Ecologies, Volume 7, Issue 3 (September 2026) – 20 articles

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) is widely used to predict species distributions and support biodiversity conservation under environmental change, yet its application to Amazonian wetland plants has not been systematically synthesized. We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines to evaluate methodological approaches, environmental predictors, model performance, and research gaps. Literature searches were performed in Web of Science, Scopus, and Consensus (as a complementary AI-assisted academic search platform), yielding 1789 records, of which 48 met the eligibility criteria. Correlative models predominated, with MaxEnt, Random Forest, and ensemble frameworks being the most frequently applied algorithms. Across studies, integrating hydrological and edaphic predictors consistently improved model performance and ecological realism compared with climate-only approaches. Future climate projections indicated greater vulnerability for habitat-specialist species, whereas western Amazonia and the Andean foothills were repeatedly identified as potential climatic refugia. Major limitations included geographically biased occurrence records, limited high-resolution environmental datasets, and the underrepresentation of several Amazonian wetland ecosystems. Overall, the evidence indicates that reliable ENMs for Amazonian wetlands require integrating climatic, hydrological, and edaphic drivers rather than relying solely on macroclimate. Future research should prioritize geographically representative sampling, improved environmental datasets, transparent workflows, and process-informed modeling to strengthen ecological forecasting and conservation planning under climate and land-use change. Full article

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide, and its extensive application has raised increasing concern regarding environmental occurrence, ecological exposure, and potential risks to non-target organisms. Its major degradation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), has also received growing attention because of its persistence, transport behavior, and contribution to long-term contamination profiles. To clarify the development and emerging priorities of this field, we conducted a bibliometric review of glyphosate-related publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1974 to 2024. After screening and data cleaning, 7050 articles and reviews were included. Publication output increased markedly over time, with annual publications exceeding 300 after 2019 and reaching a peak of 488 in 2023. The United States ranked first with 1928 publications, accounting for 27.4% of the total output, followed by Brazil and China. Keyword co-occurrence, temporal overlay, and collaboration analyses showed that glyphosate research has shifted from early agronomic topics, including herbicide efficacy, crop selectivity, and resistance management, toward a broader environmental research framework. Three major research fronts were identified: mechanism-oriented ecotoxicology in non-target organisms, environmental fate and transport of glyphosate and AMPA across soil–water–sediment systems, and the development of analytical and sensing technologies for environmental monitoring. The results further indicate that the field is moving from single-compound residue assessment toward integrated contaminant-ecology perspectives linking occurrence, transformation, biological response, exposure assessment, and ecological risk. Future studies should strengthen the integration of long-term environmental monitoring, AMPA-inclusive risk assessment, realistic multi-stressor exposure scenarios, and field-deployable detection technologies. This review provides a quantitative overview of the global research landscape and identifies priority directions for environmental assessment and management of glyphosate and AMPA contamination. Full article

