes, are expected to be severely impacted by changing climatic conditions. Sesamum species are ideal for Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) in the context of climate change due to their narrow distribution ranges, agricultural and economic significance, sensitivity and adaptability to environmental conditions, wide geographic range, and potential to inform policy and adaptation strategies Methods: We used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) Model to quantify global ecological niche breadth of species in the genus Sesamum and to assess how bioclimatic and soil heterogeneity indices impact the future (to the year 2080) suitable distribution ranges of the genus Sesamum. We also quantified which environmental variables contribute most to driving the patterns and suitable geographical ranges for Sesamum. Results: Maxent models accurately predicted suitable habitats for Sesamum species. Precipitation patterns, especially seasonal extremes, were key determinants of species distribution. Temperature also influenced habitat suitability, with specific requirements varying among species. These findings highlight the complex interplay between climate and edaphic factors in shaping species distributions. Species with broader niches have larger geographic ranges. However, future climate change is predicted to reduce niche breadths for most species (74%), with some facing substantial range contractions. In contrast, a few species (11%) are projected to expand their ranges, while other species (15%) will experience negligible impacts. Phylogenetic analysis did not reveal significant patterns in extinction risk and niche breadth evolution. Conclusion: This study highlights the vulnerability of Sesamum species to climate change, with projected reductions in range sizes necessitating urgent conservation efforts. Prioritizing species such as S. forbesii and S. sesamoides, alongside targeted actions such as habitat restoration and long-term monitoring, is crucial to prevent population decline and potential extinction.

Permafrost peatlands play an important role in global carbon cycle. However, the initiation and development of the permafrost peatlands and their response to climate change remains unclear, hindering our understanding of the past and future of this region. Here we reconstructed the evolution process of permafrost peatland in the Greater Khingan mountains (GKM) from Northeast China, since 3500 cal. yr BP using palynological evidence from permafrost peat cores, as well as an AMS 14C dating. The results indicated that from 3500 to 2900 cal. yr BP, the vegetation mainly consisted of Pinus, thermophilic broadleaved trees, and Polypodiaceae. From 2900 to 2250 cal. yr BP, the vegetation mainly consisted of Pinus, thermophilic broadleaved trees, and Artemisia, with the peatland initiation period characterized by a warm and humid climate. From 2250 to 1650 cal. yr BP, the vegetation mainly consisted of Pinus, Betula and Polypodiaceae, with cold and wet climates lead to an initiation of peatland accumulation. From 1650 to 750 cal. yr BP, the vegetation principally consisted of Pinus and Artemisia, and the dry, cold climate led to a slowdown or stagnation in peatland development. Late in this period, the warmer, wetter climate allowed the peatland to develop again, thereby completing the transition from a eutrophic peatland to a mesotrophic peatland. Since 750 cal. yr BP, the vegetation has mainly consisted of Pinus, Alnus and Cyperaceae, indicating a colder and wetter climate, and the peatland shifted to an oligotrophic state. Our results showed that the evolution of the GKM’s permafrost peatlands mainly influenced by climate, and permafrost peatlands development in the future will depend upon global climate change trends.