Search Results (141)

eDNA metabarcoding provides distinct benefits—including non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, and high detection sensitivity—that make it particularly appropriate for aquatic ecosystem conservation and fisheries management. An environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding survey was performed in the Cuijiang River to assess the feasibility of this technique for fish diversity monitoring. Fish diversity was evaluated through water collection, eDNA extraction and purification, and subsequent bioinformatics analysis. Our results revealed that the surveyed river section harbours at least 36 fish species, belonging to 30 genera, 13 families, and 6 orders. The fish community was numerically dominated by Cypriniformes. Notably, invasive alien species represented a relatively high proportion (24.72%) of the total operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Alpha diversity indices showed spatial heterogeneity among the monitoring sites, which is likely influenced by anthropogenic activities, land-use patterns, and hydrological connectivity in the sampling areas. Overall, eDNA metabarcoding proves to be an effective approach for fish diversity assessment and can serve as a valuable supplementary tool to conventional methods, with particular utility for the early detection of elusive and invasive species. We therefore recommend its incorporation into ongoing and future aquatic monitoring and conservation frameworks to strengthen early detection, habitat management, and biodiversity protection, thereby offering essential baseline data for future conservation and management of local fish diversity. Full article

Invasive alien species (IAS) are an important but insufficiently integrated risk in sustainable infrastructure development, particularly in projects involving earthworks, soil movement, habitat disturbance and prolonged construction. Their spread may cause biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, higher maintenance costs, project delays and long-term deterioration of land-use sustainability. This study identifies critical stages of infrastructure project implementation associated with elevated IAS risk and proposes management measures supporting prevention, early detection, rapid response and post-intervention monitoring. The research used a comparative multiple-case study of three large infrastructure projects in Poland implemented under FIDIC conditions: flood embankment reconstruction, railway line modernisation and express road construction. A Before–After approach combined analysis of pre-construction environmental documentation, baseline ecological inventories, field verification after IAS detection, control measures and monitoring outcomes. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica Houtt.) was analysed as a model species because of its high regeneration potential and relevance to soil management. The analysed cases indicate that elevated IAS risk may occur during site preparation, earthworks, topsoil stripping and storage, soil reuse, finishing, landscaping and utility relocation. The study proposes a practical IAS risk classification framework to support risk identification, preventive action and monitoring intensity with the potential to support sustainability performance and reduce ecological and economic impacts. Full article

As a core component of terrestrial ecosystems, forests play an irreplaceable ecological role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and global climate regulation. Home to key global forest belts including the Congo Basin, the African continent’s forest changes directly shape regional ecological balance and sustainable development while profoundly affecting global ecological security and climate dynamics. Based on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), a unified narrative framework for global socioeconomic and environmental change scenarios, this study couples techniques such as the Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model, dynamic degree analysis, transition matrix, K-means clustering analysis, and patch fragmentation analysis. This work aims to answer two key questions: (1) What are the spatiotemporal characteristics and dominant drivers of African woodland changes under different SSPs? (2) How do spatial clustering and fragmentation patterns vary across scenarios? It systematically predicts and analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics, driving mechanisms, and fragmentation change patterns of African woodlands in 2030, 2050, and 2070 under five scenarios (SSP1-SSP5) with 2020 as the baseline. These five official IPCC SSP frameworks represent five distinctly divergent socioeconomic development trajectories ranging from sustainable to fossil-fuel-driven development, which are the core differentiated scenarios recommended by IPCC; full inclusion facilitates systematic comparison of varied forest feedback features across Africa’s diversified national development backgrounds. The research results show that understory forests in the SSP5 (Fossil Fuel-dominated Development) scenario exhibit a stable growth trend, with the total area transferred in significantly exceeding the area transferred out from 2020 to 2070, resulting in a net increase of 143,513 km². This growth occurs because high-income economies under this scenario invest heavily in ecological restoration and forest protection, offsetting carbon-intensive development impacts. The core forest density continues to increase and is distributed in contiguous areas; the SSP4 (uneven development) scenario regarding forest degradation is the most severe, with the dynamic rate expected to drop to −0.05% between 2050 and 2070, and a net transfer of −265,581 km². Forest fragmentation is highest, and the core density area is gradually shrinking. Cluster analysis shows that forest area remains relatively stable in most African countries, with stable countries accounting for as much as 95.49% under scenario SSP5. Regions with woodland expansion are mainly distributed in North Africa and localized parts of Southern Africa. After refinement using independent tree-density evidence, woodland expansion in South Africa is shown to be more limited and spatially heterogeneous; these newly expanded woodlands are mostly artificial plantations and alien invasive tree stands rather than native natural woodlands, mainly occurring in eastern and southeastern areas rather than in arid western regions. The spatiotemporal transfer process exhibits significant periodic differentiation, with 2030–2050 being a critical transitional period for forest change, and the differentiation effect between scenarios intensifying. Fragmentation analysis indicates that scenario SSP3 (regional rivalry, with moderate population growth and weak policy constraints) has the best forest integration and the lowest degree of fragmentation, while scenario SSP4 is most strongly affected by human activities and has the highest risk of patch fragmentation. These findings can provide a scientific basis for African countries to formulate differentiated forest protection policies and optimize ecological restoration plans, while also offering theoretical insights for continental-scale forest ecological management. Full article

