Background & Aim: Chiroptera, the only mammalian order capable of true powered flight, has attracted significant attention from researchers due to its unique biological characteristics, such as echolocation, complex niche adaptability, and diverse dietary habits. In recent years, the precipitous decline in bat populations has posed a potential threat to ecosystem stability, making Chiroptera a key focus in conservation biology. As a crucial component of modern socio-economic development, road infrastructure exerts profound impact on plant and animal populations, becoming a major research hotspot in conservation biology. This study focuses on bats, systematically reviewing relevant research and proposing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of roads on bat populations while improving their habitat quality.

Review Results: This study focuses on Chiroptera, conducting a systematic review of 108 representative studies from both domestic and international sources. Through in-depth analysis, we systematically summarized the effects of road noise and road light pollution on bats during road construction and use. The results indicate that road noise and light pollution universally and diversely affect the acoustic structure and foraging behavior of bats, with species-specific responses. Based on these findings, we propose a series of targeted strategies. First, we recommend establishing and enhancing road assessment and regulatory systems, integrating ecological impact assessments into the entire process of road planning and construction to ensure that economic development aligns with ecological conservation. Second, we suggest increasing noise-blocking facilities, implementing sound barriers and green belt, and other noise-mitigation measures to minimize road noise on bat habitats. Additionally, optimizing road lighting design by using low-intensity, low-frequency flickering lights to reduce light pollution and its disruptive effects on bats.

Perspective: These strategies aim to mitigate the negative impacts of roads on Chiroptera, improve their living conditions, and provide scientific and practical guidance for the conservation of this unique and ecologically important mammalian group.

Aims: Passive acoustic monitoring technology has been widely used for monitoring bird species, enabling non-invasive and long-term effective monitoring. Extensive data collection requires automated identification technologies for effective analysis. However, differences in recording device performance can affect the accuracy of automated software in identifying bird species.

Methods: Six separate recording devices from various manufacturers are tested by recording bird call playback across four frequency bands. We use BirdNET as the automatic bird sound identifier under two types of vegetation environment, five categories of distance between the recording devices and sound source, and three sound source directions. Our goal is evaluating the impact of these variables on bird species identification performance. We assess the monitoring performance of different recording devices by comparing the basic parameters and configurations of the devices and constructing a generalized linear model (GLM) to statistically analyze the identification results.

Results: Our analysis suggests the type of recording device significantly affects the ability for BirdNET to correctly identify bird species. As distance increases, the effectiveness of the devices in monitoring decreases, with the identification accuracy of BirdNET significantly higher for distances within 50 meters than beyond. Further, the direction of sound impacts identification performance, with accuracy significantly decreasing when the sound source is in opposite direction of the recording device in identifying the four types of bird sound signals with different frequency bandwidth ranges. Additionally, the vegetation type significantly affects the attenuation of bird call signals, with overall identification accuracy in grassland vegetation 40.1% higher than forest vegetation.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest the effectiveness of field recording monitoring should be assessed before selecting and deploying long-term recording monitoring equipment, in addition to evaluating equipment costs and parameters. Based on our evaluation, monitoring distance and direction settings should be optimized to enhance the effectiveness of monitoring strategies.

Aim: Passive acoustic monitoring plays a pivotal role in studying avian populations, community dynamics, and behaviors. For extensive passive acoustic monitoring, employing deep learning techniques to automatically identify bird species from their vocalizations is essential. However, closely related species often produce highly similar calls, leading to confusion and false positives, which can compromise the effectiveness of deep learning models. This paper presents a novel method that integrates audio data with ecological niche information to enhance species recognition accuracy. Here, ‘ecological niche’ encompasses a species’ role in its environment, including its habitat, diet, and behavior.

Methods: The approach begins with the development of an audio recognition model using the ResNet18, a prominent deep learning framework known for its capability to extract high-level features from audio signals. Subsequently, a maximum entropy model is employed to estimate the distribution of bird species and derive ecological suitability indices for various locations. These indices provide the necessary ecological niche information. An integrated model, NicheNet, is then constructed to combine audio features with ecological niche data for improved species recognition.

Results & Conclusion: The integration of audio and ecological niche information through NicheNet demonstrates substantial improvements in recognition accuracy. Specifically, NicheNet enhances Top-1 recognition accuracy by 12.9% and Top-5 recognition accuracy by 10.6% compared to the ResNet18 model. Additionally, NicheNet reduces the near species error rate by 3.1%, the near genus error rate by 1.8%, and the near family error rate by 8.0%. Analysis of recognition outcomes for congeneric species with similar vocalizations reveals that NicheNet significantly refines classification by leveraging ecological niche information, thereby improving the discrimination of vocally similar but ecologically distinct species. This method effectively addresses the challenge of misidentification among closely related and vocally similar bird species that differ in their ecological niches, thereby advancing the accuracy of cross-regional bird species recognition based on vocalizations.

Background & Aim: Urbanization has caused widespread changes in species habitats, leading to changes in community composition and species traits. This process has notably transformed the interspecific interactions involving birds, but current research has limited knowledge about this change. In this paper, the modification patterns of predator-prey interactions, host-parasite interactions, competitive interactions, and mutualistic interactions involving birds in urban environments are reviewed, to provide suggestions for future research and conservation efforts on birds in urban environments.

Review Results: With increasing urbanization, the identity of species involved in various forms of interspecific interactions is directly affected by changes in species composition, leading to changes in the process, intensity, and outcomes of interspecific interactions. In predator-prey interactions, anthropogenic disturbances, enhanced resource availability, and habitat changes modify the community composition of both predators and prey. These changes affect the predation behavior of predators and the antipredator behavior of prey. In host-parasite interactions, pollution and zoonotic disease transmission change parasite taxa, while the spatial concentration and diminished diversity of urban bird communities heighten disease transmission risks. Additionally, factors such as dietary quality and environmental disturbances influence host immunophysiology. In competitive interactions, adaptation of birds to urban environment leads to intensification of competitive behavior, and stabilization of the environment and resource availability may increase competitive intensity and promote competitive exclusion. In mutualistic interactions between birds and plants, the loss of native species and the introduction of exotic species reduce the uniqueness of interactions. Landscape features such as habitat fragmentation affect spatial patterns of pollination and seed dispersal. Changes in the participants and processes of interspecific interactions can modify the nodes and edges in interaction networks and the structural characteristics of such networks, decrease in species diversity simplifies the network structure, while the loss of specialist species and rise of generalist species enhance evenness and reduce the specialization of the interactive networks.

Prospect: There are three important directions for future research on interspecific interactions in urban birds: (1) Development of methods for identifying and quantifying interspecific interactions; (2) Development of ecological network theories, including multilayer networks, in the study of interspecific interactions in urban birds; (3) Utilization of interspecific interactions to increase the effectiveness of conservation in urban bird conservation.

Aims: Vascular epiphytes have a significant contribution to maintaining biodiversity, carbon storage, ecological hydrology and nutrient flux in a forest ecosystem. Assessing the diversity pattern of epiphytes thus can provide a basis for community assembly mechanism, conservation and resource utilization of epiphytes in the context of global change. In this context, we aimed to analyze the species and phylogenetic diversity including the phylogenetic structure of vascular epiphytes, and their correlations with host characteristics in the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Ailao Mountains, Southwest China.

Methods: Using a built-in canopy crane, we observed 311 individuals of dominant host trees in the 1.44 ha permanent plot and recorded the occurrence of vascular epiphytes including host tree identity, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height. Afterward, species richness (S), phylogenetic diversity (PD) and phylogenetic structure (net nearest taxa index (NTI) and net relatedness index (NRI)) of vascular epiphytes and their correlation with DBH, height and species of host trees were evaluated.

Results: A total of 62 species of vascular epiphytes belonging to 26 families and 44 genera were found. Remarkably, significant positive correlations were found between the epiphyte species richness and PD with the host DBH and height (P < 0.001). No significant correlations were detected between standard phylogenetic diversity (SES.PD) and species richness. The species richness and PD of epiphytes in Stewartia pteropetiolata were significantly lower than in other host species (P < 0.001). However, SES.PD significantly increased with the increase in host DBH (P < 0.05) and decreased with the increase in host height (P < 0.05). The phylogenetic structures of epiphytes on the Castanopsis wattii and Michelia floribunda were divergent, while epiphytes on the Lithocarpus xylocarpus and Stewartia pteropetiolata were clustered. Epiphytes on the other host trees did not show any phylogenetic structural pattern.

Conclusion: Host tree characteristics, including host size and host species differences, are the key factors that maintain the diversity pattern of vascular epiphytes. These results can provide a solid foundation for future analysis of the pattern and maintenance mechanism of epiphyte diversity from multiple dimensions and perspectives.

Aims The Xijiang River, renowned for its rich freshwater biodiversity and endemism, presents an intriguing yet understudied ecosystem. This study aims to elucidate the species diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms maintaining macroinvertebrate communities in this mega river. Drawing from published literature and an extensive field survey conducted from 2021 to 2023, our objectives include compiling a comprehensive species checklist, identifying ecological drivers shaping community structure, and proposing conservation strategies.

Methods Macroinvertebrates were sampled from key water bodies within the Xijiang River, including main stream, tributaries, and plateau lakes from the years 2021 to 2023. One-way ANOVA was employed to analyze species diversity indices across different water bodies. PERMANOVA (permutational multivariate analysis of variance) and PCoA (principal co-ordinates analysis) were used to assess community structure variation, while canonical correspondence analysis and variation partitioning identify potential key factors influencing macroinvertebrate community organization.

Results A total of 704 species from 437 genera, representing 150 families across 10 orders and 5 phyla, were documented (combining 506 historical records with 352 findings from 2021 to 2023). The proportion of species endemic to China reaches as high as 26% of the total number of species. The average density and biomass in the present survey period were 437.53 ind./m² and 38.65 g/m², respectively. Tanypus sp., Glyptotendipes sp., Parafossarulus striatulus and Corbicula flumineaemerged as the dominant species. Species richness and diversity indices were highest in tributaries, followed by the main stream and lakes. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that a combination of environmental factors (e.g., altitude, conductivity and chemical oxygen demand with permanganate) and spatial factors jointly influenced macroinvertebrate community structure. Moreover, variation partitioning highlighted the dominance of environmental factors in tributaries and lakes, while spatial factors predominantly influenced main stream communities.

Conclusion This study presents the most comprehensive inventory of macroinvertebrates in the Xijiang River to date, showcasing its significance as a global biodiversity hotspot. Despite the region’s rich macroinvertebrate biodiversity, anthropogenic pressures have led to a decline in species richness. To safeguard and restore macroinvertebrate diversity and endemism, proactive conservation measures are imperative. Strategies should include curbing overfishing, regulating illicit mining practices, restoring natural hydrological patterns and riparian zones, mitigating point and non-point source pollution, and preventing the encroachment of non-native species.

Aims: This paper conducts a comprehensive review of literature from the past two decades, focusing on two primary objectives. First, it explores the composition of dominant weed species in urban lawns across China, including the types and characteristics of invasive weeds. Second, it investigates the key factors influencing the distribution and spread of weeds in urban lawns in China. This study aim to provide a theoretical foundation for the scientific management and control of weeds in urban lawns and help protect biodiversity and promote sustainable urban development. Additionally, these findings can support efforts at monitoring weed population dynamics to maintain ecological balance and enhance the health and sustainability of urban green spaces.

Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive review of the literature on urban lawn weeds in 98 cities across China between 2002 and 2024. A statistical analysis of the weed species identified in the literature was carried out after gathering information on dominant weed species, including their Chinese and Latin names, family and genus details, life forms, and flora. These data were used to determine the species, origin, degree, and route of invasion for invasive weeds. Furthermore, β-diversity was assessed using the Jaccard similarity index. The data for this study were sourced from the CNKI database, WANFANG DATA, and VIP database. Statistical analyses were performed using R and SPSS software. The correlation between invasive weed distribution and climatic factors was examined through a nonlinear relationship, and the primary climatic factors influencing the distribution of weed species in urban lawns were identified using redundancy analysis (RDA). Together, these methods enabled a deep exploration of the species composition, spatial distribution, and main influencing factors of urban weeds in China.

Results: (1) A total of 208 dominant weeds, spanning 40 families and 137 genera, were identified in urban lawns. The Compositae was the most prevalent in the literature, constituting 22.12% of the total. The geographical distribution of these flora is complex, with cosmopolitan families holding a significant advantage (23 families). However, at the genus level, the number of temperate distribution genera (57) surpassed that of tropical distribution genera (42), resulting in a tropical to temperate ratio of 2.33 and 0.74 at the family and genus levels, respectively. (2) A total of 37 species of invasive weeds were identified, belonging to 11 families, predominantly Compositae, Gramineae and Fabaceae (59.46%). This included 10 species of malicious invasive species, 11 species of serious invasive species, 4 species of local invasive species, and 12 species of general invasive species. The distribution of invasive weeds in southern China was notably concentrated. (3) The variation in weed composition among different cities aligns with the β-diversity theory, as variation was primarily influenced by geographical distance and climatic conditions.

Conclusion: Plants, particularly Compositae and Gramineae weeds, which are primarily annual and perennial herbs, hold a significant advantage over other species due to their widespread distribution. These plants demonstrate ecological adaptability and competitiveness in the ecological context of urban lawns. A considerable number of invasive weeds are present in these lawns, with some species exhibiting strong dispersal capabilities and posing serious threats to the existing ecological environment. These species are more concentrated in the southern region of the country, indicating that the area faces greater challenges in managing and preventing the spread of invasive weeds. The variation in weed composition between cities aligns with β-diversity theory which suggests species distribution is primarily influenced by geographical distance and climatic conditions. Future research should seek to more accurately assess the risk of invasive weed establishment and further investigate the mechanisms driving diffusion of dominant weeds. Considering the increased influence of global warming on ecosystem dynamics, it is essential to strengthen methods for predicting the distribution of dominant weeds, particularly non-native invasive species, and to conduct research on effective means of biological control. Additionally, a deep study of the life history of frequently occurring weeds is necessary to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention and control strategies.

Backgrounds & Motivations: The financial gap in addressing biodiversity loss is considerable, highlighting the need for the involvement of enterprises and financial institutions in biodiversity protection to provide necessary funding for biodiversity risk management. However, the information regarding to biodiversity in reports from Chinese listed enterprises remains limited, often lacking substance and credibility. It is imperative for enterprises to establish a biodiversity information disclosure mechanism that signals low biodiversity risk to financial and capital markets, thereby enhancing their financing capabilities and levels.

Methods: This study calculates the biodiversity information disclosure index for Chinese enterprises based on an analysis of 11,867 enterprise social responsibility and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports from 1,714 listed enterprises between 2006 and 2022, utilizing internet crawling technology for data collection. Employing quantitative analysis methods, the research examines the current status and primary issues related to biodiversity disclosure, ultimately constructing an econometric model to explore the financing effects of biodiversity information disclosure from the perspectives of financing constraints, costs, and outcomes.

Results: The findings indicate a continuous increase in both the number and proportion of enterprises disclosing biodiversity information in China, demonstrating a stable growth trend with modest annual increases. However, challenges persist, including low disclosure quality, heightened industry polarization, and significant heterogeneity among enterprise types. Furthermore, biodiversity information disclosure exhibits significant effects on financing. Specifically, each increasing unit in enterprise biodiversity information disclosure can effectively reduce enterprise financing constraints by 2.02% to 5.07%, lower the cost of enterprise debt financing by 2.51% to 2.78%, lower the cost of enterprise equity financing by 1.55% to 1.83%, and facilitate adjustments to the enterprise financing structure, thereby decreasing (increasing) the proportion of debt (equity) in financing by 2.19%.

Policy Implications & Contributions: In light of these findings, policy recommendations are proposed in the study, including the implementation of financing incentive mechanisms, the establishment of standardized disclosure protocols, the monetization of biodiversity value, and an emphasis on disclosure trends among non-key industries. These recommendations are designed to enhance enterprise engagement in biodiversity protection and to mobilize enterprise resources towards the promotion of biodiversity-friendly practices within industry development.

Background & Aims Global biodiversity hotspot cities are where urban development and biodiversity conservation come into conflict, playing a critical role in maintaining biodiversity both within and beyond their regions. However, there has been no dedicated study focusing on Chinese cities within global biodiversity hotspots. Based on Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Priority Action 18 of the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030), this research examines the biodiversity conservation policies of 16 Chinese cities with populations exceeding one million within global biodiversity hotspots from five key aspects: (1) biodiversity conservation planning and sustainable utilization plans, (2) urban biodiversity survey, monitoring, and assessment, (3) habitat restoration and ecological corridor construction, (4) the connection between urban residents and nature as well as their health and well-being, and (5) urban ecosystem functions and services. By comparing these conservation policies with international case cities, the study identifies existing challenges and proposes optimization directions to support biodiversity-friendly urban development while balancing ecological protection and high-quality urban growth.

Review ResultsThe findings show that both Chinese and international hotspot cities face common challenges, including a lack of awareness of their unique ecological location, insufficient long-term biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, and a general scarcity of biodiversity monitoring data. Additionally, Chinese cities exhibit specific issues such as limited coverage and single-method approaches in urban biodiversity monitoring, insufficient attention to biodiversity-related public experiences and supporting facilities, and inadequate focus on the provision of urban ecosystem services.

Optimization Trends Future enhancements to urban biodiversity conservation policies in these hotspot cities should prioritize the followings: (1) prioritizing the development of spatial planning for biodiversity conservation; (2) exploring the integrated application of multi-source data monitoring technologies; (3) standardizing multi-dimensional approaches to urban biodiversity experiences; (4) promoting synergistic enhancement of urban biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

Aims: The internationally important wetland biodiversity conservation project of the Yellow River Delta started in 2019. This study used macrobenthos community characteristics and their relationship with environmental factors to understand the health status of this ecosystem and assess the succession stage and repair effect after three years of restoration.
Methods: This study investigated the macrobenthos and environmental factors in the restoration area in May (spring), August (summer) and October (autumn) in 2022, respectively. The community structure, biodiversity, and their relationships with major environmental factors were analyzed by classical taxonomy, biodiversity index, cluster analysis, multi-dimensional scaling analysis, and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: A total of 16 macrobenthic species belonging to 5 phyla, 6 classes and 15 families were collected in spring, summer and autumn. Insecta species were found dominant in species composition. The number of macrobenthic species in the Yellow River Delta wetland restoration area showed an increasing trend during the survey period, with Chironomidae sp., Radix swinhoei, and Hippeutis cantori becoming the dominant species in the area, as well as key characteristic and differential species in the community structure. The species density was significantly correlated with indicators such as specific conductance, salinity, total carbon, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrite nitrogen (P < 0.01). The rapid biological comprehensive evaluation index evaluated the restoration area as the “sub-health” state.
Conclusion: The restoration area is developing towards a healthier and more orderly direction but is currently in a “sub-health” state, indicating a need for continued restoration work. Ecological succession is a slow process which requires long-term ecological monitoring in our research area, including an analysis of the reconstruction process of the disturbed macrobenthic community structure in the Yellow River Delta ecological restoration area, and an exploration of the regular changes in ecological succession.

Aim: Wildlife modify their daily activity to satisfy food demands, to breed, or to avoid mortality risk. Assessing patterns of wildlife activity is crucial for understanding adaptations to inter-species competition, predation risks, and human disturbances. Sika deer (Cervus nippon) is a primary prey species for tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (P. pardus) in the Northeast China. However, the sika deer’s habitat is disturbed by roads. This study assessed the influence of road disturbances on the activity patterns of sika deer, considering their gender, age, reproductive status, and seasonal activity. The aim is to deepen our understanding of behavioral changes in animals due to human disturbance, providing a scientific basis for future conservation and management of sika deer, tigers, and leopards in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.

Methods: From April 2021 to March 2022, we deployed 41 pairs of camera traps along the road in Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park to collect data of sika deer activity. Based on gender, age, and reproductive status of individuals, we classified sika deer into five sex/age groups. We used the kernel density method to estimate diel activity patterns and activity levels of sika deer, based on 9,825 independent detections of the species. Furthermore, we compared the activity levels and patterns across different seasons, sex/age groups, and levels of road disturbance.

Results: Peak activity of sika deer was observed in June and October. Diel activity patterns varied across seasons, with sika deer being crepuscular during spring and summer, nocturnal in autumn, and diurnal in winter. Diel activity patterns differed between age and sex groups of sika deer; fawns were diurnal, while adults were predominantly crepuscular, with only adult males having an increased probability of nocturnal activity. The negative effects of roads on the activity patterns of sika deer were mainly observed in autumn, which coincided with peak human and vehicular activity. Moreover, sika deer exhibited significantly reduced activity levels near roads during autumn. At sites close to roads, all sex/age groups of sika deer tended to decrease their activity levels.

Conclusion: This study is the first to document seasonal differences in activity patterns and variations among sex/age groups of sika deer in Northeast China. Additionally, it addresses the impact of roads on the diel activity patterns and activity levels of sika deer, revealing that during the high-traffic autumn season, road disturbances significantly affect their activity patterns. Across sex/age groups, sika deer respond similarly to road disturbances, with a shorter period of activity to minimize exposure to road risks while maximizing food intake. Our study emphasizes the negative impact of human activities on the behavioral patterns of this ungulate species. Additionally, it also highlights the behavioral plasticity of sika deer in response to anthropogenic disturbance, suggesting their ability to efficiently utilize alternative food resources. Our methodology provides insights into wildlife management strategies, and we recommend long-term monitoring of wildlife population dynamics and behavioral responses, especially in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.

Aim: To collate and report new vertebrate species discovered in China in 2023.

Method: This paper summarizes the basic information about discoveries of vertebrate species from academic literature published in 2023, including 73 citations.

Results: In 2023, 93 vertebrate species were discovered in China, including 69 species new to science, 15 species not previously reported in China, and 9 valid species that were upgraded from subspecies. These species belong to 14 orders, 40 families, and 61 genera. Among them, there are 18 new species of fish; 31 species of amphibian, including 23 new species and 8 newly recorded in China; 22 species of reptile, including 21 new species and 1 newly recorded in China; 10 species of bird, including 4 species upgraded from subspecies and 6 newly recorded in China; 12 species of mammal, including 7 new species, 1 newly recorded in China, and 4 species upgraded from subspecies. Ectotherm vertebrates account for 76% of new discoveries; most of the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds were species of Cypriniformes (15/18), Anura (27/31), Squamata (21/22), and Passeriformes (8/10), respectively, while most of mammals were species of Eulipotyphla (6/12) or Rodentia (5/12). These 93 newly discovered vertebrates were recorded in 21 provincial regions. Of these species, 79 were recorded in only one provincial region, while there were 29, 13, 10, 10, and 9 new species recorded in Yunnan, Xizang, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Guizhou, respectively. A total of 79 of these discovered species have been supported by molecular systematics. There were 82 species published in academic journals, 14 of which were published in two English journals in China and 3 of which were published in two Chinese journals.

Conclusion: This article provides basic information needed for the classification and protection of vertebrate species in China. In addition, it indicates that ectotherm vertebrates may be the hot group of vertebrate species studied in diversity research in China, and an integrated classification approach is essential to support future taxonomic studies.

Aims: Kunlun Mountains is a crucial part of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau that presents a challenging environment for wildlife surveys and community research due to its high-elevation, cold, and hypoxic environment. This study aims to reveal patterns of avian community diversity across different regions, and their drivers.

Method: Surveys were conducted on wild birds within the Qinghai region of the Kunlun Mountains in the December 2021 and July 2022 using the line transects method. A total of 102 grids, each measuring 10 km × 10 km, with different altitudinal gradients and habitat types were investigated. Bird community diversity across different regions was calculated using R software. Subsequently, environmental variables were extracted using ArcGIS software, and a generalized additive model (GAM) was employed to fit the potential non-linear relationships between diversity indices and various variables.

Results: A total of 87 bird species representing 14 orders, 31 families, and 59 genera were recorded. Among these, 5 species were classified as first-class national protected wildlife, 11 species were classified as second-class national protected wildlife, and 8 species were identified as local new distributions. The analysis of distribution patterns demonstrated higher avian community diversity during summer compared to winter, with grassland and meadow habitats showing significantly greater diversity than other habitats. Furthermore, bird community diversity during both winter and summer exhibited similar single peak patterns along the altitudinal gradient. Climate variables revealed seasonal differences in bird diversity, with precipitation of coldest quarter significantly impacting richness during summer and annual precipitation during winter. Additionally, isothermality and temperature seasonality had the most substantial impact on the Shannon-Wiener and Simpson diversity indices in both winter and summer. These findings underscored the significance of water resources and stable climatic conditions on bird community diversity in the Qinghai region of the Kunlun Mountains.

Conclusion: This study provides a scientific foundation for the conservation of the bird resources in the Kunlun Mountains, and offers crucial data for the planning and establishment of national park in future.

Aims: Understanding the origins and domestication processes of cultivated crops, is crucial for understanding human civilization. Trapa, commonly known as water caltrop, belongs to the family Lythraceae and is an annual floating-leaf aquatic herb. As a traditional aquatic vegetable crop, the fruit of Trapa has long been a significant food source in early Chinese agricultural societies. However, in recent years, rapid urbanization in China has resulted in habitat destruction, posing a serious threat to its genetic diversity. Moreover, ‘Nanhuling’, a major cultivar of Trapa, holds high economic and cultural value, yet its origin and domestication history are not fully understood.
Methods: In this study, we employed population genomics to investigate the genetic diversity of cultivated water caltrop and the domestication history of ‘Nanhuling’. The dataset for this study was generated by whole-genome resequencing of 31 diploid cultivated T. natans and 23 diploid wild T. natans samples.
Results: Population genetic structure and differentiation indicated that wild and cultivated T. natans belonged to distinct gene pools. Cultivated T. natans originated from the diploid wild T. natans in the Yangtze River Basin. The overall genetic diversity level of cultivated T. natans is lower than that of wild T. natans (0.68 × 10⁻³ vs. 1.35 × 10⁻³), and the effective population size is significantly reduced compared to wild T. natans (~4,000 vs. ~7,700), suggesting that cultivated T. natans experienced a genetic bottleneck during domestication. Among cultivated T. natans, ‘Nanhuling’ exhibited the lowest level of genetic diversity and the slowest decay rate of linkage disequilibrium, which may be related to its high degree of domestication and strong selection pressure. Based on the population dynamic history inferred from the FASTSIMCOAL2 ancestral simulation model, we found that there had been gene flow events among ‘Nanhuling’, ‘Wuling’, and other cultivated T. natans. The domestication of ‘Nanhuling’ occurred approximately 669 years ago, consistent with literary records from the Ming Dynasty.
Conclusions: This study is significant as it deepens our understanding of the domestication and genetic evolution of cultivated T. natans. Insights gained from this work may help improve agriculturally valuable characteristics of T. natans, such as crop yields and nutrient content.

Background & Aims: All biological organisms are constructed with a specific range and ratio of bioelements—namely the elementome. Organisms integrate multiple elements in optimal ratios to adapt to environmental heterogeneity. Biological elementome is assumed to be species-specific, which is determined by evolutionary history (phylogenetic distances) and controlled by inter-species competition and homeostasis. In community ecology, bioelemental composition and the variations in elementome provide an ideal indicator for quantifying the niche segregation of certain species in a community and predicting the possible responses of niche (displacement, expansion or concentration) to changes in environmental conditions. Biogeochemical niche (BN) quantifies species niches using the concept of elementome and n-dimensional hypervolume. On the basis of a brief summary of niche theory and ecological stoichiometry, we introduced the theoretical framework and the confirmatory studies of biogeochemical niche hypothesis (BNH) in this review. The prospects of its applications in different ecosystems were also discussed.

Review results: According to the BNH, the biogeochemical niche of certain species is defined as a function of phylogenetic distances (taxonomy), species sympatry (inter-species competitive pressure) and homeostasis/plasticity (the ability to maintain a stable elemental composition). This theory applies not only to plants, but also to animals and microbes. Using “biogeochemical niche(s)”, “metabolomic niche(s)”, “stoichiometric niche(s)” as key words, we conducted literature searches utilizing Web of Science (WoS) and CNKI, and manually picked out 84 relevant studies in November 2023. The studies mainly focused on C, N and P, and the most common keywords were “ecological stoichiometry” and “elemental composition”. In terms of taxa, the main taxa concerned in the studies were plants (54 articles), followed by animals (14 articles) and microorganisms (14 articles). We review the recent progress of BNH by taxa in this article.

Prospects & Suggestions: We suggest that the study of BNH be extended from C, N and P to more bioelements, to identify the species niche more accurately in higher dimensions. In different ecosystems, especially in stressful habitats, organisms should change their elementome to adapt to varied environments. More studies focusing on additional taxa (aquatic plants, plankton, fish, etc.) or certain habitats (freshwater or saline lake, river, high mountain, desert, etc.) are likely to help validate the universality of BNH. Furthermore, we propose to study the variations in biogeochemical niche at different life history stages of living beings, and bridge BN and population dynamics, to provide evidence for mechanism of species coexistence.

Aims: Ground-active arthropods play a crucial role in the decomposition of organic material in terrestrial ecosystems, yet little is known about how seasonal variations influence dung arthropod communities.
Methods: This study conducted a field experiment in Inner Mongolian grasslands to investigate the composition dynamics of the arthropod communities in horse dung excreted during different seasons and analyze their relationship with environmental factors.
Results: We found that: (1) Initial water content did not significantly differ across spring, summer, and autumn, but organic matter content was significantly lower in summer dung compared to spring and autumn, while pH was significantly lower in autumn compared to spring and summer. (2) Abundance and group numbers of dung arthropods were significantly higher in autumn horse dung on day 3 and 360 of the decomposition compared to spring horse dung. Similarly, the abundance and species number of dung beetle communities on day 3 and 7 of the decomposition were significantly higher in autumn dung compared to summer. Abundance and generic numbers of Staphylinidae were also substantially higher in autumn dung on day 3 and 7 of the decomposition compared to spring and summer.
Conclusion: Early stage decomposition of horse dung is influenced by organic matter and water content, shaping arthropod community composition. Later stages of decomposition are predominantly regulated by soil temperature and moisture. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the complex interplay between seasonal factors and arthropod dynamics during dung decomposition in Inner Mongolian grasslands.

Aims: Since 2020, the average annual number of changes in plant names in China has accounted for roughly 1.5% of all changes. Although these plant name changes are not large, cumulative changes over time should not be ignored. Indeed, it is necessary to annually compile information on new taxa, records, and name changes to Chinese plants to integrate these changes into the Catalogue of Life China in a timely manner to facilitate more accurate references for academia and research.

Methods: We collected data on newly discovered taxa and name changes for Chinese higher plants by reviewing 233 journals and related monographs, supplemented by cross-referencing and systematic review using various online databases to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the compiled information. This compilation involved 419 articles from 63 journals and 4 monographs, and mainly focused on the new taxa and nomenclatural changes in higher plants in 2023.

Results: In 2023, China reported several new taxonomic findings, including 14 genera, 241 species (including new hybrid species), 13 infraspecific taxa, 13 higher taxa (including 7 subfamilies, 4 supertribes, and 2 tribes), 2 subgenera, and 6 sections in higher plants. Additionally, 185 novel combinations (173 at the species level and 12 at the infraspecific level) and 15 new names were published. At the national level, 1 new record family, 5 new record genus, 82 new record species, and 4 new record infraspecies were recently documented. Furthermore, 86 names were synonymized into 58 names. Five species that had not been observed for many years were rediscovered, and one species distribution was excluded. Among the newly published species, there were 9 bryophytes, 23 pteridophytes (including 1 infraspecific taxon), 1 gymnosperm hybrid, and 221 angiosperms (including 2 hybrids and 12 infraspecific taxa). Detailed molecular evidence was provided for 116 of these novel species at the time of publication that account for 46% of all new species. Additionally, 62 species were assessed as threatened according to IUCN standards upon their publication, which represents 24% of all new species. By location, the four southwestern provinces, i.e. Yunnan, Xizang, Guangxi, and Sichuan, published the highest number of new species and accounted for two-thirds of the total new species reported nationwide. In particular, Mêdog County recorded the highest number of new species among county-level administrative units, with 14 new species and records. Likewise, Yingjiang County reported the highest number of national new records, with 21 new plant records documented.

Conclusion: In 2023, China witnessed a net increase of 262 new taxa of higher plants that accounts for roughly 0.56% of all Chinese higher plant species. In addition, 200 names underwent changes, which accounts for 0.43%. These changes represented 0.99% of all Chinese higher plant names modified in 2023 and encompasses both species additions and nomenclature treatments. Multiple indicators suggest that the number of newly published plant taxa and name changes in China are beginning to show a downward trend. However, data tracking and analysis are needed to determine if this decline will continue in the future.

Background & Aims: Lineage sorting (LS) refers to the process in which multiple populations are descended from a common ancestral population or species and are now reproductively isolated from one another. It provides an approach to gain insights into speciation, and is often classified into the phases of polyphyly, paraphyly, and monophyly. The first two phases are in the state of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) where gene trees do not correctly reflect species trees. The third phase is in the state of complete LS where gene trees are concordant with species trees. Here, we reviewed relevant theories and summarized recent progresses in method for LS detection.

Progress: We first systematically discussed the coalescent theories of how genome sites with distinct evolutionary properties (neutral or selective) in an ancestral population were transmitted to progeny populations. We discussed the potential relationships between gene trees and species trees for neutral and selective genes, respectively. Secondly, we delved into LS analyses based on the neutral DNA sequences, including construction of phylogeny under ILS and the network-based phylogenetic analysis. We then discussed the impacts of selection on LS analysis and methods for detecting both directional and balancing selection based on gene trees and species trees. Finally, we discussed a few open questions about the effects of mating system on LS, the detection of ILS, and the effects of pollen and seed flow on LS.

Prospect: New theories are needed to explore how mating system shapes the LS process for both selective and neutral genes. To appropriately assess ILS for individual genes based on species trees, it is crucial to improve the method estimating species trees and to fully utilize the potential of genome sequence data in future study. Given a high frequency of natural hybridization in plant species, a phylogenetic network method is needed to simultaneously examine pollen and seed flow together with ILS. Answers to these questions could help us to understand in-depth the LS process in plant species.

Background & Aims: The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) proposed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and “3030 target” with the most attention. Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are widely recognized as a cost-effective new type of conservation management tool that can achieve the 3030 targets by significantly increasing the protected areas on land and in the ocean while considering social and economic factors. The study takes the compliance work under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as the background in China, seizes the relevant requirements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as an opportunity, leverages the characteristic advantages of OECMs and China’s institutional advantages, then analyzes the current status of China’s OECMs actions to identify key issues in advancing OECMs implementation (including significant opportunities and practical challenges), finally proposes strategic recommendations for advancing the work.
Results: Key opportunities for OECMs implementation in China lie in closely aligning with the integrated optimization goals of the “ecological-living-production spaces”, proactively identifying OECMs types that not only achieve conservation outcomes under government leadership but also attract market participation. By leveraging their advantage of balancing production, living, and ecological needs, which makes them more appealing under market economy conditions, these OECMs can effectively address current shortcomings such as lack of funding and insufficient specialized planning support. The practical challenges in the implementation of OECMs in China include unclear identification authorities and procedures, unaligned identification criteria and policy frameworks, insufficient financial and technical incentives for social participation, and the lack of research and promotion of the Chinese model. Proposed strategies include clarifying the identification authorities and procedures for OECMs at the national level, developing adaptive criteria and OECMs management guidelines, encouraging diversified social participation and financing mechanisms for OECMs, and initiating cost-benefit research on OECMs as a model with Chinese characteristics.
Conclusion & Recommendation: In the logical analysis of key issues and corresponding advancement strategies for OECMs implementation in China, the conclusions of this study are illustrated through typical cases, reflecting a novel perspective that integrates scientific research, policy analysis, and practical experience. This study anticipates leveraging the distinctive features of China’s institutional framework—clear objectives, effective measures, robust safeguards, and rigorous oversight—to strategically harness OECMs, thereby supporting the achievement of China’s implementation goals and fostering a new model for fulfilling its commitments.

