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Wintering Waterbirds in the Venice Lagoon, Years 1993–2022: Trends, Spatial Patterns and Management Issues -
Diversity of Myrmecophilous Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Bulgaria -
Movement of Desert Grassland Whiptails, Aspidoscelis uniparens, in a Structured Landscape -
Impervious Surface Is Not a Strong Predictor of Contaminant Accumulation in Freshwater Turtles in a Rapidly Urbanizing Region
Journal Description
Diversity
Diversity
is a peer-reviewed, open access journal on the science of biodiversity (from molecules, genes, populations, and species to ecosystems), and is published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, GEOBASE, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Biodiversity Conservation) / CiteScore - Q1 (Nature and Landscape Conservation)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2025).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Diversity is a companion journal of Fossil Studies.
- Journal Cluster of Ecosystem and Resource Management: Forests, Diversity, Fire, Conservation, Ecologies, Biosphere and Wild.
Impact Factor:
2.3 (2025);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.5 (2025)
Latest Articles
Hygrocybe flavomarginata (Agaricales, Basidiomycota), a New Species of Hygrocybe from China
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070393 (registering DOI) - 26 Jun 2026
Abstract
Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, we describe a new species, Hygrocybe flavomarginata, from the Tibetan Plateau, China. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nrLSU) sequences of the new species were divergent from those of related
[...] Read more.
Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, we describe a new species, Hygrocybe flavomarginata, from the Tibetan Plateau, China. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nrLSU) sequences of the new species were divergent from those of related species in Hygrocybe (subgenus Pseudohygrocybe, section Coccineae, subsection Squamulosae). The divergence of H. flavomarginata from related Hygrocybe species was supported by high bootstrap support in the ML phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS and nrLSU sequences. H. flavomarginata is characterized by a small, hygrophanous pileus that is plane to slightly indented, orange with an orange-yellow margin, and a fibrillose-squamulose center. The lamellae are pale waxy yellow with orange-yellow edges, differing from those of related species by being convex rather than arcuate, and by extending beyond the pileus margin. Clamp connections are restricted to the pileus context and absent from both the lamellar trama and the stipitipellis.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogeny of Basidiomycota)
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Open AccessArticle
Fungal Diversity and Community Assembly in Saline–Alkaline Soils of the Yellow River Delta, China
by
Weishuai Yu, Dayu Wu, Hongfeng Wang and Yueming Wu
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070392 (registering DOI) - 26 Jun 2026
Abstract
The Yellow River Delta is a representative coastal saline–alkaline ecosystem in China, where high salinity and complex soil properties create a distinct habitat that significantly shapes microbial community structure and function. In this study, we analyzed 34 saline–alkaline soil samples from four regions
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The Yellow River Delta is a representative coastal saline–alkaline ecosystem in China, where high salinity and complex soil properties create a distinct habitat that significantly shapes microbial community structure and function. In this study, we analyzed 34 saline–alkaline soil samples from four regions within the delta. We characterized soil physicochemical properties (salt content, electrical conductivity, and pH) and systematically assessed fungal diversity, potential ecological functions, and their relationships with environmental variables using both internal transcribed spacer high-throughput sequencing and culture-based isolation. Sequencing generated 1,137,196 sequences that clustered into 13,574 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with Good’s coverage values ranging from 0.96 to 1.00, indicating sufficient sequencing depth. The soils were generally alkaline and exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity in salinity and electrical conductivity. Sequencing analyses revealed Ascomycota and Basidiomycota as the dominant fungal phyla. Alpha diversity tended to decline with increasing salt content and electrical conductivity; however, substantial within-group variability indicated strong microenvironmental influences. Beta diversity analyses revealed distinct clustering patterns in community structure among regions based on PCoA ordinations. Redundancy analysis revealed that soil pH had the only significant unique contribution to fungal community variation. However, all three measured edaphic factors together explained only 17% of the total community variation. Functional inference using the FUNGuild database identified diverse fungal trophic modes and several plant-associated taxa in several samples. Culture-based approaches yielded 347 isolates representing 52 genera. Among the isolates, the vast majority (>95%) belonged to Ascomycota, with Basidiomycota represented by only a few isolates, which is consistent with the dominance of Ascomycota observed in the high-throughput sequencing data. Comparisons between sequencing and cultivation results demonstrated complementary diversity profiles and highlighted a substantial reservoir of nonculturable fungi in these soils. Overall, this study clarifies spatial patterns and key environmental drivers of fungal diversity in the Yellow River Delta and establishes a foundational culture collection for future ecological restoration efforts.