Iron oxides are crucial to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in wetland ecosystems. Whether vegetation drives soil microorganisms to regulate iron–carbon interactions and influence SOC sequestration capacity remains controversial. Thus, this study investigated iron–carbon coupling processes and their microbial drivers in the Caohai alpine freshwater closed wetland, Guizhou Province, China. Using metagenomic sequencing and physicochemical analyses, we compared vegetated areas (Phragmites australis and Scirpus tabernaemontani) with bare flats (BF). Levels of SOC, microbial necromass carbon (MNC), and plant-derived carbon (PC) in vegetated soils were significantly higher than those in BF (p < 0.05). In all study regions, the PC/SOC ratio (PA: 27.89 ± 3.59 %; ST: 24.58 ±1.86 %; BF: 24 ±2.82 %) exceeded the MNC/SOC ratio (PA: 15.58 ± 0.94 %; ST: 15.95 ± 0.73 %; BF: 13.06 ±1.30 %). The PC/SOC and MNC/SOC ratios were higher in vegetated areas than in BF areas. Compared with BF, vegetation enhanced wetland SOC stability and promoted carbon sequestration. Iron-bound organic carbon $\left({\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}–\mathrm{OC}\right)$ content was substantially greater in vegetated soils (PA:0.34 ± 0.08 g/kg; ST:1.07 ± 0.58 g/kg) than in BF (0.14 ± 0.08 g/kg) (p < 0.05). Based on the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}–\mathrm{OC}$/${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ ratio (PA: 22.87 ± 14.00 %; ST: 23.00 ± 13.90%; BF: 5.36 ± 3.40 %), ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}–\mathrm{OC}$ associations in vegetated soils were dominated by stable coprecipitation, whereas unstable adsorption prevailed in BF. In all study regions, the abundances of iron-reducing bacteria (FeRB) and iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) peaked in BF. Several FeRB genera, including Thiobacillus, Intrasporangium, Gallionella, and Nocardioides, were significantly and positively correlated with ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}$ (p < 0.05). Conversely, Geobacter and Nitrospira exhibited significant negative correlations with ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}–\mathrm{OC}$ and PC (p < 0.05). The FeOB genera—Thioalkalivibrio, Thiohalobacter, and Pseudomonas—were negatively correlated with ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}$. Vegetation presence appears to influence microbial metabolic potentials through the provision of rhizodeposits and the modulation of rhizosphere conditions, thereby affecting ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{\mathrm{d}}–\mathrm{OC}$ associations and contributing to SOC sequestration in wetland soils to some extent. These findings provide critical insights into plant–microbe–mineral interactions and a scientific framework for predicting carbon sink dynamics in wetland ecosystems. Full article

Phengaris alcon is one of Europe’s emblematic invertebrate species and is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. In Portugal, this endangered species occurs mainly in Alvão Natural Park (ANP). This study investigated the effects of microclimatic conditions on the adult P. alcon capture records in the Libânia meadow of the ANP. Adult butterflies were monitored (Mark–release–recapture method) from 2006 to 2014 (except 2012). Microclimatic conditions were modelled (NicheMapR), generating values of precipitation (Prec), maximum (Tmax), minimum (Tmin) and mean temperature (Tmean), solar radiation (SR), relative humidity (RH), soil surface wetness (PCTWET), and wind speed (WS). Growing degree days (GDD), cumulative precipitation (Prec-cum), and seven-day means (d7) for all variables were calculated. Seven microclimatic variables showed strong associations with adult abundance. Higher values of Prec-cum, Tmin-d7 and Prec-d7 were negatively associated with abundance, whereas higher values of SR, RH-d7, Tmean-d7 and PCTWET-d7 were significantly associated with butterfly abundance. More than 50% of individuals were recorded within the following favourable climatic ranges: Prec-cum = 157.9–251.4 mm; SR = 6730.1–8220.4 W/m²; Tmin-d7 = 8.0–12.2 °C; RH-d7 = 71.2–86.7%; Prec-d7 = 0.0–0.8 mm; Tmean-d7 = 13.2–18.0 °C; and PCTWET-d7 = 60.8–92.0%. These findings provide quantitative microclimatic ranges that could guide habitat management and support the long-term persistence of P. alcon under future climate change. Full article

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of dominant desert-steppe species under climate change is critical for sustainable management of arid ecosystems. Sophora alopecuroides L., a perennial drought-tolerant leguminous herb with substantial medicinal and forage value, is an important component of these ecosystems. Based on 137 occurrence records and 10 environmental variables, we applied the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS to simulate suitable habitats and range shifts of S. alopecuroides across multiple periods, including the Last Interglacial (LIG), Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), Mid-Holocene (MH), present, and the 2050s and 2070s under four representative concentration pathways (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5). The model showed high predictive performance, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) greater than 0.9. Temperature annual range (Bio7), elevation, precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18), mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9), and annual mean temperature (Bio1) were identified as key environmental drivers, indicating that the distribution of this species is mainly shaped by temperature regimes, seasonal water availability, and topography. Under current conditions, the total suitable habitat accounts for 28.9% of China’s territory, closely matching the known distribution. Since the LIG, the total suitable area has fluctuated slightly, being larger during the LIG and LGM, smaller during the MH, and close to the present level thereafter. The distribution centroid remained within the Jinta Basin of the Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, with only limited displacement from the LIG to the present, suggesting that this area, together with the Tianshan–Junggar Basin margins and the Alxa Plateau–Helan Mountain region, constitute key topographically and climatically inferred potential refugial areas for S. alopecuroides. Future projections indicate that suitable habitat may expand slightly under low-emission scenarios but contract under medium- to high-emission scenarios, with centroid shifts varying among pathways. These findings highlight the potential importance of such bioclimatically inferred putative refugia in maintaining the distribution of dominant dryland herbs and provide a spatially explicit basis for monitoring, germplasm conservation, and adaptive management of S. alopecuroides under ongoing climate change. Full article