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. Full article

In resource-poor sandy habitats, alien plant co-invasion often triggers intense belowground competition mediated by rhizosphere microorganisms. However, the mechanisms by which these plants overcome nutrient limitations remain unclear. Here, we conducted an eight-month in situ monitoring of single- and co-invasion plots of Solanum rostratum and Cenchrus pauciflorus Benth. in the Horqin Sandy Land. By integrating soil enzyme assays with 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicon sequencing, we characterized their rhizosphere microbial community assembly. Co-invasion exposed both species to convergent biotic stress, characterized by the significant enrichment of the pathogenic fungi Didymella and Pseudogymnoascus (linear discriminant analysis (LDA) > 4.0). To mitigate these pressures, the dominant competitor, S. rostratum, specifically recruited a cross-kingdom phosphate-solubilizing consortium comprising Bacillus and Penicillium (LDA > 4.0). This targeted recruitment significantly enhanced rhizosphere activities, increasing phosphatase and sucrase to 86.10 U/g and 2.17 U/g, respectively, thereby maintaining available phosphorus at a high level (35.55 mg/kg). Conversely, the subordinate competitor, C. pauciflorus, lost key native stress-resistant bacteria such as Rubrobacter (relative abundance dropping from 5.39% to 3.27%) and failed to recruit effective microbes, leading to the rapid depletion of available phosphorus (dropping to 21.38 mg/kg). Ultimately, under dual nutrient and pathogenic stress, the precise recruitment and functional integration of cross-kingdom phosphate-solubilizing microbes are strongly linked to the divergent belowground competitive outcomes between these co-invading plants. Full article

Biological invasions are a primary driver of biodiversity loss, with significant socio-economic repercussions. Therefore, understanding the factors influencing the assembly of invasive insect assemblages in Biodiversity Conservation Priority Areas is essential for formulating effective management strategies. This study examined the invasive alien insect fauna across three such regions in Guangxi, China, from April to November 2022, employing a systematic grid-based sampling design that encompassed 84 grids. A total of nineteen invasive alien insects from seven orders were identified, with Coleoptera (26.3%), Hymenoptera (21.1%), and Diptera (15.8%) being the most prevalent. Bactrocera cucurbitae Bezzi, 1913 (57.1% occurrence frequency) and Blattella germanica Linnaeus, 1767 (53.6%) were the most frequently observed species. Species richness exhibited significant variation among the three areas, peaking in the Western Guangxi and Southern Guizhou Limestone Area. The assemblages’ composition displayed high beta diversity, as indicated by a total Sørensen dissimilarity of 0.645, primarily driven by species turnover (0.474) rather than nestedness (0.171), which suggests the presence of distinct species assemblages across the areas. Generalized linear mixed models and Canonical Correspondence Analysis identified precipitation and temperature as the primary factors influencing species richness and assemblages’ composition, respectively. Hierarchical partitioning indicated that climatic variables, specifically precipitation (48.0%) and temperature (32.0%), collectively accounted for the majority of the variation in species richness, significantly surpassing the impact of local land cover (20.0%). In contrast, contemporary anthropogenic land use factors exhibited no significant effect. Our findings illustrate that while human activities serve as the ultimate drivers of species introductions, the subsequent assembly of invasive insect assemblages within these Biodiversity Conservation Priority Areas are predominantly shaped by climatic conditions. This highlights the essential role of climate suitability in determining the success of post-introduction establishment. Therefore, we recommend the incorporation of high-resolution climate-matching models into biosecurity screening and monitoring frameworks for Biodiversity Conservation Priority Areas, with targeted surveillance efforts directed toward regions exhibiting the highest climatic suitability. Full article