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(This article belongs to the Section Microbial Diversity and Culture Collections)
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Open AccessArticle
Development of Raphidioptera Was More Gradual in the Past as Revealed by Quantitative Morphological Analysis
by
Simon J. Linhart, Florian Mödl, Colin Hassenbach, Ayberk D. Engin, Carolin Haug, Patrick Müller, Julia Rybalka, Olympia Salvamoser, Corleone F. Stahlecker and Joachim T. Haug
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070391 (registering DOI) - 25 Jun 2026
Abstract
Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are generally assumed to have the most gradual (and plesiomorphic) type of holometabolous metamorphosis, often including saproxylic larvae. Herein we investigate the diversity of snakeflies over time. We explore morphological details that have rarely been in focus of scientific studies such
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Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are generally assumed to have the most gradual (and plesiomorphic) type of holometabolous metamorphosis, often including saproxylic larvae. Herein we investigate the diversity of snakeflies over time. We explore morphological details that have rarely been in focus of scientific studies such as the clavate organs of the legs. In total, 165 new immature snakefly specimens, mostly from 100 million-year-old (Cretaceous) Kachin amber, are reported. Combined with data from the literature, we assembled a dataset of 550 specimens, including immatures and adults from Cretaceous (over 200 immatures) and Eocene amber and from the extant fauna. From these, we extracted shape data of different body regions—ten subsets in total with over 2500 analysed shapes. Our analysis supports earlier observations (based on relative lengths) that snakefly larvae were much more diverse in their morphology in the past compared to their modern representatives. Furthermore, we recognise a strong morphological separation of modern larvae and adults (with pupae being intermediate), while in fossils the overlap of representatives of both life phases is quite strong. This supports earlier qualitative observations that the ontogeny of Cretaceous snakeflies was even more gradual (and likely plesiomorphic for Raphidioptera and presumably Holometabola) than in extant snakeflies. The analyses revealed that some Cretaceous and Eocene snakeflies had a slender head and prothorax morphology that is absent nowadays. This supports a difference between the modern and Eocene fauna. Additionally, a gap analysis was performed for the best-sampled subsets to explore morphological constraints in snakefly morphology.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Interactions and Biodiversity Conservation of Saproxylic Insect Communities)
Open AccessArticle
Proteomic Analysis of Tropical Maize Inbred Line QR273 at Different Growth Stages Under Long-Day Conditions
by
Wenju Luo, Xiaofen Xie, Xiaoli Wang, Yufeng Li, Xianbin Hou and Zhengjie Zhu
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070390 (registering DOI) - 25 Jun 2026
Abstract
Tropical maize often exhibits photoperiod sensitivity, which limits its adaptation to temperate regions. Understanding its proteomic dynamics under long-day conditions is therefore crucial for germplasm improvement. This study employed a Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomic approach to investigate stage-specific protein expression patterns in
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Tropical maize often exhibits photoperiod sensitivity, which limits its adaptation to temperate regions. Understanding its proteomic dynamics under long-day conditions is therefore crucial for germplasm improvement. This study employed a Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomic approach to investigate stage-specific protein expression patterns in the tropical maize inbred line QR273 under long-day conditions (16 h light/8 h dark). Seeds were cultivated in climate chambers, and leaves were collected at the four-leaf (P4) and nine-leaf (P9) stages. A total of 2881 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were quantified between the P4 and P9 stages, among which only 7 were upregulated and 2874 were downregulated at the P9 stage. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that these DEPs were significantly enriched in processes related to proteolysis, membrane components, and ATP binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed the enrichment of DEPs in amino acid biosynthesis, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathways. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified 60S ribosomal protein L12, adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase, and RuvB helicase as core hub proteins. Based on functional annotation of representative DEPs, the DEPs were classified into four categories: 9 proteins related to storage material protection, 14 proteins related to protein modification, 12 proteins related to photosynthesis, and 25 proteins with other biological functions. Comparative analysis demonstrated a decrease in storage material protection, protein modification, and photosynthetic capacity at the P9 stage relative to the P4 stage. These findings provide insights into the proteomic dynamics underlying tropical maize development under long-day conditions and offer a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of tropical maize germplasm. Notably, inferences regarding nutrient reallocation based on DEP downregulation are derived solely from proteomic data and require further experimental validation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Future Perspectives in Molecular Biology and Genetic Diversity of Economic Plants)
Open AccessArticle
Conservation Status and Red List Assessment of the Genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) in the Arabian Peninsula
by
Ali Mohammed Alzahrani, Joana Magos Brehm and Nigel Maxted
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070389 (registering DOI) - 25 Jun 2026
Abstract
The aims of this study were to determine the geographical range and habitats of the Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula and to assess their conservation status at national, regional, and global levels by using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
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The aims of this study were to determine the geographical range and habitats of the Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula and to assess their conservation status at national, regional, and global levels by using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories and criteria. Verbascum is represented by 16 species with four varieties in the area of the study, and most of these species are endemic to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study is based on an ecogeographic survey, which was conducted using herbaria collections, literature sources, and fieldwork. The findings showed that the genus is distributed in three main regions in the Arabian Peninsula, which include northern Saudi Arabia, the Asir and Yemen highlands, and the Hajar mountains in Oman and the UAE. In addition, most species of Verbascum in the region are at high risk of extinction. Nine taxa are threatened, four of which are assessed as Critically Endangered, four as Endangered, and one as Vulnerable. Furthermore, four species are assessed as Near Threatened, while another five species are assessed as of Least Concern. Threats to the Verbascum species in the region are overgrazing, suburban and agricultural expansion, climate change, invasive species, recreational activities, tourism, war, and civil unrest, leading to human intrusion and disturbances. Some important strategies for conserving and managing Verbascum species on the Arabian Peninsula are recommended here.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)
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Open AccessReview
Biodiversity-Centered Blue Carbon Management in Vegetated Coastal Wetlands: A Review of Conservation, Restoration, Monitoring, and Climate Adaptation Across Mangroves, Seagrass Beds, and Salt Marshes
by
Yan Zheng, Wenhai Lu and Hefeng Wang
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070388 (registering DOI) - 24 Jun 2026
Abstract
Vegetated coastal wetlands, especially mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes, are biodiversity-rich ecosystems whose blue carbon outcomes depend on living communities, sediment dynamics, hydrological connectivity, and landscape context. Biodiversity conservation and blue carbon management are often assessed through separate scientific, monitoring, and policy
[...] Read more.
