Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Biology Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Conservation Biology and Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 6363

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jiang Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: response and adaptation of biodiversity under climate change and human activities; scientific conservation measures using micro- and macro-scale approaches

Dr. Shuping Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
Interests: environmental DNA; molecular ecology and environmental genomics; community ecology; biodiversity conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our upcoming Special Issue. In the era of accelerating global climate change, habitat degradation, and expanding anthropogenic impacts, wildlife faces unprecedented survival pressures. Environmental changes not only exert direct influences on species distributions and behavioral patterns but also reshape genetic architectures and evolutionary pathways through selective pressures. A comprehensive understanding of these complex dynamics is essential for formulating effective, evidence-based conservation policies.

This Special Issue aims to provide an academically inclusive platform for open discussions among scholars.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but not are limited to, the following: (1) rapid evolutionary response mechanisms in wildlife under environmental change; (2) the application of conservation genetics and genomics; (3) eco-evolutionary dynamics modeling; (4) integration of genomic tools with ecological models; and (5) biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystem management under environmental change. In addition, we encourage scholars to submit other articles related to the above-mentioned themes. It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to contribute to the development of the academic subject in this field.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Jiang Chang
Dr. Shuping Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmental change
wildlife
rapid evolution
genetic diversity
conservation genomics
environmental DNA
species distribution models
adaptive evolution
eco-evolutionary dynamics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 1850 KB

Open AccessArticle

Global Distribution Patterns and Climatic Drivers of Plant Diversity in Rubiaceae

by Sihong Yang, Yangyang Liu, Yuvenalis Morara Mbuni, Weirong Huang, Yadong Zhou and Huan Zhang

Biology 2025, 14(12), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121719 - 1 Dec 2025

Viewed by 244

Abstract

The Rubiaceae family, the world’s fourth-largest angiosperm group, exhibits exceptional species and morphological diversity across its global distribution. Understanding its biogeographic patterns and their environmental drivers is critical for elucidating the evolution, ecological adaptation, and conservation priorities of this family. Here, we integrated global-scale distribution data with growth-form classifications (herbaceous vs. woody) to map the species richness patterns of Rubiaceae. We then related these patterns to four types of environmental variables (water and energy, climate seasonality, historical climate change, human influence) to identify key drivers of richness variations across growth forms. Our results indicated that the species richness pattern of Rubiaceae species exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity at the global scale. Total and woody species richness generally exhibit distinct latitudinal distribution patterns, peaking in tropical regions, whereas herbaceous plants predominate in mid-to-high latitudes. The drivers of these patterns also differ among growth forms. Actual evapotranspiration (AET) is the strongest predictor of species richness for the family as a whole and for different growth forms. Among the four types of environmental variables, water and energy are key factors driving the diversity pattern of total species of Rubiaceae. Environmental factors, especially water and energy, have a much stronger impact on the species richness patterns of woody plants than on those of herbaceous plants. These findings highlight the unique biogeographic patterns and potential environmental driving mechanisms of the diversity of Rubiaceae species, providing a theoretical basis for the diversity of global conservation in Rubiaceae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 6789 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Heterogeneity and Methodological Insights in Fish Community Assessment: A Case Study in Hulun Lake

by Zifang Liu, Yuetong Zhang, Yanan Pan, Zhousunxi Ma, Xin Han, Ziqi Zhou, Shuang Tian and Bingjiao Sun

Biology 2025, 14(12), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121678 - 26 Nov 2025

