China serves as a global biodiversity hotspot for Gesneriaceae, with particularly high species richness and exceptional endemism rates concentrated in its southwestern regions. The family Gesneriaceae is characterized by its rich biological diversity, reproductive and nutritional organ phenotypic polymorphism, and a pan-tropical distribution pattern. These characteristics make this taxon a primary focus in research related to biogeography, evolutionary ecology, conservation biology, and more. Despite the importance of Gesneriaceae, investigations concerning its biodiversity in China have been limited to cataloging species, or some other generic analyses. This has left a gap in understanding the diversity distribution patterns of Gesneriaceae throughout China. To fill this gap, this study compiled literature and specimen data to catalogue Gesneriaceae and establish a geographic distribution database for China’s known Gesneriaceae. The findings reveal that Gesneriaceae primarily inhabit the tri-junction of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, as well as the Hengduan Mountains, southeastern Tibet, and across southern provinces. As of 30 June 2024, the Gesneriaceae in China comprised 46 genera and 880 species (including 58 varieties). Among these, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had the most species (324), followed by Yunnan Province (319 species) and then Guizhou Province (159 species). At the county scale, Malipo County (70 species) and Pingbian Miao Autonomous County (63 species) of Yunnan Province had the most Gesneriaceae diversity. These invaluable findings will enable Chinese researchers to further their investigations and conservation efforts related to Gesneriaceae.

Wildlife diversity monitoring is an important tool for assessing conservation progress in nature reserves. Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve is located in Guzhang County, Hunan Province, in the heart of the Wuling Mountain Range. This reserve covers an area of 17,169.8 ha, and it is habitat to 12 species of wildlife under national protection, such as small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), leopard (Prionailurus bengalensis), Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha). Camera-trapping technology is a practice often used in wildlife monitoring, providing effective support for species cataloging in nature reserves. Infrared camera monitoring records from 2021 to 2023 in the Gaowangjie National Nature Reserve were collected and species identification was performed. The dataset included 42,947 camera working days and captured a total of 45,838 images. Among them, there were 19,972 mammal records and 8,039 independent detections, covering 12 species of mammals in 3 orders and 8 families. There were 5,694 bird records and 2,212 independent detections, involving 43 species of birds in 9 orders and 23 families. By showing detailed coordinates of the camera sites, the working days of the cameras, the independent detections of birds and mammals, and the list of bird and mammal species monitored, these data can aid in revealing the biodiversity of a protected area. This insight provides an important foundation for developing evidence-based conservation plans and management strategies in protected areas.

Aims: The rapid expansion of linear infrastructure poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Developing large-scale optimization pathways for wildlife passages is crucial for regional biodiversity conservation.
Method: We employ the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model, with emphasis on representative wildlife species in Xinjiang, to predict potential habitats and assess the importance of each. The minimal cumulative resistance (MCR) model computes the least-cost paths influenced by linear infrastructure. We then accurately pinpoint the necessary locations and numbers of passages by integrating current and planned roads and fences to improve habitat connectivity, ultimately proposing an optimized spatial layout for wildlife passages.
Results: Our findings reveal notable ecological differences in the habitat distributions of various representative species. Carnivores are predominantly found in alpine and subalpine regions, while large herbivores show a preference for arid desert areas. High-resistance zones are mainly located where railways and highways intersect protected areas. Our analysis identified 2,494.98 km of passage regions and 4,314 individual passages. Higher technical grades of road are associated with longer passage regions and a greater number of passages. The total length of passages in important regions surpasses that of key regions, but passage density is significantly higher in key regions.
Conclusion: Given these findings we suggest implementing differentiated passage construction based on the technical grade of linear infrastructure. Further, enhancing passage layout optimization outside protected areas to effectively preserve regional ecological connectivity is necessary to maintain biodiversity.

Background & AimsNature-based solutions (NbS) offer multiple environmental, social and economic benefits. They play an important role in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development. Enhancing urban ecosystems through strategies that “work with nature” is now widely practiced by cities globally and is crucial for achieving Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Methods: In this paper, we summarized the theoretical framework of NbS and used the habitat garden initiative in Changning District, Shanghai as a case study. We systematically analyzed the design and operational modes, and network construction methods of urban microhabitats. Furthermore, we explored the achievements and limitations of habitat gardens, and suggested future research and practical directions for urban microhabitats in high-density urban areas, guided by national urban biodiversity conservation strategies.