Vegetated coastal wetlands, especially mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes, are biodiversity-rich ecosystems whose blue carbon outcomes depend on living communities, sediment dynamics, hydrological connectivity, and landscape context. Biodiversity conservation and blue carbon management are often assessed through separate scientific, monitoring, and policy frameworks. This review uses a staged literature search and thematic synthesis to examine biodiversity–blue carbon linkages across the three major vegetated coastal wetland types. It considers how taxonomic, genetic, functional, and habitat diversity influence productivity, sediment stabilization, trophic exchange, carbon stocks, carbon burial, and carbon retention. It also evaluates how climate change, habitat fragmentation, hydrological alteration, pollution, and anthropogenic disturbance weaken these linkages. The synthesis compares representative carbon-stock and burial-rate baselines, examines conservation and restoration synergies and trade-offs, and expands the discussion of seagrass regime shifts. Field surveys, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles, environmental DNA, and AI-enabled data integration are placed within a tiered monitoring framework. The review further develops an operational decision pathway for biodiversity-centered blue carbon management. Persistent blue carbon benefits arise where conservation and restoration maintain native communities, hydrological exchange, sediment stability, habitat complexity, migration space, and long-term stewardship capacity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation of Coastal Wetlands)
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Graphical abstract
Open AccessEditorial
Advances in Freshwater Mollusk Research: Current Trends, Conservation Challenges, and Future Horizons
by
Simone Varandas, Ioan Sîrbu and Martin Osterling
Diversity 2026, 18(7), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18070387 (registering DOI) - 23 Jun 2026
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened environments on Earth, despite being indispensable for biodiversity [...]
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Freshwater Mollusk Research)
Open AccessArticle
New Contributions to Entoloma sect. Madida (Entolomataceae, Agaricales) from Subtropical Montane Forests of China: Two New Taxa
by
Hui Zhang, Shuwei Wei, Yidan Ding, Wenjun Dou, Shu Li, Yu Li and Qi Wang
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060386 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
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Entoloma is a species-rich and taxonomically complex genus in Entolomataceae, characterised by pink to pinkish-brown spore prints and angular basidiospores. Within this genus, Entoloma sect. Madida, corresponding to the Prunuloides lineage in recent infrageneric treatments, includes several morphologically similar taxa related
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Entoloma is a species-rich and taxonomically complex genus in Entolomataceae, characterised by pink to pinkish-brown spore prints and angular basidiospores. Within this genus, Entoloma sect. Madida, corresponding to the Prunuloides lineage in recent infrageneric treatments, includes several morphologically similar taxa related to the E. bloxamii–prunuloides complex. However, this lineage remains poorly documented from subtropical eastern China. In this study, we examined Entoloma collections from the Huangshan region of Anhui Province, China, using macromorphological observations, micromorphological characters, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of basidiospores, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU and rpb2. We recognised two independent and well-supported species-level lineages, described here as Entoloma theobrunneum and E. ochrorubrum. Entoloma theobrunneum is phylogenetically close to E. corneri but differs in its smoky grey to tea-brown pileus, snakeskin-like stipe pattern, higher basidiospore Q values, larger basidia, and the presence of pleurocystidia and caulocystidia. Entoloma ochrorubrum is associated with taxa of the E. bloxamii complex but is distinguished by its darker iron-red to ochre-brown pileus, blackish-brown central papilla, cracking pileus margin, longitudinally fibrillose stipe, higher basidiospore Q values, and basidia with granular contents. SEM observations are provided only as supplementary documentation of the three-dimensional architecture of basidiospores. These findings add two phylogenetically supported Chinese species to the current framework of E. sect. Madida, help fill a regional documentation gap in subtropical eastern China, and provide additional East Asian data relevant to future evaluation of the current infrageneric framework of Entoloma.