Viewed by 224

Abstract

Hulun Lake, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, faces mounting threats from extreme climate events and anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the need for robust biodiversity monitoring. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a promising tool for aquatic biomonitoring, yet different bioinformatic pipelines—such as Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) and Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) clustering—may yield divergent results. This study compares ASV and OTU clustering approaches in eDNA metabarcoding alongside traditional capture-based surveys to assess fish diversity in Hulun Lake. Across all methods, we identified 43 taxa (40 species), including the critically endangered Acheilognathus hypselonotus and vulnerable Choi’s spiny loach (Cobitis choii). While eDNA methods detected 2~3 times more species than in nets (13 species), strong methodological correlations (p < 0.001) were observed between net frequencies and eDNA-derived relative abundances (based on both ASV and OTU datasets using 4th-root and log transformations). Clustering analysis of capture-based data revealed four distinct ecological zones: the areas near tourist facilities, Wuerxun River inflow region, Wulan Nuoer Lake (connected via the Wuerxun River), and the Lake Centre. Significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) between these four zones was found in eDNA datasets, whereas nets captured more heterogeneous patterns, consistent with previous studies. Community structures were shaped by both generalists (e.g., Cyprinus carpio, Hemiculter bleekeri) and habitat specialists such as Amur catfish (Silurus asotus). The Lake Centre hosted a unique assemblage, likely due to reduced human disturbance. Overall, both eDNA clustering methods outperformed capture-based survey in detecting species richness and offered semi-quantitative insights. However, discrepancies between ASV and OTU approaches were evident in resolving fine-scale community differences. We recommend an integrated monitoring strategy that combines the sensitivity of eDNA with the abundance resolution of net captured to inform spatially targeted conservation and habitat protection in this vulnerable ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 60630 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Multitrophic Biodiversity Patterns in the Irtysh River Basin Based on eDNA Metabarcoding

by Ye Chen, Tianjian Song, Yuna Zhang, Fangze Zi, Yuxin Huang, Lei Fang, Yu Liu, Hongyang Zhou and Jiang Chang

Biology 2025, 14(12), 1661; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121661 - 24 Nov 2025

Viewed by 233

Abstract

In freshwater ecosystems, cross-trophic interactions among biological communities underpin ecosystem stability and functionality. In arid and semi-arid rivers, however, hydrological fluctuations, invasive species, and other perturbations exacerbate the complexity of biological processes. To systematically assess the community structure of fish, eukaryotic plankton, and prokaryotic microorganism in the Irtysh River basin, this study employed environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for monitoring. High-throughput sequencing of taxa within the study area was conducted via eDNA metabarcoding, coupled with random forest and linear mixed models to dissect the effects of community structure. The eDNA approach effectively unraveled spatial patterns of biodiversity and identified taxon-specific diversity hotspots: invasive fish exerted a facilitative effect on algae and suppressed the richness of protozoa, fungi, and heterotrophic microorganisms, yet had minimal impact on the dominant structure of autotrophic microorganisms. These findings provide a scientific basis for basin-scale ecological management, emphasizing the necessity of balancing habitat preservation and invasive-species control to safeguard ecosystem functionality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 8409 KB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change vs. Human Activities: Conflicting Future Impacts on a High-Altitude Endangered Snake (Thermophis baileyi)

by Yuxue Pan, Ruiying Han, Fengbin Dai, Yu Liu, Tianjian Song, Yueheng Ren, Song Huang and Jiang Chang

Biology 2025, 14(11), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14111531 - 31 Oct 2025

Viewed by 500

Abstract

Endemic ectotherms in high-altitude regions face dual threats from climate change and human activities, yet quantifiable indicators to disentangle these stressors remain limited. We developed a novel multi-scenario framework to disentangle the independent and synergistic impacts of climate change and anthropogenic landscape change on the habitat suitability of the Tibetan hot-spring snake (Thermophis baileyi) across the Tibetan Plateau. Our analysis was based on field survey data and species occurrence records, utilizing the species distribution model and the CA–Markov model. We identified temperature seasonality (41.8% contribution) as the primary environmental factor influencing its distribution, followed by precipitation of the coldest quarter (15.1%) and land cover (13.8%). The results showed that moderate climate warming would benefit the survival of the species, with a 24.03–38.55% gain in high-suitability habitat (HSH) area under climate change-only scenarios. However, extreme warming (exceeding SSP5-8.5) would surpass the thermal tolerance threshold of T. baileyi, reducing its HSH and triggering a northward shift in its distribution centroid. Landscape change reduced the HSH (5.98% reduction under land cover change-only scenario), and attenuated climate-driven gains by 4.99–11.31% under combined climate–landscape change scenarios. In addition, only one-fifth of the current HSH was covered by national natural reserves. Synergistic anthropogenic pressures critically offset climate benefits, demonstrating the need for integrated conservation strategies to address the challenges posed by both extreme climate warming and land cover change threats to mitigate future habitat degradation. The quantification of climate–land cover change impacts on T. baileyi offers critical insights for high-altitude ectotherm distributions under global changes and evidence-based conservation planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1290 KB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Variation in Nocturnal Roost Timing and Diurnal Movement in Endangered Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon): An Adaptation Strategy to Environmental Changes

by Wei Li, Dongping Liu, Yuhe Liao, Ke He and Chao Wang

Biology 2025, 14(11), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14111496 - 26 Oct 2025