Background: Population sex ratios and age structure are fundamental demographic parameters in shorebird studies, and their accurate estimation depends on unbiased capture methods. Methods: To identify potential capture biases, we evaluated the randomness of mist-net recaptures between sex and age classes of the Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) in La Paz Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Results: A total of 856 individuals were captured and banded, of which 89 (10.4%) were recaptured. Observed and expected recapture frequencies did not differ significantly between sexes (67 observed vs. 62 expected males; 22 observed vs. 26 expected females), indicating no sex-related bias in recapture probability. In contrast, significant differences were detected between age classes (20 observed vs. 42 expected adults; 69 observed vs. 46 expected juveniles), demonstrating a clear age-related bias. The elapsed time between initial capture and recapture was similar for males and females but differed significantly between age classes: adults were most frequently recaptured after 51–75 days, whereas juveniles were recaptured predominantly after 1–25 days. Conclusions: Juveniles were more likely than adults to be captured and recaptured. The higher capture probability of juveniles may be associated with their greater mobility, resulting from their limited experience and lower social status. Full article

Ethnobiological gardens conserve both biological and cultural diversity, but their permeable boundaries may expose native wildlife inside the garden to chronic domestic carnivore activity. In this single-garden case study, we compare small mammal assemblages between the Jardín Etnobiológico Tlaxcallan (JET), a periurban ethnobiological garden in Tlaxcala, Mexico, and its adjacent, heterogeneous Periphery of native vegetation and agricultural matrix, using live traps, camera traps, and direct observations over nine months. Across 162 detections of 9 species, the Periphery consistently showed higher richness and diversity than the JET at every Hill number order and the two assemblages were compositionally distinct (Bray–Curtis = 0.679), with the JET dominated by disturbance-tolerant species and the Periphery additionally harboring habitat-sensitive natives that were largely or entirely absent from the JET. Domestic cats were detected almost exclusively within the JET, while dogs were recorded at both sites. Dog and cat detection rates were both positively associated with species richness in generalized linear mixed models, a pattern that most plausibly reflects spatial co-occurrence between carnivores and disturbance-tolerant species within the JET rather than a facilitative effect of carnivores on richness. Because our design contrasts a single garden with a single Periphery, these results cannot separate the influence of domestic carnivores from co-varying differences in habitat structure, sampling geometry, or human activity. We therefore present the observed compositional turnover as a hypothesis-generating pattern consistent with—but not evidence of—carnivore-associated ecological filtering that warrants testing through replicated, multi-site designs before informing carnivore management in periurban ethnobiological gardens. Full article

Tropical riparian ecosystems are among the most threatened biomes on Earth, yet decade-scale, spatially explicit documentation of vegetation loss and landscape fragmentation in community-based ecotourism corridors remains scarce. This study investigates whether agricultural intensification associated with ecotourism development has driven measurable vegetation decline and landscape fragmentation in the Ledok Amprong riparian corridor (Poncokusumo District, Malang Regency, East Java; 8.21 ha, 800–900 m a.s.l.), a mixed-canopy riparian system dominated by Ficus benjamina, Albizia chinensis, and bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.) interspersed with smallholder coffee (Coffea canephora) agroforestry, over the period 2015–2024. We applied multi-temporal Sentinel-2 (10 m) imagery, NDVI analysis, supervised Maximum-Likelihood classification (Overall Accuracy: 89.75%, Kappa: 0.86), and FRAGSTATS-derived landscape metrics to quantify vegetation dynamics and land cover transition. Results show that agricultural land expanded by 157.51% (1.14 to 2.93 ha), while vegetation cover declined by 28.45% (6.27 to 4.49 ha). A strong negative correlation between agricultural expansion and vegetation loss (r = −0.96, p < 0.001) confirmed agriculture as the primary driver of ecosystem degradation. Landscape fragmentation intensified markedly: patch density increased by 49.6%, the connectivity index declined by 23.5%, and the fragmentation index increased by 54.3%. These findings establish the first quantitative, decade-scale spatiotemporal baseline for this ecotourism corridor and demonstrate that community-based ecotourism development, without adequate spatial governance, accelerates rather than mitigates riparian degradation—a paradox with broad implications for tropical riparian conservation governance worldwide. Evidence-based management recommendations include 10–30 m dynamic buffer zones, a 2.5 ha targeted restoration programme, and a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism, offering a transferable framework for sustainable riparian ecotourism management across rapidly urbanizing tropical watersheds. Full article