Results: The habitat garden initiative in Changning District, Shanghai has explored three key innovations: (1) Strengthening the networking scale effect among scattered microhabitats in dense urban areas; (2) Establishing a model of community governance with active resident participation; and (3) Forming collaborative partnerships that benefits all stakeholders. However, challenges remain, such as inconsistent biodiversity monitoring, an overemphasis on residential green spaces, and inadequate funding plans. As the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework progresses, restoring urban habitats and ecological networks will become increasingly crucial.

Suggestion & PerspectivesGuided by the NbS framework and principles, cities should establish a cross-departmental and inclusive governance platforms to provide support urban microhabitats and ecological networks. To increase the appeal of NbS and urban biodiversity conservation, three measures should be implemented: improving scientific monitoring systems, expanding design patterns across various climate zones, and developing diverse funding mechanisms.

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.

Aims:The negative impacts of light pollution, resulting from excessive artificial light at night (ALAN), on various organisms and ecological processes, have garnered significant attention. However, the impact of ALAN on the frequency of invasive alien plants and its effects on plant community composition and the growth performance of both invasive alien and native species remain poorly understood.

Methods:We carried out a field investigation in Changchun City to compare areas with and without ALAN exposure, focusing on the frequency of invasive alien plants, the composition, and biodiversity of both invasive alien and native plant communities, as well as the average plant height and relative coverage of these plants.

Results:We found that: (1) ALAN did not significantly influence the frequency of invasive alien plants; (2) While ALAN did not significantly affect the diversity of invasive alien and native plant communities, it significantly increased the richness of invasive alien plants; (3) ALAN significantly enhanced the average height and relative cover of invasive alien plants and decreased the relative cover of native plants, but had no significant effect on the average height of native plants.

Conclusions:These results suggest that ALAN may further bolster the competitive advantage of invasive alien plants and increase their invasion risk. Therefore, future management strategies for plant invasion should incorporate ALAN as a potential contributing factor.

Background & Aims: Urban biodiversity serves as the foundation of functional urban ecosystems and contributes to the health and well-being of urban residents. Due to these critical functions, Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) aims to conserve and sustainably use urban biodiversity. In this study, we sought to determine how urban biodiversity studies can support the achievement Target 12 in China.

Methods: We initially employed the logic model to examine Target 12 in the KMGBF and Priority Action 18 outlined in the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030). The narratives of the target and action were categorized into aims, interventions, immediate outcomes, and final outcomes. We formulated ten research questions concerning urban biodiversity studies in China based on the interventions and outcomes. Subsequently, we developed search strings for the ten questions and searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). We reviewed the documents that met our search criteria to identify gaps and future research needs.

Results: Our review indicates that there is a significant imbalance in the number of studies addressing the ten research questions, with limited research on urban biodiversity conservation legislation and routine monitoring. In contrast, more studies have focused on urban ecosystem service functions and health benefits. Future research efforts, guided by practical needs, should prioritize investigations into key concepts, methods for conducting urban biodiversity surveys and assessments, approaches to constructing urban biodiversity monitoring networks, and evaluations of the effectiveness of existing policies and management actions.

Suggestion & Perspectives: The KMGBF creates new opportunities for urban biodiversity research in China; however, collaboration between government officials and researchers is essential to realize these opportunities.

Aims: Population dynamics analysis is a crucial basis for formulating conservation strategies of endangered species. The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is an endemic amphibian in China, and the status of its wild populations remains unclear. Through population dynamics analysis, this study aims to provide a basis for the conservation strategies of the Chinese giant salamander.

Methods: This study took the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) as the focal taxon in Zhangjiajie Chinese Giant Salamader National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China, based on the field survey data obtained from 2006 to 2021 and was complemented by comprehensive stock enhancement and release statistics spanning from 2000 to 2024. Utilizing population growth models, the study examined the population dynamics, carrying capacity, and the efficacy of stock enhancement measures for the Chinese giant salamander population.

Results: The results showed that: (1) The average annual population growth rate was 0.1722 ± 0.0324, with a carrying capacity (K) value of 51,190 individuals. The current population was in an exponential growth phase. (2) There was a highly significant difference in population growth curves between stock enhancement and non-stock enhancement scenarios. In the non-stock enhancement scenario, the instantaneous growth rates in the exponential and Logistic growth functions decreased by 16.27% and 32.11%, respectively. (3) Stock enhancement has demonstrably reinvigorated wild populations of Chinese giant salamander, under the current release regime, population size is projected to reach the environmental carrying capacity in 40 years.

Conclusion: Empirical validation confirms the feasibility of leveraging population growth models to project demographic trajectories, rendering them powerful tools for devising medium to long-term conservation strategies for endangered species; Stock enhancement has a significant effect on the recovery of the wild population of the Chinese giant salamander. Based on the current stock enhancement volume, the population size is projected to reach the peak of the carrying capacity in 40 years. Considering the current population growth rate, population growth trajectory, and environmental carrying capacity, continuous stock enhancement measures should be implemented, and individuals for stock enhancement should be selected based on river systems and genetic lineages, with offspring from local broodstock as the source of stock enhancement individuals. This approach can prevent genetic mixing in wild populations and ensure stable population growth. Additionally, protection and restoration efforts should be focused on breeding sites. This study offers valuable guidance for the analysis of population dynamics, the assessment of conservation effectiveness, and the development of conservation strategies for the Chinese giant salamander and other endangered species.

Halophytes, as a unique group of plants adapted to saline-alkaline environments, play a crucial role in ecological conservation, saline-alkaline land management, and sustainable resource utilization. However, compared to their significance, the systematic inventory of halophytes in China has lagged behind. Existing data primarily come from regional studies or scattered literature records, lacking systematicity and comprehensiveness. This study, based on the foundational data from Halophytes of China (first and second editions) and the global halophyte database (eHaloph), integrates years of field investigations and systematically reviews and supplements the existing inventory data (adding new taxa and new records), improving global distribution information. It also systematically organizes ecological and functional data such as habitat, life form, height, morphology, halophyte type, ecological type, maximum salinity, photosynthetic pathway, and utilization value. Ultimately, we have compiled a dataset on the new inventory and geographical distributions of Chinese halophytes. Up to 2024, this dataset includes 102 families, 538 genera, 1,581 species (including 31 subspecies and 37 varieties) from China. With the advancement of agricultural development and ecological restoration efforts, some exotic halophytes have gradually become naturalized and integrated into China’s halophyte communities. Compared to the of Halophytes of China, 2nd edn, this dataset includes an additional 31 families, 310 genera, 1,026 species (including 22 subspecies and 14 varieties). The establishment of this dataset provides important support for in-depth research on the diversity, ecological functions, and application potential of Chinese halophytes, and also provides a scientific basis for policy-making in saline-alkaline land management and biodiversity conservation.

Background & Aim As a critical research area under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), urban green spaces play a key role in maintaining the ecological stability of cities and improving the quality of life of residents. However, the compound pressures of habitat fragmentation, invasive alien species and environmental pollution brought about by large-scale global urban expansion have made the conservation of biodiversity in urban green spaces an urgent issue in global ecological governance. This paper focuses on the biodiversity of urban green spaces under high-intensity human intervention, systematically analyzing its conceptual connotation and research scope. We review advances in monitoring technologies, functional synergies, landscape optimization, and management strategies, while identifying research gaps and future directions.

Progress: Research indicates that urban green spaces serve as vital infrastructure for enhancing the resilience of ecosystem services, facilitating species migration and dispersal, and improving climate adaptation. Effective biodiversity conservation requires integrated strategies that restore ecological connectivity and optimize multifunctional synergies. However, the current research still faces bottlenecks such as fragmentation of the monitoring technology system, disconnection of cross-scale planning, and lagging governance mechanisms. In the future, it is necessary to build an intelligent monitoring system and a comprehensive database, develop multi-objective synergistic models, promote biodiversity-oriented green space system planning, and innovate a multifaceted governance mechanism.

ProspectsThrough interdisciplinary integration and international cooperation, the conservation of urban green space biodiversity will be deeply embedded in the governance of land space, and the synergistic path of urbanization and biodiversity conservation will be explored, so as to provide a scalable ecological restoration plan for achieving the global 30 by 30 target and provide a scientific decision-making paradigm for the sustainable symbiosis of urban ecosystems in the context of the Anthropocene.

This article is based on an audio tape of Chan Wang recorded in 1986, which provides detailed information about the discovery of the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) by Chan Wang. This article is now published as Chan Wang’s posthumous work. The discovery occurred in 1943 when Chan Wang was on an expedition to explore the forests of Shennongjia in Hubei Province, Central China. The article begins with Chan Wang’s acceptance of the Shennongjia exploration mission and narrates the entire process of how he overcame numerous hardships to collect the dawn redwood specimens and conducted research on them. The discovery of the dawn redwood was a combination of both chance and inevitability, and it was Chan Wang’s fearless and selfless spirit of scientific exploration that led to a serendipitous opportunity into the inevitable outcome of the discovery of the dawn redwood.

Aims: Litter constitutes a crucial component of forest ecosystems, playing significant roles in biogeochemical cycling, energy flow, and nutrient balance. Nevertheless, understanding the mechanisms by which biotic and abiotic factors influence litter production in heterogeneous natural forest ecosystems remains contentious. This study aims to investigate the long-term dynamics and influential factors affecting litter production in karst forests within subtropical regions.

Methods: In this study, we set up 151 litter traps, and collected litter monthly from 2018 to 2022 in a 25-ha karst evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest dynamics plot in the Mulun National Nature Reserve, Guangxi Province. All litter in each trap was dried, classified and weighed.

Results: The average annual litter production in karst forests was 5,946.55 ± 77.27 kg/ha, with significant inter-annual variability. The proportion of each litter component ranked as follows: leaves (63.26%) > debris (24.89%) > twigs (12.79%). Seasonal patterns for total litter and leaf litter production were similar, displaying a bimodal trend with peaks in spring (March-April) and fall (September-October). Monthly dynamics of branch litter followed a unimodal pattern, peaking in autumn (around October), while debris showed a bimodal pattern with peaks in spring (May) and fall (October), respectively. The species diversity, convexity, mean diameter at breast height (DBH), were the main driving factors of litter production within a 5 m radius neighborhood around the traps. The results of the structural equation model indicated that the species diversity, DBH, and convexity have a direct influence on the total litter production, while slope had an indirect influence on the total litter production through altering species diversity.

Conclusion: Five years of continuous monitoring have revealed significant seasonal variations in litter production within the karst evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest. Both biotic and topographic factors collectively affected the spatial variability of litter production.

Aims: Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are becoming an essential complement to the traditional system of protected areas, playing a critical role in global biodiversity conservation. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the development trajectory and current research on OECMs, focusing particularly on their advancements and unique characteristics in China. It further explores the future prospects of OECMs in China under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Progress: In recent years, the continuous policy advancements regarding OECMs worldwide underscore the international community’s recognition of their significant role as a supplementary tool in global biodiversity conservation strategies. From conceptualization to practical implementation, OECMs have undergone a process of deepening and refinement, emerging as a key mechanism for addressing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Globally, systematic studies have been conducted on the criteria, procedures, and methodologies for identifying OECMs, as well as on their governance and long-term effectiveness.
Perspectives: Despite the growing international recognition of OECMs, their effective implementation and monitoring continue to face significant challenges that require urgent attention. This study explores future development pathways for OECMs within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with a particular focus on accelerating their mainstreaming, enhancing biodiversity conservation effectiveness through robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, establishing clear de-designation procedures, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and multi-stakeholder governance, and advancing research and formal recognition of marine OECMs. These efforts aim to contribute to the refinement of biodiversity conservation strategies in China and globally, providing a scientific basis for the effective integration of OECMs into broader conservation frameworks.

Aims: In arid sandy areas, while the sand-fixing vegetation system is crucial to maintaining ecological security, artificial vegetation gradually often faces the risk of degradation with the increase of the growth period. Recently, it has become an urgent theoretical and technical challenge to maintain the relative stability of sand-fixing vegetation systems, as well as promote their natural regeneration and succession. To understand the ecological traits of seeds from sand-fixing vegetation areas with different establishment years, we collected vegetation samples from the north side of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. Our objectives are to determine the characteristics of the seed rain, soil seed bank, and aboveground vegetation, along with interrelationships among them to characterize species growth and community structures in this specific environment. The overall goal is to fully understand the mechanisms of underlying vegetation renewal, succession, and stability maintenance in the sand-fixing vegetation area on the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the sustainable management of the sand-fixing vegetation system.

Methods: On the northern edge of the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway, we selected three types of sand-fixing plots with different establishment years (15-20 years, 30-40 years, 50-60 years) for a 2-year field study. We collected seed trap and soil seed bank samples annually from these plots. The collected seeds were germinated indoors, and vegetation surveys were conducted each year. The similarity of species composition between aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and soil seed bank were analyzed using the Sørensen similarity index (SI) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination methods. Additionally, we quantitatively analyzed the relative contributions of seed source availability versus dispersal limitation to the formation of the soil seed bank.

Results: Our results indicated that the seed rain composition in sand-fixing vegetation areas with different establishment years was dominated by annual herbs, with their density dynamics showing a bimodal distribution pattern in July and November, controlled by the phenology of seed dispersal. The highest seed rain density was observed in sand-fixing vegetation established for 30-40 years. The soil seed bank composition in these areas was primarily composed of annual herbs, exhibiting characteristics of both transient and persistent seed banks, with a tendency towards persistent seed banks. However, seeds of Caragana korshinskii showed typical transient soil seed bank characteristics. The highest soil seed bank density was found in the surface soil layer and in areas established for 30-40 years. Aboveground vegetation in sand-fixing areas generally exhibited a simple structure. The similarity between mobile dune areas and areas established for 50-60 years was higher than that between areas established for the 15-20 years and those established for 30-40 years. Furthermore, the similarity between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation was higher than that between seed rain and aboveground vegetation. Regarding the similarity in monthly species composition, the highest similarity within groups was found in the soil seed bank, followed by aboveground vegetation. Additionally, our species composition similarity results between aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and soil seed bank, showed no significant differences using both SI and NMDS ordination methods. Both methods revealed that similarities between aboveground vegetation, seed rain, and soil seed banks tend to increase with sand-fixing duration.

Conclusion: Persistent soil seed banks serve as a potential driving force for long-term vegetation renewal, while seed rain enhances the potential for vegetation regeneration. In this study, we determined that sand-fixing vegetation areas in the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, as well as the occurrence of seed rain, the composition of the soil seed bank, and the characteristics of aboveground vegetation, exhibit significant differences in species and habitat. Additionally, we found that as the duration of sand-fixing increases, the degree of connection among the three components (seed rain, soil seed bank, and aboveground vegetation) also increases, tending to form a local soil seed bank supplementation mechanism that supports the cyclical renewal and maintenance processes of aboveground vegetation.

Aims:The Hexi Corridor serves as a critical ecological protection area in Northwest China. This study aims to investigate the fish diversity and resource status within the interior drainage systems of this region.

Methods:From April 2019 to October 2023, eight fishery resource surveys were conducted at 25 sampling sections across inland river basin of the Hexi Corridor. The relative importance index (IRI) was used to determine the dominant species of the population. Fish diversity was analyzed using the Margalef richness index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson dominance index, and Pielou evenness index. The Bray-Curtis similarity coefficient was used to cluster and sort the distribution characteristics of fish. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and redundancy analysis (RDA) was employed to examine the gradient relationships between fish community composition and environmental factor using Canoco 5.0 software.

Results:A total of 9,743 fish belonging to 4 orders, 8 families, 20 genera and 29 species were identified. Among them, 12 species are indigenous, including Gymnocypris chilienensis and Schizopygopsis pylzovi, which are under Gansu Provincial protection. Schizopygopsis pylzovi was identified as a new recorded species in the interior drainage of Hexi Corridor, and four species, including Triplophysa yarkandensis and Silurus soldatovi, were classified as vulnerable or near-threatened under the Red List of Biodiversity of China. The fish populations were predominantly composed of small-sized species, with Gymnocypris chilienensis, Triplophysa hsutschouensis and Carassius cuvieri as the dominant species. Notable differences in dominant species were observed across different river systems and temporal intervals. The fish diversity in the inland river system of Hexi Corridor was generally low across the inland rivers. The Margalef richness index was the highest in summer (2.215), while the Simpson dominance index peaked in autumn at the 0.715. Both Shannon-Wiener diversity index (1.463) and Pielou evenness index (0.716) reached their maxima in spring. Among the rivers, the Heihe River exhibited the highest species richness index of Margalef (2.767 ± 1.455) and Shannon-Wiener diversity index (1.549 ± 0.432), whereas the Shule River recorded the highest Simpson dominance index (0.755 ± 0.060) and Pielou evenness index (0.807 ± 0.095), respectively. The NMDS analysis revealed significant differences in fish species composition between the upper and middle-to-lower reaches of rivers. Redundancy analysis indicated that total phosphorus was the primary environmental factor influencing fish community structure.

Conclusion:Compared with survey data from the 1980s, the distribution areas of Gymnocypris chilienensis and Triplophysa yarkandensis have been reduced, while the distribution areas of other Triplophysa species have remained relatively stable. Key factors affecting fish diversity and distribution in the region include water resource scarcity, invasive species, and water conservancy projects.

Long-term camera-trapping data provides critical information on the occurrence of elusive species and indicates the effectiveness of management and conservation interventions. A potential habitat for the Amur tiger in Northeast China is the Zhangguangcai Mountains located in the central and southern areas of Heilongjiang Province and eastern Jilin Province. We summarize camera-trapping records in southern Zhangguangcai Mountains between August 2015 and November 2020. Our research includes detailed species identification and a comprehensive camera-trapping dataset based on 72 camera locations. We compile a comprehensive camera trap survey with a total sampling effort of 88,093 camera-days, capturing 9,206 independent mammal detections and 655 bird detections. Species identification reveals 18 wild mammal species (5 orders and 11 families) and 31 bird species (9 orders and 16 families). Our dataset provides detailed information on camera trap locations, operational days, and independent records of mammal and bird species across different monitoring periods. Further, the dataset includes a comprehensive species list with details on endangered status and relative abundance index. Our dataset is the first comprehensive summary of infrared camera monitoring in the Zhangguangcai Mountains and offers essential scientific data to support targeted conservation and management decisions in the region.

Background: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It achieves this by subjecting, and if necessary, suspending, international trade in listed species to certain controls and regulations. The effective implementation of the Convention relies on the coordination and consistency of countries worldwide in terms of terminology comprehension, law enforcement, data collection and statistics, and policy formulation. However, due to legacy issues at the time of CITES’s signing, United Nations’ languages such as Chinese, Russian and Arabic are not working languages of CITES. Despite China’s four-decade implementation of CITES, with Chinese CITES authorities having translated the Convention text and other valid documents into Chinese for domestic dissemination, China’s participation in the formulation and implementation of regulations for international trade in wild fauna and flora remains contingent upon accurate comprehension and translation of CITES terminology and definitions in English. Terminology is the core concept in the formulation and implementation of policies and regulations, and it is also the foundation of rules. As a highly technical and operational international agreement, CITES has a comprehensive implementation system with a complex and intertwined set of rules. Investigating the translation and characteristics of terminology can provide an entry point for understanding the establishment and evolution of CITES regulations.

Main Content: This article traces the linguistic regulations at the time of CITES’ signing, lists important terms related to the conservation of endangered wild animals and plants and their translations in the CITES text and valid documents, and categorizes the CITES terms according to their nature and application scenarios. The definitions and explanations of CITES terms can be categorized into definitional, explanatory, and quotational according to their nature; and into scientific and definitional terms, regulatory and procedural terms, and cooperative and compliance terms according to their application scenarios. By using an online Large Language Model Moonshot AI, 14 terms with the most special English explanations and the greatest differences from common understanding were extracted from the 150 terms of the CITES glossary, and a comparison was made.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that the CITES terminology is primarily anchored in the Convention’s legal framework, embodying purpose-driven linguistic features tailored to regulate wildlife trade. However, divergences from common usage emerge through three distinctive dimensions: more detailed, specific, and operationally robust. When Parties inadequately grasp these terminological nuances during routine implementation of Convention obligations, such comprehension gaps may not only impede regulatory compliance but also precipitate operational ambiguities. In severe cases, it may even trigger or activate the Convention’s review and suspension mechanisms. Mastery of the categories and characteristics of CITES terminology aids in understanding the background, rule evolution, and operational execution of this so-called “Convention with teeth”. It includes compliance and enforcement measures, such as the prohibition of trade. Only with a comprehensive understanding can we effectively implement the Convention, regulate international trade in wild fauna and flora, and advance global biodiversity governance. Additionally, the characteristics and interpretations of CITES terminology also provide insights and references for formulating China’s wildlife protection and management laws and regulations, as well as related standards.

Background & Aims: Biodiversity data serve as a fundamental basis for advancing biodiversity science and achieving effective conservation outcomes. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), as the most influential biodiversity information platform, has established a global collaborative network and integrated over 3 billion species occurrence records from across the globe. These resources provide essential support for scientific research, policy-making, and management decisions. This study aims to systematically examine the key initiatives and corresponding achievements of the GBIF. Drawing on an analysis of China’s current practices and challenges in biodiversity data development, the study seeks to provide well-founded recommendations and insights to inform the advancement of relevant national platforms.

Progresses: This paper systematically reviews the development history, organizational structure, key initiatives, and major achievements of GBIF, and analyzes its valuable experiences in promoting innovation in scientific research and policy-making, enhancing coordination mechanisms, developing a global network, and strengthening infrastructure. Over 12,000 peer-reviewed publications have cited GBIF data, and the platform has been widely recognized by international organizations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). The development of China’s biodiversity data platforms commenced at a relatively early stage and have yielded substantial outcomes. However, challenges remain in their development, limiting the full application potential of China’s biodiversity data in scientific research and policy-making.

Prospects: Based on the development potential of biodiversity data infrastructure in China, the paper proposes recommendations such as establishing a top-level coordination mechanism, enhancing research infrastructure, improving national-level platforms for data-driven innovation, and deepening support for scientific and policy decision-making, aiming to provide practical insights for the planning and development of related platforms in China.

Aims: Our objective is to provide a better understanding on the background and community structure of fish diversity in the main inland water bodies of Shanghai.

Methods: We used specimens from 13 rivers and one reservoir in Shanghai to investigate the species resources and community structure of fish in the main inland water bodies of Shanghai. These specimens were examined qualitatively and quantitatively from July to August in summer and then from October to November in autumn in 2023.

Results: A total of 20,160 specimens belonging to 16 orders, 24 families, 57 genera, and 71 species were collected and identified. Cypriniformes, Gobiiformes, and Siluriformes accounted for 57.74%, 9.86%, and 5.63% of the total species, respectively. There were 57 species of freshwater fish, 11 species of estuarine fish, 3 species of migratory fish, and 5 exotic or artificial species. The high taxonomic composition of series Percomorpha and the rich ecological types of estuarine fish represented the characteristics of fish composition in estuarine tidal river networks in eastern China. There was an average of 35.9 species of fish in the 14 water bodies. The Punan Canal and Pudong Canal had the largest number with 47 species each, and Dishui Lake had the smallest number with 24 species. There were 15 dominant species and 14 common species with the average being 5 dominant species and 10 common species in each water body. Carassius auratus, Acheilognathus macropterus, Culter dabryi, and Chanodichthys erythropterus were the dominant species in the 14 water bodies. The Margalef richness index (D), Shannon diversity index (H'), Pielou evenness index (J'), and Simpson dominance index (C) showed fish diversity is higher in the 13 rivers such as Yuanxie River and lowest in Dishui Lake. The Cody index (β_c) of each water body ranged from 4.0-15.5 with an average of 9.9. A large species diversity was shown by the Routledge index (β_R) ranging from 12.44 to 28.76 with an average of 19.8. The ABC curve showed W was negative in most water bodies, and the abundance dominance curve was mostly above the biomass curve, showing the characteristics of community structure dominated by small and medium-sized individual fish. The fish communities in 14 water bodies were divided into 4 groups by cluster analysis. The similarities within the groups were approximately 74%, with the exception of the first group, and the differences between the groups were 31.42%-49.65%. The highest contribution of differences was Carassius auratus, Pseudorasbora parva, and Chanodichthys mongolicus.