The anthropogenic transformation of the steppe zone in the southern East European Plain has led to the destruction and catastrophic fragmentation of natural ecosystems. Due to the presence of highly fertile lands and the deposits of the Donetsk coal basin, up to 90% of the territory is occupied by agricultural and industrial activities, urban agglomerations, other settlements, and extensive transportation networks. The predominant use of introduced species in artificial plantings (within the city limits, the ratio of species to quantity is 7:3) leads to the widespread spread of alien species, further isolation of natural habitats, and their subsequent degradation. The problem of preserving natural ecosystems and restoring a stable balance in their functioning can be solved through the widespread introduction of native species into all types of plantings capable of serving as ecological corridors. In this regard, we analyzed the key characteristics of native tree and shrub species that determine their functional value. The results indicate that of the 85 native plant species, only two cannot be used because they carry pests and diseases dangerous to agricultural crops. The remaining 83 species are suitable for various planting types, based on a set of individual characteristics, and 29 of these are universal for all planting types. Outside urban ecosystems, these 83 native species can completely replace introduced species. Within urban ecosystems, the need for their combination remains. Despite a number of advantages identified in native species in conditions of anthropogenic pollution (relatively high viability, long lifespan, good resistance to mechanical stress), native species lack a number of categories of traits necessary for the more effective functioning of urban green infrastructure. Among them, there is an insufficient number of tall species (>25 m) and conifers, which are more effective in purifying and improving the health of the atmosphere, as well as beautifully flowering and generally highly decorative species necessary for recreational areas and other territories that, among other things, perform esthetic functions. Full article

Invasive alien species such as Lantana camara L. impact native species and soil properties, but context-specific effects in transfrontier conservation areas remain poorly understood. Understanding these effects is essential for biodiversity conservation and management. We assessed associations between L. camara presence and native woody species composition and structure, as well as soil nutrients, in protected and communal areas within the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), Zimbabwe. The study hypothesised that invasion effects on vegetation are stronger in communal areas due to higher disturbance, and that soil changes are influenced by land-use intensity. We used stratified random sampling to select 60 plots across invaded and uninvaded sites. Woody vegetation was assessed for species composition and richness, stem density, canopy cover %, height, and diameter at breast height. Soil samples were analysed for nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, and pH. The presence of L. camara was negatively associated with native species richness, density, height, and canopy cover %, with stronger effects in communal plots. Invaded plots had lower pH (e.g., 6.1 in Park areas) and higher levels of some soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus and organic carbon, though patterns varied by land-use type. These results suggest that anthropogenic disturbance amplifies invasion impacts. We conclude that L. camara reduces native vegetation diversity and structure in this species-rich transfrontier area. Management should prioritise control at communal edges to support woody species resilience, ecosystem services, and biodiversity, with strategies adapted to local land-use conditions. Full article

Alternanthera philoxeroides is a highly invasive alien species in China that causes waterway blockages, agricultural yield loss, biodiversity decline, and ecosystem degradation. This study assessed the invasion risk and environmental drivers of A. philoxeroides in Guizhou Province, a karst mountainous region in Southwest China. Occurrence records were obtained from field surveys and the Chinese Virtual Herbarium. The genetic algorithm for rule-set production (GARP) model and the jackknife method were employed to identify 13 key environmental indicators for predicting invasion risk. The global invasion risk index (GIRI) was applied to quantify the overall invasion risk. Additionally, the Geodetector model was utilized to analyze the spatially differentiated effects of six environmental factors. The results showed that A. philoxeroides poses a high invasion risk in Guizhou Province, and the invasion risk in the Yangtze River Basin within Guizhou is higher than that in the Pearl River Basin. The environmental factors influencing invasion risk, in order of impact, were slope, elevation, land use, river density, rocky desertification, and soil pH. Moreover, interactions among these factors further amplify the invasion risk. These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted management strategies for A. philoxeroides in karst mountainous regions and support biodiversity preservation and regional ecological sustainability. Full article