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Open AccessArticle
Ecological Restoration of Mangrove Forests: Early Ecological Responses to Hydrological Restoration in Eastern Africa
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Alberto de Jesus Fernando, Henriques Balidy, Maria Alberto Cuambe, Faustino César and Célia da Conceição Macamo
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060385 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
Abstract
Mangrove forests in northern Mozambique were impacted by human and natural pressures, causing channel blockage, permanent flooding, and tree die back. To address the issue, hydrological restoration was carried out in August 2024, excavating 6.88 km of channels, with impact in 38 ha
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Mangrove forests in northern Mozambique were impacted by human and natural pressures, causing channel blockage, permanent flooding, and tree die back. To address the issue, hydrological restoration was carried out in August 2024, excavating 6.88 km of channels, with impact in 38 ha of degraded mangrove. The intervention area was divided into three zones, upper, middle, and lower, based on ecological and environmental characteristics. This study reports on the monitoring carried out 4 and 10 months later. Site salinity approached optimal levels for mangrove growth, dropping by 56% in high-salinity zones, and increasing above 100% in freshwater-invaded zones. The intervention also homogenized the previously distinct upper, middle, and lower zones to more statistically similar groups (Dunn post hoc: p > 0.05). Moreover, seedling density increased from 57.1 ± 44.1 to 4864 ± 1778.6 seedlings/ha; additionally, regenerating species increased in numbers (1 to 3 mangrove species in middle zone; and 0 to 3 mangrove species in lower zone). The study also reports the dieback of competing species, Juncus kraussii and Cyperus articulates. These changes result from the improved tidal flow and general habitat conditions in the restored site. This restoration offers a model for scaling up restoration efforts across the region, where ecological restoration remains underrepresented in many mangrove restoration initiatives.
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(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing Plant Species Turnover in Grasslands of South Africa
by
Mamokete N. V. Dingaan
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060384 (registering DOI) - 22 Jun 2026
Abstract
Beta diversity represents the degree of variation in species composition between plant communities, and is thus an important indicator of the spatial distribution of biodiversity within regions. Patterns of beta diversity are shaped by deterministic processes relating to environmental conditions and species interactions,
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Beta diversity represents the degree of variation in species composition between plant communities, and is thus an important indicator of the spatial distribution of biodiversity within regions. Patterns of beta diversity are shaped by deterministic processes relating to environmental conditions and species interactions, or by stochastic processes that include speciation, extinction, and dispersal limitation. Knowledge of the mechanisms that generate and maintain beta diversity is important and can inform management strategies for the conservation of biodiversity. The study aimed to assess the influence of environmental gradients on beta diversity in the grassland Biome of South Africa by comparing plant species composition between selected protected areas within the biome. Similarity in species composition between the protected areas was compared with the Jaccard index (βJ). In addition, constrained (CCA) and unconstrained (DCA) ordination, variation partitioning, and linear regression were used to analyse species turnover along environmental gradients. Jaccard similarity values were low, indicating high species turnover. There was an average of only 9% species composition similarity between the protected areas. Composition similarity decreased significantly with geographical distance between protected areas, but it increased significantly with mean annual temperature and assumed a hump-shaped pattern with mean annual rainfall. In general, geographic and climatic factors each explained approximately 20% of the variation in species composition. The patterns of beta diversity between the study locations suggest an interplay of both stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping community structure and composition, with environmental filtering as possibly one of the major drivers.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Conservation Planning and Assessment—2nd Edition)
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Open AccessReview
“Sea Water Rise” Scenario and Potential Ichthiodiversity Challenges in Lower Dniester River–Floodplain-Delta–Black Sea Area (Petromyzontidae, Acipenseridae, Anguilidae, and Cyprinidae)
by
Sergey Afanasyev, Olena Gupalo, Olena Lietytska, Isabella Serrano, Angela Curtean-Bănăduc, Milca Petrovici and Doru Bănăduc
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060383 (registering DOI) - 21 Jun 2026
Abstract
The Dniester Delta is one of the Earth’s biodiversity hotspots and is home to many fish species of conservation and economic value. This unique complex of aquatic and semi-aquatic wetland habitats is also essential for the diversity of Dniester River and Black Sea
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The Dniester Delta is one of the Earth’s biodiversity hotspots and is home to many fish species of conservation and economic value. This unique complex of aquatic and semi-aquatic wetland habitats is also essential for the diversity of Dniester River and Black Sea ichthyofauna due to its role as a natural safe buffer and as a shelter, feeding, reproduction, and smooth transitional area for numerous fish species. Climate change is causing constant sea level rises in the Black Sea, which is anticipated to impact the vital ecosystems and related biodiversity in the Dniester Delta and other lower flooding areas, including the key ecological taxonomic group of fish. From this sea water rise risk assessment study of a total of 41 fish species, 6 were found to be under very high risk in the studied areas, 12 under high risk, 17 under moderate risk, and 6 under low risk. Positive ecological feedback in fish can stimulate environmental change and is expected to be responsible for changes within the Dniester Delta region complex of ecosystems in the context of sea level rise in the Black Sea, in addition to the diverse matrix of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems in the near Dniester River and Black Sea.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Biodiversity of Freshwater Fishes)