Viewed by 550

Abstract

The living environment of birds exhibits seasonal variations, and winter cold and food shortages are key limiting factors influencing the survival rate of many bird species. However, most previous studies have focused on dynamic habitat changes, with relatively few investigating how changes in birds’ behavioral rhythms and ecological adaptability respond to seasonal fluctuations in the environment. The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) is an endangered species, with winter food shortage being a critical factor constraining its population growth. Through 211 days of monitoring on the communal roosting behavior and GPS tracking of 19 individuals, this study aimed to clarify seasonal variations in their time allocation and activity levels, and reveal how Crested Ibises respond to environmental changes. During the wintering period, Crested Ibises departed nocturnal roosts earlier relative to sunrise and returned later relative to sunset, thereby utilizing more dawn and dusk time for foraging and increasing daylight utilization. GPS tracking data showed that both daily movement distance and activity levels of Crested Ibises during the wintering period were significantly lower than in other seasons—a pattern likely representing an adaptive strategy to cope with limited food resources, as it serves to minimize energy expenditure and enhance survival rates. Thus, these findings indicate that Crested Ibises adapt to wintering environmental changes through three seasonal behaviors: extending the dawn and dusk activity window, increasing daylight utilization, and reducing daily movement distance and activity levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1593 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Sampling Effort and Taxonomic Resolution on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Taxa Richness and Bioassessment in a Non-Wadable Hard-Bottom River (China)

by Jiaxuan Liu, Hongjia Shan, Chengxing Xia and Sen Ding

Biology 2025, 14(10), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14101444 - 20 Oct 2025

Viewed by 444

Abstract

Benthic macroinvertebrates are widely used for river ecosystem health monitoring, yet challenges remain in non-wadable rivers, particularly regarding sampling effort. We evaluated hand-net sampling efficiency at three sites along the Danjiang River (a Yangtze River tributary) by analyzing taxa richness across taxonomic levels under varying replicate numbers. In total, 61 taxa (41 families) of benthic macroinvertebrates were identified. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis indicated no significant spatiotemporal variation in community composition. However, sampling effort increased, and the benthic macroinvertebrate taxa richness at both genus/species and family levels also increased. At eight sample replicates, the taxa accumulation curve at the genus/species level did not show an asymptote, with the observed richness reaching 67–80% of the predicted values calculated by Jackknife 1. In contrast, the family-level curve exhibited a clear asymptotic trend, with the observed richness reaching 82–100% of the predicted values. As sampling effort increased, bias decreased and accuracy improved, particularly for family-level taxa. Additionally, the BMWP scores also increased with the sampling effort. When the replicate number was no less than six, the BMWP reached stable assessment grades for all cases. From the perspective of bioassessment in non-wadable rivers, the hand net is suitable for collecting benthic macroinvertebrates. However, there is a risk of underestimating taxa richness due to insufficient sampling effort. Using family-level taxa can partially mitigate the impacts caused by insufficient sampling efforts to a certain extent, but further validation is needed for other non-wadable rivers (e.g., those with soft substrates). In conclusion, our research results indicate that six replicate hand-net samplings in non-wadable hard-bottom rivers can be regarded as a cost-effective and reliable sampling method for benthic macroinvertebrate BMWP assessment. This strategy provides a relatively practical reference for the monitoring of benthic macroinvertebrate in the same type of rivers in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4694 KB

Open AccessArticle

Mitogenomic Insights into Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae): Structural Diversity and Phylogenetic Implications

by Hai-Feng Xu, Xiu-Ru Xiao, Zhi-Chao Zhang, Yu-Fan Li and Xiao-Long Lin

Biology 2025, 14(9), 1178; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14091178 - 2 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1933

