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Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition)
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Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026 | Viewed by 2940

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ettore Randi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: animal population genomics; conservation genetics; phylogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This collection is the second edition of “Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity'”. The anthropogenic destruction of biodiversity has been ongoing for centuries or even millennia in many areas of the Old World, but it has never been more intense than it was in the past century. The development of increasingly energy-intensive human populations, the expansion of cultivated plants and domestic animals, the diffusion of alien and invasive species, and the impacts of technologies are accelerating the transformative processes of natural ecosystems at an unprecedented and uncontrollable rate. It is very important to make the theoretical and practical tools of conservation sciences available for the protection of the biosphere so that the biological evolution of populations can continue, generating new adaptations and contrasting extinctions.

Research on conservation biology is at the height of its activity, boosted by unprecedented possibilities of collecting and modelling big data in the ecology of ecosystems and populations, population genomics, and microevolution as well as co-adaptation processes between components of the biosphere and the technosphere. We can now manage international institutions and regulatory instruments, as well as potential financial resources, though they are often inadequate for the implementation of conservation projects in the "Real World" of biodiversity. Therefore, we invite anyone interested to contribute their papers to the realization of this Special Issue on 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity'.

Prof. Dr. Ettore Randi
Guest Editor

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 semimonthly 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

  • population genomics and diversity
  • heterozygosity
  • inbreeding
  • hybridization
  • adaptive introgression
  • natural selection
  • speciation
  • bottleneck and population fragmentation
  • genetic drift
  • gene flow
  • extinction risk
  • evolvability
  • paleogenomics
  • phylogeography
  • conservation units
  • ecotypes
  • phylogenetics and systematics
  • eDNA
  • non-invasive genetic sampling
  • environmental monitoring

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 1707 KB  
Article
Effects of Harvesting Disturbance on Soil Nematode Diversity and Soil Properties in Ophiocordyceps sinensis Excavation Areas of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
by Haoxu Tang, Bing Jia, Chuyu Tang, Yan Tong, Jinxuan Yan, Shengyun Wang, Jianzhao Qi, Yuling Li and Xiuzhang Li
Biology 2026, 15(4), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15040339 - 15 Feb 2026
Viewed by 559
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) is a valuable medicinal fungus distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent high-altitude regions. Wild excavation has raised increasing concerns about its impact on fragile alpine soil ecosystems. Soil nematodes are sensitive indicators of soil environmental change [...] Read more.
Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) is a valuable medicinal fungus distributed in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent high-altitude regions. Wild excavation has raised increasing concerns about its impact on fragile alpine soil ecosystems. Soil nematodes are sensitive indicators of soil environmental change and can effectively reflect disturbance-induced shifts in soil biotic communities. Understanding the effects of O. sinensis excavation on soil nematode diversity is essential for assessing soil biological health and supporting sustainable management of alpine ecosystems. However, most existing studies are limited to single regions, and few have simultaneously analyzed changes in soil properties, nematode diversity, and soil–nematode relationships across heterogeneous landscapes. The goal of this study was to reveal the impacts of O. sinensis excavation on soil physicochemical properties, nematode diversity and community composition, as well as soil–nematode relationships in typical producing areas, and to assess the ecological risks of current harvesting practices. We investigated five typical O. sinensis-producing regions in Qinghai Province (Henan, Hualong, Maqin, Yushu, Zaduo) and compared excavated and non-excavated sites to evaluate disturbance effects. The results showed strong regional heterogeneity in soil responses to excavation. Soil available potassium (AK) was significantly and consistently lower in all excavated sites (p < 0.01), whereas changes in other soil nutrients varied by region. Nematode α-diversity was generally stable, with a significant decrease in the Shannon index only in Henan (from 2.91 to 2.46). Soil nematode community composition was highly similar between treatments, with more than 70% of shared genera and species remaining largely unchanged and dominant taxa unchanged. Correlation analysis indicated that excavation reshaped soil–nematode relationships, and AK may act as a potential influencing factor associated with nematode diversity in disturbed sites. Overall, under current excavation intensity, the impacts of O. sinensis harvesting on total soil nematode diversity are relatively limited. However, the widespread reduction in AK and localized diversity decline suggest potential long-term ecological risks under intensive or prolonged disturbance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition))
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16 pages, 2179 KB  
Article
Distribution and Ecological Traits of Cotoneaster integerrimus in South Korea
by Gyeong-Yeon Lee, Deokki Kim, Seung-Eun Lee and Tae-Bok Ryu
Biology 2025, 14(12), 1737; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14121737 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 735
Abstract
Although the rare plant Cotoneaster integerrimus is distributed across Eurasia, ecological information on its isolated populations at the easternmost range limit in Korea has been entirely lacking. This study was conducted to (1) characterize the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Korean C. [...] Read more.
Although the rare plant Cotoneaster integerrimus is distributed across Eurasia, ecological information on its isolated populations at the easternmost range limit in Korea has been entirely lacking. This study was conducted to (1) characterize the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Korean C. integerrimus populations and (2) predict potential habitats via a simple species distribution model (SDM) based on ridge logistic regression and presence–background data, providing a foundation for effective conservation strategies. To this end, we analyzed habitat type, topography, and light conditions through field surveys and combined these data with an SDM fitted to six known occurrences on limestone ridges. Results revealed a clear ecological divergence; the Korean population is biased toward partial shade and north-facing slopes within the forest understory, in contrast to European populations inhabiting open, rocky sites. This distribution pattern is interpreted as a local adaptive strategy that reduces exposure to hot and humid summer conditions. Furthermore, a unique morphological trait not reported in European populations was identified: dense persistent hairs that remain until seed maturity. The SDM analysis showed moderate discrimination (training AUC = 0.784) and indicated that high elevation and ridge topography (Topographical Position Index, TPI) acted as key habitat factors, whereas annual mean temperature was the strongest limiting factor. Mapping the upper decile (top 10%) of predicted suitability within the limestone belt highlighted a small, spatially restricted set of high-elevation ridges as candidate microrefugia and survey priorities. This study suggests that the Korean C. integerrimus population may have undergone local adaptation due to isolation. Furthermore, this population is considered both a Geographical Peripheral Population (GPP) and a glacial relict, and is assessed to be vulnerable to climate change. Given that the SDM is based on only six occurrences and shows variable performance among spatial folds, all spatial predictions and variable effects should be regarded as exploratory and spatially conservative rather than as definitive habitat projections. These findings, therefore, support the urgent need to establish in situ and ex situ conservation strategies that preserve this geographically peripheral population as an irreplaceable component of the species’ genetic diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition))
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Review