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Open AccessArticle
Epibenthic Invertebrate Diversity on Sublittoral Rocky Habitats in Marine Protected Areas of the North Aegean Sea After a Severe Heatwave Event
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Chryssanthi Antoniadou, Martha Pantelidou and Chariton Chintiroglou
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060382 (registering DOI) - 20 Jun 2026
Abstract
Marine invertebrates, such as sponges, corals, mollusks and sea squirts, are appropriate climate-change descriptors on sublittoral rocks. The present study assesses the diversity, relative abundance and health condition of epibenthic invertebrates inhabiting sublittoral rocky habitats within the Natura 2000 network (Chalkidiki, north Aegean),
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Marine invertebrates, such as sponges, corals, mollusks and sea squirts, are appropriate climate-change descriptors on sublittoral rocks. The present study assesses the diversity, relative abundance and health condition of epibenthic invertebrates inhabiting sublittoral rocky habitats within the Natura 2000 network (Chalkidiki, north Aegean), after the 2021 marine heatwaves. Samplings were made with non-destructive techniques in autumn 2021 by diving along vertical belt transects (up to 30 m). Fourteen stations were surveyed, revealing 56 macroscopic invertebrates, 16 algae and 15 reef-associated fishes. Richness showed increased values at the deepest and steepest cliffs. Reefs were the dominant habitat type, hosting different facies of infralittoral algae and coralligenous biocenoses. Three algal (Halimeda tuna, Peyssonelia squamaria, Lithophyllum strictiforme) and 12 invertebrate (Aplysina aerophoba, Chondrilla nucula, Chondrosia reniformis, Ircinia variabilis, I. oros, Sarcotragus foetidus, Spongia officinalis, Balanophyllia europaea, Cladocora caespitosa, Pinna nobilis, Spondylus gaederopus, Microcosmus sabatieri) species were found in partial or full necrosis. According to relevant data collected about 20 years ago, the biota had higher diversity without signs of necrosis. Sarcotragus foetidus, I. variabilis, B. europaea, C. caespitosa and S. gaederopus were the most affected by necrosis species over the surveyed area. They represent appropriate climate change descriptors to assess the resilience of Mediterranean MPAs, being priority species in marine conservation.
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(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)
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Open AccessArticle
Spatial Heterogeneity of Sediment Bacterial Communities in the Gracilaria salicornia Aquaculture Area and Adjacent Waters: Composition, Diversity, and Key Environmental Regulators
by
Xiuli Cao, Yingxian Yu, Menghan Gao, Yingyi Fan, Junyu Wei, Jianming Li and Zhangxi Hu
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060381 (registering DOI) - 20 Jun 2026
Abstract
Microorganisms in sediments participate actively in biogeochemical cycling and are essential for maintaining the stability of marine ecosystems. To investigate the spatial impact of seaweed mariculture on sediment bacterial communities, three distinct zones were selected along the Zhanjiang coast, China: the Gracilaria salicornia
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Microorganisms in sediments participate actively in biogeochemical cycling and are essential for maintaining the stability of marine ecosystems. To investigate the spatial impact of seaweed mariculture on sediment bacterial communities, three distinct zones were selected along the Zhanjiang coast, China: the Gracilaria salicornia aquaculture zone, a transition zone (adjacent to the aquaculture area), and a control zone (with no direct mariculture influence). In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was employed to examine the composition, diversity, and potential functions of sediment bacterial communities across these three zones. The dominant microbial communities identified included Pseudomonadota, Thermodesulfobacteriota, Chloroflexota, and Acidobacteriota. Analyses of α-diversity, β-diversity, and molecular ecological network revealed that the bacterial community in the G. salicornia aquaculture zone exhibited significant differences in species composition, community structure, and interspecies interaction compared with those in the transition and control zones. Environmental factors such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrate (NO3−) exerted significant influence on the bacterial community composition and structure. Predicted functional potential analyses indicated high abundances of pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Overall, this study characterizes the spatial distribution patterns of microbial communities in a coastal seaweed mariculture ecosystem and provides important data to support further research on biogeochemical processes mediated by sediment bacteria and their response mechanisms to mariculture activities.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Physiology and Ecology of Marine Microorganisms)
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Open AccessReview
Reductions in Aquatic Insect Diversity from Anthropogenic Stressors Occur Across Subtropical and Tropical Islands in East Asia
by
Hsing-Che Liu, Ming-Chih Chiu, Mei-Hwa Kuo and Vincent H. Resh
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060380 - 19 Jun 2026
Abstract
The subtropical and tropical islands of East Asia host a unique and highly endemic aquatic insect fauna threatened by a variety of anthropogenic stressors (e.g., invasive species, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change). This review synthesizes the impacts of these stressors on aquatic