Abstract

Mitochondrial genomes are powerful tools for taxonomic delimitation and species identification, yet they remain scarce for Chironomidae (Diptera). In this study, we assembled and annotated 63 new mitochondrial genomes, encompassing 63 species within 39 genera in Orthocladiinae sensu lato (including Prodiamesinae and Orthocladiinae) and Chironominae by whole-genome sequencing, marking the first report of mitochondrial genome data for the Xiaomyini. Comparative analyses revealed structural variation, including transfer RNA gene rearrangements, along with strong nucleotide composition bias, codon usage patterns, and gene-specific selection pressure differences. Distinct evolutionary dynamics were detected among protein-coding genes, ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, and the control region. Heterogeneity analyses and phylogenetic analyses showed that amino acid datasets perform better for basal branch of Orthocladiinae relationships, although the resolution within non-basal branches of Orthocladiinae remains limited. By substantially increasing both the number and taxonomic breadth of mitochondrial genomes in Chironomidae, this study delivers a vital foundation for future multi-marker phylogenetic reconstruction, taxonomic revision, and rapid species identification, with direct applications to biodiversity conservation and freshwater ecosystem monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 11159 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stage-Specific Impacts of Climate Change on Greater White-Fronted Geese Along the East Asian Flyway

by Chunxiao Wang, Shaoxia Xia, Xiubo Yu, Houlang Duan and Guang Qi

Biology 2025, 14(8), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14081050 - 14 Aug 2025

Viewed by 751

Abstract

Migratory flyways sustain waterbird populations by linking critical habitats across their annual cycle. However, stage-specific impacts of climate change on these habitats remain poorly understood. We integrated species distribution models with annual migration data from 30 Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) to assess changes in habitat suitability, distributional shifts, and suitability fluctuations across breeding, stopover, and wintering stages under mid-century (2040–2060) climate scenarios. Suitability fluctuations were quantified as the coefficient of variation (

C_{V}

) in habitat suitability between current and future projections. Projected habitat responses varied markedly across stages: breeding areas contracted by 29.9%, wintering areas expanded by 62.7%, and stopover sites showed minimal net change. Centroids of all habitats are projected to shift northward by mean distances of 125–492 km under future climate scenarios. Breeding habitats exhibited the greatest suitability fluctuations (

C_{V} = 3

0–45; ~50% area affected under SSP585), followed by stopover and wintering grounds (

C_{V}

≈ 11), with 35.8% and 23.3% of their areas falling within high-fluctuation zones. These findings highlight the urgent need to prioritize breeding habitats, implement stage-specific conservation strategies, and enhance international cooperation to ensure the protection of waterbirds along the East Asian Flyway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 4833 KB

Open AccessArticle

A High-Quality Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Comparative Analyses Provide Insights into the Adaptation of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

by Dan Zhang, Liangliang Li, Junchao Ma, Jianfeng Jin, Chunli Ding, Qiang Fang, Jianjun Jin, Zhulidezi Aishan and Xuebo Li

Biology 2025, 14(8), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14080913 - 22 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 648

Abstract

Chrysomya megacephala, as one of the common blowflies, displays biological characteristics, such as ovoviviparity and carrion-feeding adaptation. Thus, this species is generally considered of significant ecological, medical, and forensic importance. However, without a high-quality pseudo-chromosome genome for C. megacephala, elucidating its evolutionary trajectory proved difficult. Herein, we assembled and analyzed a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the C. megacephala, combined with PacBio HiFi long reads, Hi-C data, and Illumina reads. The pseudo-chromosomes assembly of C. megacephala spans 629.44 Mb, with 97.05% anchored to five chromosomes. Final assembly includes 1056 contigs (N50 = 1.68 Mb), and 97 scaffolds (N50 = 121.37 Mb), achieving 98.90% BUSCO completeness (n = 1367). Gene annotation predicted 17,071 protein-coding genes (95.60% BUSCO completeness), while repeat masking identified 244.26 Mb (38.82%) as repetitive elements. Additionally, 3740 non-coding RNAs were characterized. Gene family analyses resulted in 10,579 gene families, containing 151 gene families that experienced rapid evolution. Comparative genomic analyses showed that the expanded genes are related to reproduction and necrophagous habits. In addition, we annotated the gene family P450s, CCEs, IRs, GRs, and ORs, all of which represent remarkable expansion, playing a crucial role in the mechanism of locating the hosts for forensic insects. Our research establishes a high-quality genome sequence to facilitate subsequent molecular investigations into significant species within forensic entomology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Evolution, Genetics, and Conservation of Wildlife Respond to Environmental Changes

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI