Search Results (462)

In terrestrial mammalian carnivore guilds, interspecific competitions (interferences and resource competitions) among sympatric species induce their ecological and behavioral patterns and population dynamics, thereby shaping community structures. Competitive species must partition their ecological niches for sympatry, while the extent of niche overlaps is mediated by either the ecological traits (e.g., body size differences) or environmental features. We aimed to elucidate the patterns of spatial and temporal niche overlaps in mesocarnivore guilds, which are mediated by their ecological traits, regional environments, and anthropogenic disturbances. We investigated the spatial occurrence and diel activities of six mesocarnivore species and estimated their spatial and temporal overlap indices in various landscapes with different anthropogenic disturbances in central Bulgaria. Statistical modeling demonstrated that spatial overlap among mesocarnivores declined when mesocarnivore pairs were within the same family and when large carnivores (particularly wolves, Canis lupus) were present. Furthermore, we found that the extent of their temporal overlaps was associated with taxonomic and body size differences in mesocarnivore pairs as well as their trophic competitions. Our findings indicated that the intensity of interferences among mesocarnivore species was key for the decline of spatial or temporal niche overlap to relax antagonistic interactions. Full article

The Kunlun, Arjin, and Qilian mountain ranges mark the northern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), where rapid uplift and Quaternary glacial cycles have shaped a unique cold desert ecosystem and species distribution. Despite sampling challenges, phylogeographic studies are crucial for understanding reptile populations such as the Qinghai toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus vlangalii), a viviparous lizard with limited dispersal and multiple subspecies in the northeastern QTP. Our fieldwork identified populations of P. vlangalii on the northern slope of the Kunlun–Arjin Mountains, similar to the controversial subspecies P. v. lidskii. We analyzed 130 individuals from the northern slope of the Kunlun–Arjin–Qilian Mountains and 253 individuals from GenBank, using three mitochondrial genes and two nuclear genes to assess intraspecific differentiation and demographic history. We found high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity in P. vlangalii, with phylogenetic analyses revealing six distinct clades. Clade VI, confirmed as P. v. lidskii, and Clade IV, a new genetic lineage, were identified alongside three recognized subspecies. Genetic variation was largely attributed to clade splitting, indicating significant divergence. The Mantel test indicated that geographical and environmental factors drove population differentiation. Bayesian molecular clock analysis suggested that the most recent common ancestor of P. vlangalii lived 2.55 million years ago, influenced by the Qinghai–Tibet Movement and glacial cycles. Demographic history and ecological niche modeling (ENM) indicated no population decline during the Last Glacial Maximum, supporting the glacial maximum expansion model, with ENM predicting future habitat expansion for P. vlangalii. In addition, morphological data from 13 meristic and 15 metric characters confirmed clade differences. Our findings significantly advance our understanding of P. vlangalii diversification, population dynamics and response to geological and climatic changes in the QTP. Full article

This study examines the role of endophytic microbial colonization on the decomposition of oak leaf litter, a high-quality substrate in forest ecosystems. Over a one-year incubation, we observed a significant reduction in mass loss in colonized litter (46%) compared to non-colonized litter (80%), indicating an inhibitory effect of endophytes on decomposition. Structural equation modeling revealed a bimodal impact of endophytic microbes, with an initial enhancement followed by a pronounced inhibition as decomposition progressed. Extracellular enzyme stoichiometry showed phosphorus limitation became significant, particularly with endophytic colonization, contributing to reduced decomposition rates. Microbial diversity analyses exposed the variable impacts of endophytic colonization on fungal and bacterial communities, with taxa such as Helotiales (order) and Burkholderia–Caballeronia–Paraburkholderia (genus) significantly affected. The identification of 16 keystone species, mostly endophytic bacteria, underscored their pivotal influence on decomposition processes. Despite initial endophytic impacts, abundant carbon resources promoted stochastic colonization, potentially surpassing the effects of early endophytic establishment. This study provides insights into the priority effects of endophytic colonization and niche differentiation, offering a foundation for further research into the mechanisms underlying these processes and their ecological consequences in various ecosystems. Full article

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. is a well-known herb with important medicinal and economic values. It is widely used in the treatment of inflammations in China. As global climate change intensifies, the ecological niche of plants has correspondingly shifted. Therefore, understanding the distribution of suitable habitats for T. jasminoides under different climate conditions is of great significance for its cultivation, introduction, and conservation. This research utilizes the MaxEnt model in combination with the Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) to analyze the present and future potential habitat distributions of T. jasminoides. Based on 227 documented occurrence points and 15 ecological variables, the results emphasize that the key environmental limitations influencing the optimal habitats of T. jasminoides are the precipitation during the coldest quarter, the mean temperature of the driest quarter, precipitation in the warmest quarter, temperature seasonality (standard deviation × 100), and the human impact index. At present, the combined area of suitable and highly suitable habitats for T. jasminoides amounts to 15.76 × 104 km², with the highly suitable habitats predominantly situated in East and Central China. Based on climate scenario forecasts, within the SSP1-2.6 climate scenario, the total suitable habitat area for T. jasminoides is projected to increase relative to the current situation. Nevertheless, in the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios, the suitable habitat area is anticipated to initially rise and then decline. The distribution center is mainly concentrated in the provinces of Hunan and Jiangxi, with the centroid shifting southeastward compared to the current situation. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for the effective cultivation, preservation, and sustainable use of T. jasminoides resources. Full article

Eco-evo-devo is an interdisciplinary field integrating ecology, evolutionary biology, and developmental biology. Niche construction refers to the phenomenon where organisms alter selection pressures through ecological activities, and ecological inheritance is the consequence of niche construction, passed down through generations. Development encompasses the process by which an organism grows and changes its form and behavior throughout its lifetime. Despite emerging research on eco-evo-devo, the evolution of organisms involving complex physical structures remains underexplored. We aim to explore interactions between these components in the evolution of the adaptive morphology and behavior of artificial creatures. We constructed an evolutionary model where a population of rigid-bodied creatures must cross two valleys to reach a goal, using morphological development and object construction in a 3D physical environment. We found that the evolution of both lifetime development (LD) and niche construction (NC) showed complementary roles, with LD contributing to crossing one valley and NC the other. Regarding ecological inheritance (EI), we observed how NC adapts to the presence of inherited objects by placing fewer objects to construct structures. On the other hand, a large percentage of EI can cause obstacles to form, which hinders the population from moving towards the target and facilitates non-adaptive morphology, making the evolution unsuccessful. Full article

Changes in species’ habitats provide important insights into the effects of climate change. Woonyoungia septentrionalis, a critically endangered species endemic to karst ecosystems, has a highly restricted distribution and is a key biological resource. Despite its ecological importance, the factors influencing its habitat suitability and distribution remain poorly understood. This study employed ecological niche modeling to predict the potential distribution of Woonyoungia septentrionalis across China and analyzed shifts in centroid location to explore migration pathways under current and future climate scenarios. The model exhibited high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.988), indicating its robustness in assessing habitat suitability. Under current climatic conditions, Woonyoungia septentrionalis is predominantly found in the Guizhou–Guangxi border region, southeastern Yunnan, eastern Sichuan, southeastern Tibet, and parts of Chongqing, Hunan, and Hubei. Among these, the Guizhou-Guangxi border represents the primary suitable habitat. Temperature factors, particularly bio6 (minimum temperature of the coldest month) and bio7 (annual temperature range), were the most significant determinants of habitat suitability, contributing 43.29% and 12.65%, respectively. Soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) accounted for 15.82%, while precipitation had a relatively minor impact. Under future climate scenarios, suitable habitats for Woonyoungia septentrionalis are projected to shrink and shift toward higher altitudes and latitudes, increasing the risk of extinction due to the “mountain trap” effect, where migration is constrained by limited habitat at higher elevations. Stable habitats, particularly in Libo (Guizhou) and Huanjiang (Guangxi), are identified as critical refugia. We recommend prioritizing shrinking and stable habitats in Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan for in situ conservation. Ex situ conservation efforts should focus on areas identified based on key environmental factors and predicted migration pathways to ensure the species’ long-term survival. This study provides both theoretical and practical guidance for the conservation of this species and its vulnerable habitat. Full article

Tuberculosis is a zoonotic chronic respiratory infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The outbreak and epidemic of tuberculosis can seriously threaten human and veterinary health. To investigate the effects of environmental factors on tuberculosis in domestic ruminants, we collected data regarding the prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats in China (1956–2024) from publicly published literature and available databases. We identified the key risk factors among six major air pollutants and 19 bioclimatic variables; simulated the risk distribution of tuberculosis in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats in China using the maximum entropy ecological niche model; and evaluated the effects of environmental factors. The area under the curve of the model was 0.873 (95% confidence interval, 0.851–0.895). The risk factors that most significantly influenced the prevalence of tuberculosis were the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) level, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, cattle distribution density, sheep distribution density, ozone (O₃) level, and precipitation of the driest month. The predicted map of tuberculosis risk in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats indicated that the high-risk regions were mainly distributed in South, North, East, and Northwest China. Improved surveillance is needed in these high-risk areas, and early preventive measures must be implemented based on the risk factors identified to reduce the future prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats. Full article

