Search Results (7,303)

Understanding habitat use and connectivity in estuarine fishes is essential for effective conservation and management. In this study, otolith microchemistry was applied to investigate habitat use and connectivity of the estuarine catfish Genidens genidens across three estuaries in southeastern Brazil. A total of 58 individuals were analyzed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, focusing on strontium-to-calcium (Sr:Ca) and barium-to-calcium (Ba:Ca) ratios. Variations in elemental ratios along otolith transects were used to infer individual ontogenetic patterns along the estuarine–marine gradient. Most individuals exhibited combined use of estuarine and marine environments, while trajectories restricted to freshwater were rare. The apparent complexity of chemical profiles tended to increase with age; however, this pattern disappeared after correction for size-related bias, suggesting that age itself did not significantly influence habitat-use transitions. These patterns are consistent with ecological plasticity and partial migration within populations of G. genidens, although they may also reflect exposure to variable environmental conditions. Sr:Ca ratios were useful indicators of salinity-related transitions, whereas Ba:Ca ratios provided complementary information associated with continental influence. Overall, this study highlights the applicability of otolith microchemistry for investigating habitat-use patterns in estuarine fishes and reinforces the ecological importance of estuaries for feeding, growth, and recruitment in G. genidens, while acknowledging inherent limitations related to environmental variability and proxy interpretation. Full article

Understanding the sustainable management of the complex adaptive tourism systems requires an integrated research approach that combines environmental processes with stakeholder behaviors. Agent-based modelling (ABM) has emerged as a pivotal tool for decoding the resilience, adaptability, and sustainability of tourism systems. However, the current application landscape, methodological limitations, and future research directions of ABM remain insufficiently synthesized, thereby constraining its full potential in advancing sustainable tourism management. This study examines 137 publications on the application of ABM in tourism research between 1989 and 2025, aiming to clarify the application characteristics and evolutionary trajectories. The results show the following: (1) ABM applications in tourism have become increasingly comprehensive and refined, evolving from simplistic simulations based on simplex agents and static spatial representations toward integrated models incorporating heterogeneous agents, fine-grained spatial environments, and multiple contextual factors. (2) Behavioral modeling has progressed from basic human–space interactions to complex, co-evolutionary dynamics among human, social, and ecological systems. (3) ABM applications exhibit context specificity: climate-sensitive scenarios emphasize resource dynamics and adaptation strategies; disaster-prone contexts focus on multi-agent responses and emergency management; conservation-oriented systems support sustainable policy development; and management-centric scenarios prioritize technological innovation and macro-level regulation. Future research should prioritize refining agent interactions through dynamic social network integration, incorporating cross-scale and long-distance system linkages, and strengthening the connection between theoretical modeling and real-world applications. This study would provide a comprehensive knowledge base for advancing the innovative application of ABM in sustainable tourism research and contribute to strengthening resilience, adaptive governance, and long-term sustainability within complex tourism systems. Full article

Leaf senescence in perennial species constitutes a highly orchestrated developmental phase that differs fundamentally from the obligate monocarpic senescence of annual plants. While individual organs undergo programmed senescence, prerennial organisms maintain longevity across multiple growing seasons through a sophisticated interplay between endogenous programs and exogenous cues. This review provides a systematic synthesis of the regulatory mechanisms governing leaf senescence in herbaceous perennials (Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea) and woody perennials (Populus, Pinus, and Agave). We highlight a multi-layered regulatory landscape, encompassing divergent and conserved pathways in transcriptional orchestration, hormonal crosstalk, metabolic reprogramming, and telomere maintenance. Specific emphasis is placed on how these mechanisms allow for tissue-specific and seasonal adaptation, such as the integration of dormancy signals in woody taxa versus stress-plasticity in perennial grasses. By elucidating these complex frameworks, this review not only advances our fundamental understanding of plant life-span regulation but also provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular breeding of delayed senescence germplasm, offering transformative potential for enhancing agricultural productivity and ecological resilience. Full article

Coastal nurseries are critical for the early stages of many elasmobranchs, and understanding spatial ecology during these periods is essential for effective population management. Here, we investigated the environmental drivers shaping shark presence and spatial distribution in an open coastal nursery used by young-of-the-year Sphyrna lewini along the southern Pacific Coast of Mexico. Using acoustic telemetry data collected over three consecutive seasons, we combined Random Forest models with an interpretable machine learning framework, including permutation-based variable importance, accumulated local effects, and a Rashomon set approach. Shark presence was primarily driven by seasonal patterns and lunar illumination, whereas spatial distribution within the nursery area was structured by tide level, shark length, accumulated precipitation, and sea surface temperature. Tide level emerged as the most influential and stable predictor of spatial preference, while size-dependent responses revealed ontogenetic spatial segregation among zones. These results demonstrate that open-coast nurseries can operate through dynamic environmental processes rather than static habitat features, with river-influenced areas playing a key role for smaller individuals. By integrating telemetry data with interpretable machine learning methods, this study provides a mechanistic understanding of nursery habitat use and offers a transferable framework for assessing spatial ecology and conservation priorities in threatened coastal shark populations. Full article

Body temperature regulation in ectotherms is influenced by numerous environmental, morphological, and physiological factors, some of which operate in population-specific ways. Understanding how these factors shape thermal biology is important for species conservation. The nose-horned viper, an ecologically significant yet understudied mesopredator of southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, occupies diverse ecosystems facing ongoing degradation. Over five years, we investigated how 12 environmental, behavioral, morphological, and physiological variables influenced field body temperature across three climatically distinct populations of nose-horned vipers. Using an information-theoretic approach with model averaging, we identified important predictors and assessed population-specific effects. Air temperature at 5 cm above the snake’s position, humidity, and wind were highly important predictors across all populations, whereas physiological states (shedding and digestion) exerted weaker effects. Microhabitat type and time of day emerged as highly important population-specific predictors, while body size showed weaker, population-dependent effects. Neither sex, cloud cover, nor behavioral state contributed meaningfully to model fit. Mean body temperatures were similar across populations and sexes. By integrating environmental, behavioral, physiological, and morphological variables, this study comprehensively identifies predictors of body temperature in nose-horned vipers. Site-tailored maintenance of structurally diverse habitats is essential for preserving thermoregulatory opportunities and ensuring long-term persistence of nose-horned vipers. Full article

Urban sprawl constantly reconfigures the land use pattern, and such transformations may significantly modify regional carbon stocks. Utilizing Tai’an City as the study site, this research established a comprehensive integrated Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS), Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST), and Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) system to reconstruct carbon storage shifts from 2000 to 2020, project its reaction to four diverse development trajectories in 2030, and investigate the drivers underlying spatial disparities. The results indicate a persistent decline in carbon storage throughout the past two decades, with peak concentrations primarily gathered in mountain regions dominated by forest and grassland, whereas lesser amounts were grouped in urban and suburban areas defined by built-up land. Compared to 2020, the projected carbon stock in 2030 drops by 1,803,966 t under the natural growth trajectory and by 2,417,778 t under the high-quality economic growth pathway, whereas it rises by 47,326 t under cultivated land conservation and by 7679 t under ecological conservation. Elevation represents the most crucial driver among the selected variables in clarifying the spatial fluctuation of carbon storage (q = 0.3985), followed by slope (0.3323), mean annual temperature (0.2382), and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (0.1219). The synergy between elevation and NDVI produces the highest integrated explanatory power (q = 0.4906). These outcomes imply that constraining construction land growth while protecting agricultural and ecological land is vital for preserving and enhancing regional carbon sink potential. Full article

Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have diverse applications in natural environments, yet their deployment can inadvertently disturb wildlife. This PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesised 39 studies (2015–2025) encompassing birds, mammals, and marine taxa to identify UAS operational drivers of disturbance. We applied a Factors–Responses–Consequences (F–R–C) framework linking UAS operational characteristics, observed wildlife responses, and ecological consequences. Three patterns emerged: (i) Factors: Contextual and operational conditions such as flight altitude, noise, and approach direction interact with species-specific sensitivities to shape disturbance potential. (ii) Responses: Physiological measures (e.g., elevated heart rates) often reveal hidden stress not evident from behaviour alone. (iii) Consequences: Short-term effects may accumulate into long-term impacts on health, reproduction, and habitat use. These findings highlight the need for species- and context-specific flight envelopes rather than solely uniform altitude limits. By structuring existing evidence within the F–R–C framework, this synthesis provides a transferable foundation for UAS mission planning, drone development, operational decision-making, ethical practice, and environmental impact assessment in conservation and wildlife-management contexts. As all screening and data extraction were conducted by a single reviewer, the findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution pending independent validation. Full article