Global high-mountain ecosystems are increasingly subjected to intensified anthropogenic disturbances, which facilitate the spread of invasive alien plants and threaten agricultural sustainability and ecological security. Using Laojun Mountain in Yunnan as the study area, this research investigates the relationship between the distribution patterns of invasive plants and land-use changes, based on data from 38 transect surveys conducted in 2023 and 30-m-resolution land-use data spanning 2003–2023. The analysis incorporates a random forest model and a land-use transition matrix. The key findings are as follows: (1) Variable importance analysis revealed elevation as the most critical factor influencing invasion occurrence (mean decrease in Gini index: 8.0), followed by slope, aspect, and land-use type. (2) Cultivated land exhibited the highest probability of invasion, with high-risk areas (>0.8) concentrated in agricultural zones in the central-southern and northeastern regions. (3) From 2003 to 2023, cultivated land increased by a net area of 20.85 km², primarily due to conversion from forests (19.57 km²) and grasslands, while grassland area decreased by 24.70 km². This study concludes that agricultural expansion has intensified habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances, creating favorable conditions for invasive plant establishment. It is recommended that invasive species monitoring and ecological restoration efforts be strengthened in agroforestry transition zones to enhance landscape resilience against biological invasions. Full article

Biological invasions are among the most pervasive threats to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being. Despite international policy efforts, the number of introductions continues to rise worldwide. Mountains, once considered resistant to biological invasions due to harsh climates and isolation, are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Human activities—tourism, infrastructure development, and land-use change—combined with climate warming, are creating new pathways and suitable conditions for non-native plants to spread upslope. Global evidence shows a rapid increase in alien species richness in mountain ecosystems, with some taxa shifting elevation by hundreds of meters. The problem of biological invasions becomes critical when considering that mountains harbor nearly a quarter of the planet’s total biodiversity. This issue is even more concerning in biodiversity hotspots such as the Mediterranean Basin, where mountains present an exceptionally high rate of endemism and have served as glacial refugia. The Pyrenees exemplify this dynamic: historically shaped by millennia of human activity, they now face growing pressures from tourism and climate change. Recent cataloging efforts reveal 771 alien taxa, surpassing figures for larger ranges like the Alps. These findings challenge long-held assumptions about mountain resilience and underscore the urgent need for coordinated monitoring, early detection, and management strategies—including citizen science initiatives—to mitigate ecological impacts and protect mountain biodiversity under accelerating global change. Full article

The degradation of wetlands and forests is still a threat to the supply and recovery of ecosystem services in the tropics. Studies comparing restoration measures and ecosystem service recoveries are fragmented. This study investigated the spatial extent and drivers of wetland/forest degradation, and assessed the effects of restoration measures on the recovery of ecosystem services and resilient livelihoods. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted targeting households adjacent to restored and unrestored wetland/forest ecosystems. The data was analyzed using a Binary Logistic regression to characterize earlier and recovered ecosystem services between forest and wetland ecosystems. High spatial-resolution optical satellite imagery from the Airbus constellation was obtained and analyzed to examine wetland and forest degradation. Our findings revealed that the spatial extent of degraded land under wetlands and forests decreased between 2023 and 2025. Ecosystem service degradation was primarily driven by chronic poverty, excessive water abstraction, population growth, burning practices, overharvesting of resources, overgrazing, cultivation, infrastructure development, and the invasion of alien species (p < 0.05). The counteractive ecosystem restoration activities undertaken included mobilization and sensitization of communities on wetland restoration, wetland demarcation, revegetation, establishment of flood control measures, and provision of alternative livelihoods (p ≤ 0.05). The multiple direct and indirect ecosystem service recoveries reported were provisioning services (increases in pasture, enhanced livestock production, increased soil productivity, health-related benefits from crops and livestock products) and regulating services (improved water quality/quantity). The ecosystem service recoveries were more significant in the restored wetlands than the forests. The indicators of enhanced ecosystem-based resilient livelihoods included increased household incomes, higher livestock yields, increased crop productivity, improved health from crop/livestock products, improved water quality/quantity, and enhanced scenic beauty and tourism (p < 0.05). The restoration activities in degraded wetland systems had more potential to facilitate full recovery of the wetland ecosystem compared to the absence of interventions. This evidence highlights the need to restore high-ecological-sensitive ecosystems to sustain the delivery of ecosystem services for community and environmental resilience. Full article