Aim: Hemibagrus guttatus has historically been known as one of the “four famously economic fish in the Pearl River”. However, due to cascade development, water pollution, and overfishing, wild populations of H. guttatus have drastically declined. In February 2021, H. guttatus was listed as a national category II key protected wild animal species. The study is to investigate the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of H. guttatus to identify actions that can improve scientific management and protection of wild H. guttatus populations.

Methods: A total of H. guttatus samples were collected from 19 locations in the Pearl River and the Hanjiang River. We used multiple approaches, including phylogeny, divergence time estimation, and population genetics, to explore genetic diversity, genetic structure and population historical demography based on mitochondrial genomes.

Results: Genetic diversity analyses revealed nucleotide diversity in the H. guttatus populations of the Pearl River and Hanjiang River exhibit extremely low nucleotide diversity, indicating an urgent protection of H. guttatus populations is necessary. Phylogenetic trees and haplotype network indicated that H. guttatus populations in the Pearl River and the Hanjiang River formed independent lineages, with two sub-lineages present in the Pearl River. Divergence time estimation analysis suggests that the Pearl River populations and the Hanjiang River populations split between 0.284 and 0.401 million years ago (Ma), while the two sub-lineages in the Pearl River diverged between 0.092 to 0.132 Ma. Bayesian skyline plots suggested that overall H. guttatus populations experienced significant population contraction and expansion between 0.072 and 0.101 Ma and 0.024 and 0.033 Ma, respectively. This analysis also suggested that the Pearl River populations underwent significant population expansion between 0.024 and 0.032 Ma.

Conclusions: Results from this study suggest Pleistocene climate change in South China may be an important driving factor that triggered H. guttatuslineage divergence. Further, sea level fluctuations induced by the late Pleistocene glacial cycles and the Last Glacial Maximum may have influenced the distribution and effective population size of H. guttatus populations. Based on the results of this study, we recommend the following: (1) strengthen supervision of fisheries administration, (2) establish protected areas to maintain H. guttatushabitat, and (3) increase monitoring of Hanjiang River populations. Moreover, the maternal lineage of sampled fish should be determined (by mitochondrial sequencing) before reintroduction to avoid blind release of non-local parents or offsprings into local rivers. Implementation of these practices will help preserve, and even improve, the genetic diversity of H. guttatus, which will allow them to remain an important economic fish for years to come.

Aim: Species inventory is a fundamental task in biodiversity research and conservation practices, and detailed species catalogue is of great significance for biodiversity research and conservation. This study aims to update the list of reptiles in Guizhou Province to promote scientific research and protection efforts.

Method: Based on the reptile checklist of Reptilian Fauna of Guizhou, combining with bibliographies on reptile taxonomy in Guizhou Province published in the past 38 years since the publication of the above monograph, this paper revise and update the list of reptiles in Guizhou Province.

Results: As of June 30, 2023, a total of 120 species distributed across 2 orders, 21 families, and 57 genera were recorded in Guizhou Province. It comprised 5 species in 5 genera and 3 families of Testudines, and 115 species in 52 genera and 18 families of Squamata (including 27 species in 12 genera and 6 families of Lacertilia, and 88 species in 40 genera and 12 families of Serpentes). The resulting reptilian diversity was the same as Sichuan Province, which were both ranked at the fifth in China, only following Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Fujian Province. For species listed in the Reptilian Fauna of Guizhou, the taxonomy or Chinese common names of 78 taxa were updated or revised accordingly. Furthermore, the provincial records of 3 species were removed, while 23 species were added to the previous checklist (including 5 new species and 18 new provincial records of Guizhou). The composition of the reptile fauna in Guizhou Province was mainly composed of the Oriental Realm (105 species), the remaining 15 species were considered to have a widespread distribution, with no species represented from the Palaearctic Realm. Of the recorded diversity, 11 species were listed as Class II nationally protected, 29 species were considered as threatened based on China’s Red List of Biodersity∙Vertebrates, 27 species were endemic to China, and the type localities of 5 species were in Guizhou, including Gekko liboensis, Hemiphyllodactylus dushanensis, H. huishuiensis, Protobothrops maolanensis, and Goniurosaurus liboensis.

Conclusion: This article and its data can be used for understanding the changes and distributions of reptile species in Guizhou Province, providing basic data support for the protection of reptile resources in Guizhou Province. It is recommended to increase the research on the classification and distribution of reptiles in Guizhou Province, which will further clarify the reptile resources in Guizhou Province.