The Somyne lake-mire system is a unique wetland landscape complex in the Polissia region of Ukraine and forms part of the Rivne Nature Reserve. Its ecological importance is internationally recognised through its designation as the Ramsar wetland “Somyne Peatland Massif”. Effective conservation of this wetland requires an understanding of the factors controlling the functioning of the lake and its drainage basin, considered in this study as a lake-basin system (LBS). The aim of this study is to assess the geoecological condition of the Somyne LBS using the principles of landscape limnology and the basin approach. The research integrates morphological, morphometric, hydrological, landscape-metric, hydrochemical and geochemical analyses. These are complemented by bathymetric modelling, landscape mapping, and analysis of long-term meteorological observations. The results identify key natural and anthropogenic drivers shaping the functioning of the system, characterise the hydrochemical state of lake waters and the geochemical properties of bottom sediments, and describe the spatial distribution of bottom sediments and the bathymetric structure of the lake basin. A multivariate algorithm for the geoecological assessment of lake-basin systems is proposed, providing a framework for comparative analysis of small lakes in the Polissian lake region under climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure. Full article

Coastal cities are located at the critical interface of land–sea interaction, and scientifically assessing their ecological importance is essential for identifying conservation priority areas. Existing assessments focus primarily on static function while neglecting dynamic system processes and resilience characteristics. To address this limitation, this study developed an innovative “State-Interaction-Resilience” (SIR) assessment framework. It integrates ecosystem services (state), ecological connectivity and network supply-demand relationships (interaction), and social-ecological system adaptive capacity (resilience) and incorporates differentiated weighting based on the unique “sea–land gradient” pattern of coastal zones. Using Dongying City in the Yellow River Delta as a case study, the results show the following: (1) The SIR framework evaluation results demonstrate balanced and significant positive correlations with all dimensional indicators (r = 0.3~0.8), showing greater comprehensiveness and scientific validity than traditional evaluation methods, with 81% spatial agreement between identified extremely important areas and existing protected areas. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the overall ecological importance of Dongying City showed an upward trend, with the proportion of extremely important areas significantly increasing from 6.03% to 10.24%, while maintaining a stable spatial gradient pattern of “high along the coast, low inland”. (3) The improvement in ecological importance in coastal core areas mainly resulted from state improvement and resilience enhancement driven by restoration projects such as “aquaculture retreat and wetland restoration”, while inland areas were constrained by both habitat fragmentation and ecological supply-demand mismatch. This study confirms that the SIR framework can accurately capture the spatial heterogeneity of coastal zones. The proposed “core protection-corridor restoration-function enhancement” hierarchical and zonal spatial governance strategy provides scientific evidence and actionable spatial guidance for coastal territorial spatial planning, ecological protection redline optimization, and targeted ecological restoration. Full article

This study provides a comparative analysis of phenotypic variability in the morphological traits of tench (Tinca tinca L.) reared under aquaculture conditions and those from a natural population in southern Kazakhstan. The aim of the study was to evaluate phenotypic plasticity and adaptive differentiation between populations shaped by contrasting ecological and trophic environments. Morphometric analysis revealed significant differences in indices associated with growth patterns and body shape. The aquaculture group demonstrated faster somatic growth and lower variability, whereas the wild population exhibited greater morphological diversity, likely reflecting the effects of natural selection and habitat heterogeneity. The results indicate pronounced phenotypic divergence between pond-reared and wild tench, which is likely driven by environmental conditions and aquaculture practices. These findings highlight the high adaptive plasticity of the species and support its potential for domestication and large-scale aquaculture in Kazakhstan. Overall, the data may contribute to the development of conservation and restocking programs for natural populations, as well as to selective breeding strategies and sustainable aquaculture practices. Full article