The genus Agave L. is a key component of Mediterranean alien flora, yet its inland distribution in the Iberian Peninsula remains poorly understood. This research integrates exhaustive field surveys with Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to characterize the genus diversity and, specifically, the spatial patterns and environmental niche of Agave americana in the southern Iberian Peninsula (Andalusia). Our results reveal a diversity of 23 taxa, yet crucially, the widespread occurrence of A. americana demonstrated that its actual inland distribution is significantly more extensive than previously recorded. Spatial Point Pattern Analysis (SPPA) revealed a strong aggregated distribution pattern (Clark & Evans R = 0.277; p < 0.001). The MaxEnt Spatial Distribution Model demonstrated robust predictive performance (Mean AUC = 0.770 ± 0.007; Mean TSS = 0.420 ± 0.009). The distribution was primarily driven by elevation range (26.9%) and land use (23.1%), with maximum suitability peaking in anthropized, low-to-intermediate elevation areas. Projections to the broader Andalusian region confirmed high suitability in the Guadalquivir valley and coastal zones, validated by low spatial uncertainty (SD < 0.05 in optimal areas). These findings provide new insights into the biogeography of Agave in the region, emphasizing the significance of anthropogenic drivers within a cultural landscape context. Full article

Invasive alien plant species pose significant threats to biodiversity and the ecological functioning of ecosystems, necessitating targeted clearing strategies. This study investigated the short-term recovery of native vegetation following the control of Lantana camara and Chromolaena odorata in communal lands of Manzini, Eswatini. Nineteen sites were sampled across cleared and uncleared areas to assess changes in species diversity and veld condition. Cleared sites showed slightly reduced heterogeneity (D′ = 0.722) and higher diversity (H′ = 2.081) compared to uncleared sites (D′ = 0.732) and diversity (H′ = 2.032). Sites free from invasive alien plants had higher species richness (EXP (H′) = 35.693) than invaded sites (EXP (H′) = 28.237). Although statistical analyses showed no significant differences in stem counts between cleared and uncleared sites, effect sizes indicated potential practical significance for C. odorata. The Veld Condition Index (VCI) revealed high spatial variability with no consistent trend associated with clearing. Findings emphasise the complexity of early post-clearing dynamics and the importance of site-specific follow-up and monitoring. Full article

This study analyzed the relationships between land-cover types and the distribution of alien and invasive plant species using data from the 5th National Ecosystem Survey of Korea (2019–2023). A total of 711,557 plant occurrence records were collected across 780 map sheets, resulting in the identification of 3842 vascular plant species, including both alien and invasive taxa. To evaluate spatial patterns and environmental drivers, multiple linear regression and spatial regression models—specifically the Spatial Lag Model (SLM) and Spatial Error Model (SEM)—were applied. The results revealed that alien and invasive species exhibited non-random, spatially clustered distributions influenced by habitat type and disturbance intensity. Alien species were more abundant in agricultural areas and wetlands, whereas forests and grasslands acted as resistant ecosystems. In contrast, invasive species were concentrated in bare lands and urbanized drylands, highlighting the importance of habitat openness and human disturbance in facilitating invasion. Spatial autocorrelation analyses (Moran’s I = 0.0777 for alien species; 0.1933 for invasive species) and the strong spatial dependence in the Spatial Error Model (λ = 0.7405 and 0.6428) confirmed that invasion patterns are shaped by spatial connectivity and environmental continuity. These findings demonstrate that invasion processes in Korea are driven by both anthropogenic disturbance and spatial dependency. Effective management therefore requires habitat-specific, spatially coordinated strategies, emphasizing early detection and rapid control in high-risk areas while reinforcing the ecological buffering capacity of forests to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Full article