Groundwater-dependent vegetation (GDV) is threatened globally by groundwater abstraction. Water resource managers require maps showing its distribution and habitat preferences to make informed decisions on its protection. This study, conducted in the southeast Pilbara region of Western Australia, presents a novel approach based on metrics summarising seasonal phenology (phenometrics) derived from Sentinel-2 imagery. We also determined the preferential habitat using ecological niche modelling based on land systems and topographic derivatives. The phenometrics and preferential habitat models were combined using a framework that allows for the expression of different levels of uncertainty. The large integral (LI) phenometric was capable of discriminating GDV and reduced the search space to 111 ha (<1%), requiring follow-up monitoring. Suitable habitat could be explained by a combination of land systems and negative topographic positions (e.g., valleys). This designated 13% of the study area as requiring protection against the threat of intense bushfires, invasive species, land clearing and other disturbances. High uncertainty represents locations where GDV appears to be absent but the habitat is suitable and requires further field assessment. Uncertainty was lowest at locations where the habitat is highly unsuitable (87%) and requires infrequent revisitation. Our results provide timely geospatial intelligence illustrating what needs to be monitored, protected and revisited by water resource managers. Full article

In this work, the 25 species of the flea beetle genus Calotheca Heyden recorded for South Africa are considered. Starting from the updated species distribution and the topographic, temperature, and precipitation variables, as well as the vegetation types in the occurrence sites, through an analysis of ecological niche modelling, a possible ecological profile is provided, both for each species and the entire genus, highlighting some of the factors that drive their occurrence and distribution patterns. Along with the vegetation type, some climatic variables were found to be particularly influential, such as the mean temperature of both the wettest and driest quarters and also the mean precipitation of the wettest period. Finally, comparing the distribution of the areas of highest suitability returned by the model obtained for Calotheca, they largely overlap with the highest-density areas of Searsia, genus of Anacardiaceae, including the main host plants for these flea beetles. Full article

Invasive alien species often undergo shifts in their ecological niches when they establish themselves in environments that differ from their native habitats. Leptocybe invasa Fisher et LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), specifically, has caused huge economic losses to Eucalyptus trees in Australia. The global spread of eucalyptus cultivation has allowed L. invasa to threaten plantations beyond its native habitat. It is, therefore, urgent to implement effective control measures to mitigate the impact of this pest. The optimized MaxEnt model was used to predict the potential global distribution of L. invasa based on occurrence data and environmental variables. The centroid shift, overlap, unfilling, and expansion (COUE) framework was employed to evaluate niche dynamics during the global invasion process by comparing the ecological niches of L. invasa in both native regions and regions affected by invasions (hereafter referred to as “invaded”). The results indicated that the distribution of L. invasa is primarily influenced by temperature, precipitation, and the human influence index variables. Its ecological niche was shown to have considerably expanded from native to invaded regions. Under future climate scenarios, the potential geographical distribution of L. invasa is projected to be concentrated primarily in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and Southern Oceania. In the future, the potentially suitable areas for the establishment of L. invasa are expected to further expand. This study provides a unified framework for exploring the niche dynamics of invasive alien species globally. Emphasizing early warning and control in uninvaded areas is crucial for minimizing L. invasa ecological and economic threats. Full article

The success of reforestation and restoration projects depends on several factors, with proper seedling management and the selection of an appropriate planting area being crucial. In Peru, the populations of Retrophyllum rospigliosii (Pilg.) C.N.Page (Ulcumano) have been decreasing due to intensive logging of one of the most valuable woods in South America’s tropical forests. There are few studies that unify the production of plants through seeds in nurseries and the identification of suitable areas to place the plants produced. Our study has two components. The first aimed to optimize the plant production process through an experiment that evaluated the effects of three doses of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) (4.2, 8.4, and 12.6 g/L) and two container sizes (115 and 180 cc) on the morphological quality of seedlings in the nursery. The second component involved identifying potential reforestation areas using ecological niche modeling, based on climatic and edaphic variables. The results indicated that the 4.2 g/L CRF treatment for both container sizes had a significant positive effect on seedling growth. The average germination rate was 85% at 120 days. At six months after seedling transplantation, treatments of 4.2 g/L CRF in 115 cc and 180 cc containers were shown to have the best positive effect on morphological variables of seedlings, with a root collar diameter of 3.76 mm and a height of 13.25 cm. Regarding the potential niche models, an area of 6321.97 km² with ideal conditions for reforestation with R. rospigliosii was estimated, with the departments of Huánuco, Pasco, Junín, and Cusco showing the highest potential. Based on this, it is estimated that over three million plants are needed for large-scale reforestation projects. Integrating silvicultural studies with niche models is a valuable tool for supporting reforestation and ecosystem restoration projects. Full article