The northeastern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is an ecologically fragile region that faces severe habitat fragmentation, which directly threatens regional biodiversity conservation and ecological security. To address this challenge, this study constructed a hierarchical “source-corridor-node” ecological network for the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture by integrating Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, landscape connectivity assessment, and gravity modeling. The key results are as follows: (1) The Gannan Yellow River Water Source Replenishment Area contains 11 core ecological source regions, which are predominantly located in the southeastern regions of Diebu County and Zhouqu County, covering a total area of 4237.81 km²; (2) Ecological resistance analysis identifies high-resistance zones concentrated in anthropogenically active river valleys and urban belts (e.g., Hezuo urban area, Awanzang Town, and the G213 corridor). Low-resistance zones are predominantly situated in protected ecological enclaves (e.g., Zhagana Geopark and Gahai Wetland Reserve); (3) A total of 55 ecological corridors were identified, with a total length of 4355.77 km. Among these, 26 were classified as key ecological corridors, primarily distributed in Diebu and Zhouqu counties in the eastern part of Gannan Prefecture. These areas feature relatively concentrated ecological sources, and the key corridors play a critical role in connecting isolated ecological patches and maintaining regional ecological connectivity. (4) Across the entire territory of Gannan Prefecture, a total of 81 first-level ecological nodes and 53 second-level ecological nodes were delineated. As the core hub of the regional ecological network in Gannan Prefecture, Diebu County encompasses 60 First-level and 41 Second-level ecological nodes, respectively. The hierarchical “source-corridor-node” ecological network constructed in this study effectively enhances the overall landscape connectivity of the area. This progressive analytical framework—integrating source identification, corridor extraction, and node diagnosis—provides a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation, territorial ecological restoration, and sustainable development in high-altitude ecologically fragile zones. Full article

Soil erosion remains a critical ecological challenge on China’s Loess Plateau (LP), where fragile geomorphology and intensive human activities jointly amplify land degradation risks. As land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) is a primary determinant of erosion processes, clarifying the nexus between land patterns and erosion intensity is essential for formulating effective conservation strategies. This study integrates the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) with the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil erosion from 2000 to 2020 and project future patterns for 2060 under five scenarios: Natural Development (ND), Ecological Protection (EP), Economic Development (ED), Cropland Protection (CP), and Planning Guidance (PG). Results indicate a fluctuating decline in LP soil erosion during 2000–2020, marked by a transition toward predominantly slight erosion (~70% of the total area), while high-intensity erosion remained concentrated in central and western cropland and grassland. Scenario projections reveal pronounced divergence in erosion outcomes. The EP scenario, characterized by sustained vegetation expansion, demonstrated the highest efficacy in erosion mitigation. Conversely, the ED scenario exhibited the most severe erosion risk due to urban expansion into ecological areas. The PG scenario effectively reconciled the trade-offs between ecological conservation and socioeconomic demands, maintaining a balanced erosion control performance. In the context of global climate change, the complexity of soil and water conservation governance is expected to intensify. This study suggests that future efforts should focus on scientifically guiding the evolution of land-use patterns through sustainable spatial planning. Furthermore, targeted engineering and biological conservation measures must bae implemented for high-risk land categories to ensure the long-term stability of the regional ecological security barrier. Full article

The rice–wheat rotation is a predominant cropping pattern in China, frequently challenged by pests such as aphids in wheat, and Chilo suppressalis and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis in rice. This study investigates the potential of two common landscape plants, Photinia × fraseri and Pittosporum tobira, as functional plants for conserving natural enemies across crop cycles. Arthropod communities were systematically monitored using Malaise traps during the wheat, wheat–rice transition, and rice seasons from 2023 to 2024. Results revealed that both species successfully conserved a diverse natural enemy community, though their structural differentiation was strongly driven by seasonal variation, as confirmed by Heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) (P. × fraseri: PC1 = 46.3%, PC2 = 23%; P. tobira: PC1 = 40.2%, PC2 = 25%). During the wheat season, both plants synergistically supported rich functional guilds, including predatory guilds (e.g., Episyrphus balteatus, Gnathonarium dentatum, and Harmonia axyridis) and parasitic guilds (e.g., Microplitis tuberculifer and Cotesia spp.). Notably, during the critical wheat-to-rice transition, these shrubs functioned as “habitat anchors,” where P. × fraseri demonstrated superior retention capacity for functional groups like Aphidius gifuensis, mitigating post-harvest habitat fragmentation. During the rice season, distinct functional complementarity emerged: P. × fraseri appeared to function as a habitat-type plant, potentially providing stable shelter for predatory groups (e.g., spiders and lady beetles), while P. tobira appeared to act as a resource-type plant, potentially attracting a significant rebound of parasitoids (e.g., Xanthopimpla flavolineata) in August. This mid-summer rebound on P. tobira was primarily attributed to its dense evergreen foliage providing a microclimatic refuge, rather than an active flowering resource. Analysis of shared dominant taxa (H. axyridis, Cotesia spp., and E. balteatus) showed highly significant seasonal fluctuations, with peak conservation during the wheat season. This study confirms that P. × fraseri and P. tobira have cross-cycle potential as a “natural enemy bank” in rice–wheat rotation agricultural systems. Their synergistic effects—integrating stable structural shelter with seasonal nutritional subsidies—support the conservation of diverse natural enemy communities throughout the annual crop cycle and significantly enhance the sustained pest control capacity of farmland ecosystems, identifying them as exemplary functional plants for ecological engineering in rice–wheat landscapes and providing a foundation for future studies on biological control efficacy. Full article

C3H-type zinc finger proteins play essential roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses, as well as in the regulation of growth, development, and signal transduction. Birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.), an ecologically adaptable tree species widely distributed in northern regions, has not yet been systematically characterized for its C3H gene family. In this study, a total of 15 BpC3Hs were identified from a genome-wide analysis of birch. Their physiochemical properties, gene structures, conserved motifs and domains were systematically analyzed. Promoter analysis identified cis-acting elements associated with stress responses, hormone signaling, and developmental regulation. Transcriptome data further showed that most BpC3Hs were responsive to salt, drought, high/low-temperature stresses, and light/dark treatment, and showed differential expression patterns in tension wood and opposite wood. Additionally, they displayed stage-specific expression patterns during male inflorescence development. This study lays a foundation for future functional characterization of the C3H gene family in birch and its application in molecular breeding for stress resistance. Full article

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) exhibits pronounced morphological variation across its range, historically attributed to allopatric differentiation during the Wisconsin glaciation. However, whether genetic divergence aligns with morphological differentiation—a fundamental prediction of allopatric speciation theory—remains untested. We conducted a comprehensive phylogeographic analysis of chloroplast DNA (trnL intron and trnL/trnF spacer) and mitochondrial DNA (nad1 b/c intron) across 31 populations representing all four recognized subspecies to test hypotheses of refugial isolation and to evaluate the genetic basis of current taxonomic classification. Contrary to predictions of allopatric divergence, both organellar genomes showed striking genetic uniformity (π = 0.000178–0.000186; intersubspecific genetic distances: 1.06 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.96 × 10⁻⁴) with no phylogenetic structure corresponding to morphological boundaries. Significant negative neutrality test values (Tajima’s D = −2.26, p < 0.02; Fu and Li’s D* = −4.52, p < 0.02) suggest recent demographic expansion rather than equilibrium divergence. A distinctive 5 bp indel in coastal populations provides molecular evidence for a northern Pacific refugium, and its occurrence in interior populations is consistent with post-glacial pollen-mediated gene flow, though this directionality remains inferential pending nuclear genomic confirmation. These findings suggest that morphological divergence reflects rapid adaptive evolution in heterogeneous environments rather than deep phylogenetic divisions. This pattern exemplifies gene flow-selection balance, in which divergent selection maintains local adaptation despite extensive gene flow—supporting an ecotypic rather than a phylogenetic interpretation of intraspecific diversity. The persistence of morphological variation despite genetic homogeneity indicates strong selection on ecologically important traits, likely driven by variation in fire regimes, differential seed predation, and climate gradients. These results have critical implications for understanding adaptive evolution rates in widespread conifers and for developing conservation strategies that emphasize adaptive processes over taxonomic categories. Full article