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19 pages, 1554 KB  
Review
Conservation of Indigenous Pig Breeds in Vietnam: Genetic Characterization, Conservation Strategies, and Future Perspectives
by Thanh Van Nguyen, Nguyen Van Ba, Lan Doan Pham and Duy Ngoc Do
Biology 2026, 15(9), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15090730 - 5 May 2026
Viewed by 571
Abstract
Indigenous pig breeds in Vietnam represent an important genetic reservoir, offering traits adapted to local environments, cultural preferences, and disease resistance. However, rapid industrialization and the expansion of commercial breeds have endangered many indigenous populations. This review explores the trajectory of conservation efforts [...] Read more.
Indigenous pig breeds in Vietnam represent an important genetic reservoir, offering traits adapted to local environments, cultural preferences, and disease resistance. However, rapid industrialization and the expansion of commercial breeds have endangered many indigenous populations. This review explores the trajectory of conservation efforts for Vietnamese local pig breeds, from the early use of microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA to recent advances in SNP genotyping. Firstly, we summarize the key characteristics and values of 26 local breeds. Secondly, we highlight key findings on genetic diversity, population structure, and inbreeding levels across major breeds. In addition, we discuss challenges in the development of conservation breeding programs and national strategies, as well as challenges in data generation, infrastructure, and policy implementation and provide potential solutions for these challenges. This review provides the first integrated synthesis linking breed-level genetic evidence to practical conservation recommendations for indigenous pigs in Vietnam. By identifying the key breeds for conservation priority, such as Huong, Van Pa, Soc, ChuProng, Co Aluoi, and Lung Pu, as well as highlighting the exotic introgression in H’mong pig populations, this review might provide a resource for sustainable conservation and use of Vietnam’s rich pig genetic resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition))
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22 pages, 3379 KB  
Review
Life-History Traits of a Small Cosmopolitan Copepod (Oithona similis) in the Barents Sea: A Review
by Vladimir G. Dvoretsky and Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Biology 2026, 15(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15010027 - 23 Dec 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 542
Abstract
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology and ecology of the small cyclopoid copepod Oithona similis, a prevalent planktonic species in the Barents Sea, during the period of Arctic warming since the early 2000s. The region serves as an effective model [...] Read more.
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology and ecology of the small cyclopoid copepod Oithona similis, a prevalent planktonic species in the Barents Sea, during the period of Arctic warming since the early 2000s. The region serves as an effective model system for examining the influence of different water masses on Arctic zooplankton dynamics. The highest abundances and biomass of Oithona similis are observed in Murmansk Coastal Waters (MCW) and Arctic Waters (ArW). Although its contribution to total zooplankton biomass is generally lower than that of higher copepod taxa, it can account for up to 27–35% seasonally and regionally. Ovigerous females are most abundant in Novaya Zemlya Waters (NZW) and ArW. Egg production rates exhibit a decreasing trend from south to north across the sea. Morphometric analyses reveal an increase in prosome length for both sexes, while relative antenna size diminishes from the south (MCW) to the north (ArW). The highest mortality rates occur during summer, coinciding with peak abundances of Oithona similis, its predators, and parasites, as well as increased interspecific competition. Based on morphological and reproductive parameters, three distinct populations are delineated within the Barents Sea: southern (MCW), central (Atlantic Water/Barents Sea Water), and northern/eastern (ArW/NZW), with respective life cycle durations of 11–12, 9–10, and 11 months, and typically one to two generations per year. The primary environmental drivers influencing population abundance, biomass, size, and reproduction are temperature and salinity, while chlorophyll a concentration predominantly affects mortality rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in 'Conservation Biology and Biodiversity' (2nd Edition))
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