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The subtropical and tropical islands of East Asia host a unique and highly endemic aquatic insect fauna threatened by a variety of anthropogenic stressors (e.g., invasive species, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change). This review synthesizes the impacts of these stressors on aquatic insect diversity across this region based on 206 articles published over the past 40 years (1985–2025) to evaluate the impacts of these stressors on insular aquatic insect diversity. The islands of East Asia include all or parts of China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. The annual number of publications demonstrates a steady upward trend over time and has been accelerating in the last decade. Our systematic analysis reveals a large geographic disparity. Research is heavily concentrated on major islands, with Honshu Island (42%) and Taiwan Island (24%) accounting for two-thirds of the total literature, while small islands (<10,000 km2) comprise only 20%. Furthermore, current research tends to focus on independent impacts of single stressors, largely overlooking the complex additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions that characterize stressors on these fragile ecosystems. These research gaps, compounded by a lack of long-term monitoring data (i.e., only ~22% of the studies span more than 3 years), hinder efforts to distinguish natural inter-annual variability from anthropogenic shifts. The extinction of cryptic or endemic species may occur before these species are identified and described. In addition, the disentanglement of these interactive impacts on aquatic insect communities in East Asian islands is critical for predicting ecosystem responses to further local and global changes. Identification of non-linear ecological tipping points through these long-term monitoring networks, coupled with proactive, science-guided habitat restoration, is essential to mitigate imminent extinctions and to rebuild the functional integrity of these imperiled freshwater ecosystems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Aquatic Insects)
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Open AccessArticle
Diversity and Functional Structure of Beetle Assemblages in a Historic Urban Park in Sibiu, Romania: A Multi-Year Assessment
by
Cristina Stancă-Moise, George Moise, Anca Șipoș, Roxana-Florența Săvescu and Cristian Felix Blidar
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060379 - 18 Jun 2026
Abstract
This study evaluates the multi-year taxonomic diversity and functional structure of beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) within Sub Arini Park, a historic urban green space in Sibiu, Romania. Following a preliminary baseline and methodological calibration phase in 2023, systematic monitoring was conducted during the 2024
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This study evaluates the multi-year taxonomic diversity and functional structure of beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) within Sub Arini Park, a historic urban green space in Sibiu, Romania. Following a preliminary baseline and methodological calibration phase in 2023, systematic monitoring was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 seasonal cycles utilizing standardized pitfall trapping across diverse park zones. We explicitly tested two hypotheses: (H1) that long-standing historic park management preserves a resilient and functional insect community structure, and (H2) that local spatial heterogeneity and microhabitat variations significantly drive species distribution. A total of 14,843 individuals belonging to 39 species were analyzed. While total abundance exhibited a slight decrease from 2024 (N = 7112) to 2025 (N = 6551), true diversity metrics (Hill numbers) revealed a significant increase in raw species richness (q = 0) from 30 to 39 species, alongside an enhanced equity of frequent species (Shannon diversity, q = 1, increased from 4.26 to 5.12). Functional guild analysis and multivariate PCA demonstrated a highly structured biocenotic distribution; specialist and hygrophilous species (e.g., Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) were strictly constrained to high-humidity riparian corridors, whereas thermophilous generalists dominated open lawns under high anthropogenic stress. Our spatial analysis identified critical degradation within these heavily managed zones, specifically driven by intensive mowing, soil compaction, and organic debris removal. These findings confirm both hypotheses, revealing that the park operates as a heterogeneous mosaic of ecological refugia rather than a uniform habitat block. Crucially, this study provides a concrete, quantitative basis—derived from empirical thresholds of species richness, abundance shifts, and mapped microhabitat preferences—for implementing nature-based management strategies (such as establishing buffer zones with reduced mowing frequencies, limiting trampling, and retaining coarse woody debris) aimed at mitigating urban biodiversity loss and maintaining vital biological pest control services in Central–Eastern Europe.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Interactions and Biodiversity Conservation of Saproxylic Insect Communities)
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Open AccessArticle
Diversity and Community Composition of Light-Attracted Canopy Insects and Their Relationship with Neutral Genetic Diversity of Tilia cordata (Mill.) in Protected Forests of Lithuania
by
Jūratė Lynikienė, Rita Verbylaitė, Artūras Gedminas, Valeriia Mishcherikova, Adas Marčiulynas and Virgilijus Baliuckas
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060378 - 17 Jun 2026
Abstract
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Temperate broadleaved forests support diverse arthropod communities, but canopy-dwelling insects in European lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) stands are still poorly known. We surveyed light-attracted canopy insects in six T. cordata Genetic Conservation Units and related protected stands across Lithuania. One modified, solar-powered