Increased herbicide use in agriculture is a major threat to adjacent aquatic and wetland ecosystems. In Morocco, the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) poses a risk to temporary ponds found in agricultural landscapes. This study used mesocosm experiments to assess the effects of 2,4-D concentration (0, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30 mg·L⁻¹) and application timing (early vs. late in the hydrological cycle) on water quality and aquatic plant communities from forest ponds not previously exposed to herbicides. At the highest concentration (0.30 mg·L⁻¹), conductivity increased from 206 to 274 µS and pH from 7.5 to 8.4 under early application. At the same time, species richness and total abundance significantly decreased with increasing 2,4-D concentrations, with the strongest effects observed under early application. Community composition shifted markedly in response to 2,4-D, with annual and submerged species showing greater sensitivity, whereas perennial and emergent species were relatively tolerant. These findings highlight the need to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices to conserve pond biodiversity. Specifically, herbicide applications should be avoided near ponds, at high application rates, and during periods early in the hydroperiod. Lastly, land-use strategies should balance agricultural productivity with the conservation of biodiversity in temporary pond ecosystems. Full article

Vachellia farnesiana is an important shrub in arid and semi-arid ecosystems because it provides resources for diverse insect communities. However, the factors influencing insect assemblages associated with this species under contrasting habitat conditions remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the diversity, composition, and functional groups of insects associated with flowering V. farnesiana at two sites with contrasting tree spatial configurations in Mapimí, Durango, Mexico. Taxonomic diversity was assessed using Hill numbers and sampling coverage, whereas community composition was analyzed using generalized linear latent variable models (GLLVM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). A total of 1461 insects belonging to 6 orders and 33 families were recorded. Although the total abundance was similar between sites, the diversity, community composition, and functional structure differed. Site S1 showed higher richness and diversity (q0 = 33, q1 = 7.62, q2 = 3.85) than S2 (q0 = 16, q1 = 4.23, q2 = 2.87). S1 also supported more parasitoids, predators, and saprophytes, whereas S2 was dominated by phytophagous insects, mainly Aleyrodidae and Thripidae. Sampling coverage was high (S1 = 0.986; S2 = 0.999), indicating adequate representation of both communities. GLLVM detected significant differences in family composition and abundance after accounting for temperature and relative humidity, and NMDS showed partial separation between sites. These findings indicate that habitat characteristics are associated with variation in insect communities linked to V. farnesiana, highlighting its importance as a resource supporting multiple insect functional groups in arid ecosystems. Full article

Halimeda-dominated habitats are ecologically significant tropical benthic ecosystems whose structural complexity supports diverse marine organisms, particularly associated microbes. However, the characteristics and ecological roles of these bacterial communities and their connectivity within Halimeda-dominated habitats remain poorly understood. This study examined microbial diversity and composition across four microenvironments of a Halimeda meadow, namely, ambient seawater, sediment, Halimeda thalli, and Holothuria atra feces, using the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 44 phyla, 733 genera, and 827 species were identified, with Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota, and Actinobacteriota dominating across all samples. Microbial diversity and composition differed significantly among microenvironments, with sediment showing the highest species diversity and seawater showing the lowest. Halimeda thalli were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, particularly Phycisphaerae and Parcubacteria, associated with nutrient cycling on macroalgal surfaces. Sediment was enriched with Desulfobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Seawater was characterized by Synechococcus CC9902, a primary producer in tropical waters. H. atra feces were dominated by Bacteroidia and Bdellovibrionota, representing a distinct bacterial community shaped by both gut-associated taxa and microorganisms derived from ingested sediments. Only 6.95% of genera were shared across all microenvironments, and feces and sediment shared the highest overlap (47.28%), suggesting that H. atra acts as a biogeochemical bridge that repackages benthic organic matter without fundamentally altering its microbial identity. The low overlap between Halimeda and seawater, as well as between seawater and both sediment and sea cucumber feces, suggests strong habitat-specific bacterial community assembly, with algal-associated bacterial communities being distinct from pelagic communities and seawater communities differing from benthic and fecal communities. Full article

Carnivores harbor gut microbial communities adapted to protein and fat-rich diets. These microbial communities play an important role in amino acid degradation and bile acid metabolism. The bobcat (Lynx rufus) spans diverse North America habitats, yet its gut microbiota across regions remains under characterized. Here, we characterized the fecal microbiota of bobcats from a high-elevation temperate forest in central Mexico (Chichinautzin Biological Corridor) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (V3–V4 region). Comparisons with previously published studies were used only to place our findings in the context of the available literature. In total, 632 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were recovered from 10 samples. A total of 35 bacterial families and 58 genera were identified. The most abundant genera included Clostridium, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, and Phocaeicola. Several samples were dominated by genera such as Pseudomonas, Blautia, Ammoniphilus, Alloprevotella, and Hafnia, indicating marked among-sample variability. Functional prediction suggested that pathways related to ABC transporters, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, ribosomal functions, two-component systems, amino acid metabolism, and central carbon metabolism were among the most represented inferred functional categories. These predictions should be regarded as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, providing an overview of the potential metabolic capabilities of the fecal microbiota inferred from 16S rRNA gene data. Full article

Mountain transition zones are highly sensitive to environmental change, yet the nonlinear coupling between topography and hydroclimate in controlling vegetation Net Primary Productivity (NPP) remains insufficiently constrained. Here, we reconstructed a 2003–2025 annual NPP time series for the West Qinling Mountains using a Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach (CASA)-based workflow that integrated Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation products, fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis for land (ERA5-Land) meteorological data, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) topography, and an Aridity Index (AI) dataset. Product-based validation against the annual MOD17A3HGF dataset indicated strong agreement, with a 23-year mean spatial Spearman correlation of 0.823 and a mean annual Pearson correlation of 0.773. The reconstructed dataset showed that 98.50% of the study area experienced increasing NPP, including 50.26% with significant increases, and the domain-wide mean Sen slope reached approximately 3.08 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. Factor detection further showed that radiation (q = 0.253), elevation (q = 0.252), and temperature (q = 0.249) were the dominant single controls, whereas Aridity–Temperature (q = 0.367) and Elevation–Aridity (q = 0.367) represented the strongest interactions. The concentration of the strongest gains in gentle-slope and moderate-aridity settings suggests that vegetation recovery is maximized where topographic buffering and water-energy balance are jointly optimized. These results strengthen the interpretation of NPP dynamics in mountainous climate-transition environments and provide a basis for spatially targeted ecological restoration, regional carbon-budget assessment, and climate adaptation planning. Full article

Managing invasive alien species (IAS) is a major challenge for conserving ecosystems because of their deleterious impacts. This study evaluated the efficacy of five selective herbicides and wheat straw mulch against six invasive alien plant (IAP) species in Iran. Field observations from 2021 to 2025 showed that these species are concentrated in agricultural regions, particularly in summer crops in northern Iran. Five available herbicides (pendimethalin 3 lit h⁻¹, imazethapyr 0.75 lit h⁻¹, nicosulfuron 2 lit h⁻¹, bentazone 2 lit h⁻¹, and 2,4-D+MCPA 1.5 lit h⁻¹) and wheat straw mulch (2 tons ha⁻¹) were used to reduce the growth of six IAP species during summer 2025. Pendimethalin (as a pre-emergence herbicide) was effective (>90%) against all species apart from Ipomoea hederacea (≈60%). While 2,4-D+MCPA (as a post-emergence herbicide) effectively controlled five species, bentazone was effective only against Sida rhombifolia and I. hederacea. Nicosulfuron showed high efficacy (80%) only against I. hederacea. Straw mulch was more effective against Euphorbia nutans but was not effective properly against Ipomoea species. The efficacy of mulch and some herbicides depended on species identity, even within the same genera (Ipomoea and Euphorbia). Our results can help in the successful management of these invasive plants in northern Iran to minimize their impact on yield and quality of crops. As IAPs in environmental areas, this result will also be advantageous. Full article

The seas around Sabah host the richest elasmobranch biodiversity in Malaysia. Currently, only 11 shark and ray species are protected under Malaysian legislation, while other species can be legally caught and sold in markets. Many of these species, including those with protected status, are captured as bycatch in commercial trawl fisheries. In Sabah, where trawling is a cornerstone of seafood production, indiscriminate fishing practices prioritize catch volume over gear selectivity. This study focuses on bycatch of Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) elasmobranchs, which represents an important ecological loss and is rarely retained for legal sale. To determine the spatiotemporal patterns of these captures, custom electronic monitoring (EM) cameras were deployed to capture time- and GPS-stamped imagery of all catch landed on fishing vessel decks. Over a 42-month period, more than 9400 individuals were recorded, of which 34% were identified as Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) species. The most common ETP shark species were Carcharhinus tjutjot, Rhizoprionodon acutus, and Sphyrna spp., while the most common ETP ray species were Telatrygon biasa, Maculabatis gerrardi/Maculabatis macrura, and Brevitrygon heterura. Spatial analysis and kernel density estimation were used to identify hotspot areas of high bycatch rates. We calculated bycatch per unit effort (BPUE) to quantify the density of ETP shark and ray bycatch across varying fishing intensities, based on the number of individuals caught per trawl towing hours in each district. Seasonal life-stage analyses indicated that neonate and immature individuals comprised a substantial proportion of the catch for several ETP species and occurred across multiple monsoon seasons, highlighting the vulnerability of early life stages to trawl fisheries. Potential mitigation measures, including spatial and temporal management strategies such as time–area closures, are recommended in areas with consistently high bycatch to reduce shark and ray bycatch and protect hotspot areas. Full article

Coastal dune ecosystems of the Moroccan Atlantic coast are among the most threatened environments of the western Mediterranean basin, yet the ecological preferences of their constituent psammophilous flora remain poorly documented. Using the ecological profile method, corrected frequencies, species and descriptor entropy, mutual information and ecological barycentres were calculated for three environmental descriptors, distance to the tidal fluctuation zone, topographic position and soil organic matter content, applied to a presence–absence matrix of 53 vascular taxa across 123 plots distributed among three dune facies. Of the total taxa inventoried, 41 were retained as ecologically active. Topography and soil organic matter emerged as the most efficient descriptors, both exceeding the 5% activity threshold. Cross-referencing of ecological groups identified three phytoecological assemblages: characteristic psammophytes of embryonic dunes, species of the primary foredune and species of the enriched backdune. The dominance of intermediate ecological amplitudes and the convergence of introduced species towards organic matter-rich backdune conditions signal chronic anthropogenic disturbance. This study provides a quantitative characterisation of psammophilous species ecological preferences and phytoecological assemblages along the coast–inland gradient of the Haouzia Bay SBEI, constituting an operational reference framework for targeted conservation and restoration management of this threatened coastal site. Full article

Lychee, an entomophilous fruit crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, depends heavily on pollination services for optimal fruit yield and the economic sustainability of farmers. However, information on its pollinator interactions remains limited. This study was conducted over three flowering seasons to document the pollinator assemblage of lychee and examine variation in their activity under different physical conditions, including time of day, panicle height, and light–shade environments. Several insects (here, 47, including many butterflies, bees and flies) were recorded as flower visitors of lychee. The most effective pollinators were Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Braunsapis mixta, and Tetragonula pagdeni. Pollinator abundance, species richness, diversity, and foraging traits (e.g., flower visitation rate and flower handling time) varied with daytime, inflorescence height, and light availability (light versus shade). Greater abundance, richness, and diversity were documented between 8:00 and 12:00 h, at mid-canopy height (2–6 m), and on well-lit inflorescences. Flower visitation rate was higher under these conditions, whereas flower handling time was lower. This study uncovered the key pollinators of lychee and demonstrated that plant–pollinator interactions vary across different physical conditions. These findings may help to improve pollinator management and enhance pollination services in lychee cultivation. Full article