Grassland ecosystems cover a high percentage of the terrestrial habitats of Earth and support the livelihood and well-being of at least one-fifth of the human population. Climate change and human activities are causing increasing pressure on arid and semi-arid regions. Land use/cover change significantly affects the function and distribution of grasslands, showing diverse patterns across space and time. The study investigated the spatial distribution of grasslands of Mount Zireia (Peloponnesus, Greece) using MaxEnt modeling based on CMIP6 models (CNRM-CM6 and CCMCC-ESM2) and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP 245 and SSP 585) covering the period of 1970–2100. The results from the current (1970–2000) and several future periods (2020–2100) revealed that the MaxEnt model provided highly accurate forecasts. The grassland distribution was found to be significantly impacted by climate change, with impacts varying by period, scenario, and climate model used. In particular, the CNRM-CM6-1 model forecasts a substantial increase in grasslands at higher elevations up to 2100 m asl. The research emphasizes the importance of exploring the combined impacts of climate change and grazing intensity on land use and cover changes in mountainous grasslands. Full article

Species distribution modeling (SDM) is a vital tool for ecological and biogeographical research, allowing precise predictions of species distributions based on environmental variables. This study reviews the evolution of SDM techniques from 1985 to 2023, focusing on model development and applications in conservation, climate change adaptation, and invasive species management. We employed a mixed review with bibliometric and systematic element approaches using the Scopus database, analyzing 982 documents from 275 sources. The MaxEnt model emerged as the most frequently used technique, applied in 85% of the studies due to its adaptability and accuracy. Our findings highlight the increasing trend in international collaboration, particularly between China, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The study reveals a significant annual growth rate of 11.99%, driven by technological advancements and the urgency to address biodiversity loss. Our analysis also shows that while MaxEnt remains dominant, deep learning and other advanced computational techniques are gaining traction, reflecting a shift toward integrating AI in ecological modeling. The results emphasize the importance of global cooperation and the continued evolution of SDM methodologies, projecting further integration of real-time data sources like UAVs and satellite imagery to enhance model precision and applicability in future conservation efforts. Full article

Danaus genutia, commonly known as the tiger butterfly, is a visually appealing species in the Danaidae family. As it is not currently classified as endangered, it is excluded from key protected species lists at national and local levels, limiting focus on its population and habitat status, which may result in it being overlooked in local butterfly conservation initiatives. Yunnan, characterized by high butterfly diversity, presents an ideal region for studying habitat suitability for D. genutia, which may support the conservation of regional biodiversity. This study employs the MaxEnt ecological niche model, predictions regarding suitable habitat distribution, and trends for D. genutia and identifying primary environmental factors influencing their distribution. The results indicate that the niche model that includes interspecies relationships provides a distribution prediction closely aligned with the observed range of D. genutia. Under current climatic conditions, highly suitable habitats for both D. genutia and its host plant, Cynanchun annularium, are located predominantly in the Yuanjiang River Valley. Optimal conditions occur at average annual temperatures of 19.80–22 °C for D. genutia and 22–24 °C for C. annularium. The distribution range of C. annularium is a vital biological factor limiting D. genutia’s habitat. By 2040, projections under four future climate scenarios indicate a potential increase in the total area of suitable habitats for D. genutia, with a general trend of northward expansion. Full article

The red panda (Ailurus), a rare and endangered mammal native to the Himalayan–Hengduan Mountains, has a specialized bamboo diet. Combining morphological and genomic evidence, red pandas have been classified as Ailurus fulgens and Ailurus styani. However, previous studies focused on ecological aspects such as foraging behaviors, habitat use and threats within specific distributions; hence, there is still a gap in quantitative comparative studies on the trophic niches of these two species. In this study, we calculated and compared the isotopic trophic niche widths of A. styani and A. fulgens by measuring carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in hair keratin of 102 red pandas, then conducting a fecal analysis to explore the diet of a population. The results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in δ¹³C values between A. styani (−24.73 ± 1.26‰, N = 86) and A. fulgens (−24.43 ± 1.20‰, N = 16); however, A. styani had 1.4‰ higher average δ¹⁵N value than that of A. fulgens, and the isotopic niche widths converted by Bayesian ellipse model were A. styani SEA_C = 4.40‰², A. fulgens SEA_C = 4.70‰², which might be caused by their lower and narrower altitude distribution. (2) Niche widths of three genetic populations in A. styani were XXL-LS (5.16‰²), EH-GLG (3.40‰²), QL (2.31‰²), and the comparison of the fecal composition suggested their diet diversity, which might imply a degree of competitive pressure with sympatric animals. (3) Sichuan red pandas occupied a lower trophic position compared to other herbivores but higher than giant pandas in the same ecosystem, and the niche width of red pandas was two times larger than that of sympatric giant pandas, which was related to the foraging strategies and microhabitat selection of the giant and red panda. This research provides basic stable isotopic data for red pandas, offers scientific support for the differentiated and refined conservation and management of the red panda and its habitat, and develops the application of stable isotope analysis in the ecological studies of endangered species. Full article