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Temperate broadleaved forests support diverse arthropod communities, but canopy-dwelling insects in European lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) stands are still poorly known. We surveyed light-attracted canopy insects in six T. cordata Genetic Conservation Units and related protected stands across Lithuania. One modified, solar-powered UV light trap was installed in the canopy (10–15 m) at each site and operated twice per month from June to August in 2023 and 2024. We used diversity metrics, similarity indices, multiple regression, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) together with PERMANOVA to examine the structure of insect communities and assess the influence of environmental factors. In total, 6031 individuals representing 295 insect species were recorded, with higher abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity in 2024 than in 2023. Across both years and all sites, Shannon H diversity index ranged from 3.21 to 3.92. Sørensen indices indicated moderate species similarity among sites and distinct species composition at the Ukmergė genetic reserve. The 20 most abundant taxa comprised over 60% of all individuals, and dominance structure changed markedly between years: Serica brunnea dominated in 2023 but was nearly absent in 2024. Regression revealed a significant positive effect of air temperature on insect abundance (about a 31% increase per 1 °C), while precipitation had no significant effect on insect abundance. NMDS and PERMANOVA showed strong spatial structuring, with sites explaining most of the variation, and weaker but significant temporal and site-by-year effects. Overall, insect diversity metrics showed non-significant correlations with T. cordata genetic diversity parameters. Results demonstrate that mature T. cordata forest stands are important reservoirs of canopy insect diversity and highlight pronounced spatial heterogeneity, interannual dynamics, and temperature sensitivity of canopy assemblages in Lithuanian forests.
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Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Crustaceans on Sicilian Fisheries: Replacement of Native Species and Emergence of Novel Resources
by
Francesco Tiralongo, Luigia Donnarumma, Paola Leotta and Roberto Sandulli
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060377 - 17 Jun 2026
Abstract
Marine biological invasions are rapidly reshaping Mediterranean ecosystems, with growing consequences for biodiversity and fisheries. This study investigates recent changes in the composition of commercially important crustacean assemblages along the south-eastern coast of Sicily (central Mediterranean), focusing on penaeid shrimps (Penaeus aztecus
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Marine biological invasions are rapidly reshaping Mediterranean ecosystems, with growing consequences for biodiversity and fisheries. This study investigates recent changes in the composition of commercially important crustacean assemblages along the south-eastern coast of Sicily (central Mediterranean), focusing on penaeid shrimps (Penaeus aztecus and Penaeus kerathurus) and stomatopods (Erugosquilla massavensis and Squilla mantis). Field surveys were conducted during the fishing seasons of 2021 and 2025 at major landing sites and markets (Portopalo di Capo Passero, Syracuse and Catania), using standardized subsampling protocols applied to catches obtained by trammel nets and bottom trawls. Species composition was quantified through repeated sampling events, and temporal differences were analyzed using non-parametric tests and binomial generalized linear models, incorporating year and fishing gear as explanatory variables. Quantitative data were complemented by local ecological knowledge derived from structured interviews with professional fishers. Across the four-year interval, both taxonomic groups exhibited a pronounced shift in species dominance. The proportion of the invasive shrimp P. aztecus increased from approximately 20% in 2021 to over 80% in 2025, while the invasive stomatopod E. massavensis rose from about 2% to nearly 90% of total landings. These changes were statistically significant and independent of fishing gear. Fishers’ perceptions closely mirrored the quantitative trends, confirming the rapid replacement of native species by non-indigenous taxa and highlighting emerging socio-economic implications for local fisheries. Our findings document a rapid shift in the composition of commercial crustacean landings in Sicilian coastal waters, with invasive species becoming the dominant component of catches within a few years. This study underscores the need for adaptive fisheries management and integrated monitoring frameworks capable of responding to accelerating biological invasions in Mediterranean marine ecosystems.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Impacts of Biological Invasions on European Biodiversity)
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Modeling the Environmental Drivers of Understory Diversity and Rarity in Chestnut (Castanea sativa L.) Forests: The Role of Microclimatic Buffering and Stand Structure
by
Lydia-Maria Petaloudi and Petros Ganatsas
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060376 - 17 Jun 2026
Abstract
Understory vegetation communities in chestnut (Castanea sativa L.) forests feature unique biodiversity patterns and high conservation value, yet the complex drivers of these communities remain poorly quantified. This study investigates the combined effects of structural, microclimatic, and topographic parameters on understory biodiversity
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Understory vegetation communities in chestnut (Castanea sativa L.) forests feature unique biodiversity patterns and high conservation value, yet the complex drivers of these communities remain poorly quantified. This study investigates the combined effects of structural, microclimatic, and topographic parameters on understory biodiversity in the mountainous region of Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. Using a nested plot design (n = 30), we integrated analytical in situ microclimatic monitoring with hemispherical photography (HemiView canopy image analysis system) to accurately quantify canopy architecture (canopy cover and solar radiation parameters), while a detailed vegetation inventory of vascular plants was performed to determine plant community structure and composition. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were employed to model Shannon Diversity (H’) and a weighted rarity index (RSR) representing complementary aspects of understory biodiversity. Our results reveal that the tree slenderness of the dominant stand serves as a robust proxy for stand competition and compactness. Lower slenderness values, reflecting reduced overstory competition, were significantly associated with enhanced light availability and potentially with microclimatic stability, which in turn supported higher levels of species diversity and rarity. Distinct ecological trends were observed between diversity and rarity. Shannon diversity was highest in closed forest environments characterized by lower temperatures, low stand slenderness values, southern aspects, and lower elevations, with the final model explaining 66.1% of the variance (n = 27). In contrast, species rarity was primarily driven by stand slenderness and low disturbance levels (explaining 54.6% of the variance), with the majority of rare species occurring in undisturbed stands (n = 30). These findings suggest that targeted, low-intensity management for competition promotes structurally stable stands and microclimatic buffering, facilitating the preservation of understory biodiversity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Forest Biodiversity: Impacts and Strategies for Conservation)
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Prediction of the Potential Suitable Habitat of Spartina alterniflora in China and Comparison of Ecological Niches Between Its Native and Invaded Ranges Based on Species Distribution Models
by
Enxiang Zhang, Bo Lei and Xinshuai Wang
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060375 - 17 Jun 2026
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) threaten coastal wetland ecosystems, and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is among the most damaging invaders along the coast of China. We compiled occurrence records from the invaded range (China) and native range (United States) and retained 358
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Invasive alien species (IAS) threaten coastal wetland ecosystems, and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) is among the most damaging invaders along the coast of China. We compiled occurrence records from the invaded range (China) and native range (United States) and retained 358 and 291 spatially thinned occurrences after quality control and definition of coastal-accessible areas. We assembled climatic, topographic, land use, soil and anthropogenic predictors and fitted species distribution models using the biomod2 ensemble-modeling framework, complemented by an ecospat-based comparison of native and invaded niche spaces. The ensemble model (EM) showed high predictive accuracy (China: AUC = 0.98, TSS = 0.99; USA: AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.94). Elevation (73.6%) and human influence (6.0%) were the strongest predictors, highlighting the role of intertidal geomorphology and human-mediated propagule pressure. Niche overlap between ranges was low (Schoener’s D = 0.13), and the invaded niche showed substantial unfilling (0.36), indicating additional environmental space at risk of colonization in China. The current suitable habitat forms a continuous coastal belt from the Bohai Rim through the Yellow Sea–East China Sea to the South China Sea. Projections under future climate change suggest predominantly stable suitable areas with localized expansions but potential contractions in some periods. Our results may support the early warning, surveillance prioritization, and adaptive management of S. alterniflora under climate change.
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(This article belongs to the Section Plant Diversity)
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Functional Stability of the Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Nodule Microbiome in Semi-Arid Regions
by
Cinthya Judith Ortega-Esparza, Erika Nava-Reyna, María del Rosario Jacobo-Salcedo, Oscar Martín Antunez-Ocampo, Cristina García-De la Peña, Ricardo Trejo-Calzada and Aurelio Pedroza-Sandoval
Diversity 2026, 18(6), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18060374 - 17 Jun 2026
Abstract
Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a strategic crop whose sustainable production depends on symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, the composition and functional potential of the nodule microbiome in varieties adapted to semi-arid regions, such as northern Mexico, remain poorly documented. Therefore,
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Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a strategic crop whose sustainable production depends on symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. However, the composition and functional potential of the nodule microbiome in varieties adapted to semi-arid regions, such as northern Mexico, remain poorly documented. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of host genotype on nodule-associated bacterial communities in three improved varieties (Pinto Bravo, NOD1, and Jamapa) under conventional management, using high-throughput sequencing of the V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed no significant differences among varieties, indicating a similar nodular microbiome regardless of genotype. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota predominated, suggesting a conserved microbial core. At the genus level, Rhizobium was the most abundant taxon, while non-rhizobial genera such as Acinetobacter and the JC017 lineage were also detected. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 revealed conserved metabolic profiles, with dominant pathways associated with amino acid biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, aerobic respiration, and fatty acid biosynthesis, indicating metabolic redundancy linked to tolerance to osmotic, thermal, and oxidative stress. The results suggest that under semi-arid conditions, the symbiotic interaction is governed by mechanisms at the host species level (P. vulgaris), which ensure the recruitment of a functional core microbiome, whereas intraspecific variation among improved varieties may influence the recruitment of specific accessory taxa.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rhizosphere Microbial Community Diversity)
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