Maxillariinae is one of the most diverse Neotropical orchid groups, yet little is known about its reproduction and pollination. We studied Maxillaria carinulata and Maxillaria meridensis on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Oriental in Caquetá, Colombia (2000–2300 m), using pollinator exclusion, controlled pollination, observations, and histochemical tests. Hand pollination was used for manual autogamy, geitonogamy, and xenogamy treatments. Bagged flowers produced no fruit, confirming dependence on pollinators. Apomixis and spontaneous selfing failed, but manual autogamy, geitonogamy, and xenogamy yielded high fruit sets, showing self-compatibility and cross-fertility. In M. carinulata, fruit set reached 93.3%, 86.7%, and 90%; in M. meridensis, 80.0%, 83.3%, and 86.7%. The independent natural fruit-set survey showed low fruit production under field conditions, with 4.7% of monitored flowers forming fruits in M. carinulata and 16.3% in M. meridensis, reflecting inefficient pollen transfer. Both species showed floral scent and osmophore-like activity; M. meridensis also produced lipids, proteins, sugars, and starch in specific tissues. Visitors, mainly Stethobaris weevils, were recorded on M. meridensis, but no pollinarium removal or deposition occurred. These findings highlight strong pollination limitations and support conserving habitats to sustain effective pollinators in Andean populations. Full article

The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) is a non-timber forest product of great ecological and economic importance in the southwestern Amazonian countries. The study aimed to analyze the effects of habitat (natural tree-fall gaps, logged gaps, and field crops) on the survival and early growth of Bertholletia excelsa (Brazil nut) seedlings in the Peruvian Amazon. Seedlings were monitored every 2 months for 1 year to record survival and seedling growth. We used linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of habitat type, time, and their interaction on diameter and height growth. The non-parametric Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate survival probability. This study showed that the survival of B. excelsa seedlings was significantly higher in canopy gaps than in crop fields. We also revealed the negative effect of canopy cover on the early height growth. Height growth of surviving B. excelsa seedlings was significantly higher in logging gaps than in all other habitats, and in natural tree-fall gaps it was significantly higher than in crop fields, whereas seedlings in logging gaps and crop fields had significantly higher diameter growth than those in natural tree-fall gaps. Our results illuminate the potential of enrichment planting using B. excelsa in logged tropical rainforest in the southeast Peruvian Amazon. Full article

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies are exposed to multiple environmental stressors, including pesticide contamination and landscape changes, which may affect colony dynamics and colony condition. This study evaluated pesticide residue occurrence, landscape quality through the Agroecosystem Apibotanical Interest Index (AABI), and colony demographic structure across five contrasting agricultural systems in Uruguay using a comparative case-study approach. Pesticide residues were analyzed in multiple hive matrices, and residue occurrence was assessed using cumulative hazard quotients (HQ). Colony dynamics were characterized using population variables and the adult-to-brood ratio, associations were evaluated with generalized linear models. Pesticide diversity and cumulative HQ values were higher in intensively managed landscapes, particularly in horticultural and soybean systems, whereas forestry systems showed consistently low values. Residues were detected in all matrices, with greater diversity in wax and bee bread. Colony dynamics varied among landscapes, with more stable patterns in native forest systems. Demographic states based on the adult-to-brood ratio were consistently associated with colony demographic structure. We identified a significant negative statistical association between AABI and the demographic state defined by the adult-to-brood ratio, whereas cumulative HQ showed only marginal effects. Given the observational nature of the study and the multifactorial determinants of colony dynamics, this relationship should be interpreted as an observed pattern within the studied dataset rather than evidence of a direct biological effect of landscape quality on colony adult-to-brood ratio. Overall, the results suggest associations between environmental conditions and colony adult-to-brood ratio. Full article