Conclusion: Our results suggest the differences of fish community structure of main inland water bodies in Shanghai may be caused by natural conditions, regional location, release activities of the water bodies, and the land use forms where the water bodies are located. The water of the metropolis with dense buildings can also maintain a high diversity of fish species under the premise of protecting the water environment and fish habitat.

Background: Ecologists have long been interested in the geographical distribution patterns of biodiversity and the underlying mechanisms. The evolutionary speed hypothesis (ESH) is one of the mainstream explanations for the latitudinal biodiversity gradient pattern. This hypothesis suggests that the higher temperatures in low-latitude regions accelerate speciation rates and thus increase the species richness through three mechanisms. Specifically, (1) high temperatures shorten generation times, thereby increase the effective evolutionary time (the number of effective generations per unit of absolute time); (2) high temperatures increase mutation rates and thus genetic variations—the raw material for natural selection; (3) high temperatures accelerate the process of natural selection. Though this hypothesis is widely debated based on observed data from nature, rigorous tests are rare.

Progress:The experimental evolution approach has been recently adopted to test specific mechanisms for ESH; and those studies were performed under well-controlled environmental temperatures. This article presents a comprehensive review of these studies about the consequences of temperature for mutation rates, selection and adaptive diversification. The generality of conclusions from those studies needs to be tested in more complex systems.

Prospects: The experimental evolution approach will further deepen our understanding of the evolutionary speed hypothesis and the mechanisms underlying the geographical patterns of biodiversity, and give insights for species conservation and disease control under climate warming.

Background & Aims: Land/ocean use change represents the foremost direct driver of global biodiversity loss. Target 1 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework advocates for zero loss of critical ecological regions through comprehensive spatial planning encompassing all areas. The proposal of “establishing and improving a unified and coordinated system for land and space use control and planning permission covering all regions and all types” put forward at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China provides the best opportunity for implementing Target 1.
Challenges: As national parks constitute territorial spaces for biological conservation, their institutional reforms must be thoroughly connected with the territorial space planning and utilization regulation frameworks to efficaciously underpin the conservation of such ecological spaces. Nonetheless, current top-level designs for national park reforms lack explicit integration with these two systems, leading to practical contradictions.
Recommendations: It is suggested to fully connect the national park planning system with the five-tiered, three-category territorial space planning hierarchy to serve as the basis for spatial regulation within national parks; to advance the phased implementation of unified utilization control rights, either indirectly or directly exercised by national park management authorities, in accordance with the complexity of reforms; and to develop a differentiated and nuanced utilization control system grounded in spatial zoning.

Background & Aim: Domestic animals and their wild relatives are important biological resources crucial to the creation of new breeds, germplasm innovation and wildlife protection. China has abundant and unique domestic breeds and is one of the distributions of many wild relatives and the origin centers of animal domestication. The confusion in the usage of Chinese and Latin names for domestic animals and their wild relatives hinders the accurate identification of biological resources, impairs effective scientific research communication and science popularization, and contributes to the loss of vital biological resources.

Methods: We search online resources and official documents such as the List of State Key Protected Wild Animals (2021), threatened species listed on China’s Red List (2021), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (2023) among others. This information is used to investigate the history and origin of domesticating animals and the sources and use of names for domestic animals and their wild relatives in Chinese, English, and Latin languages.

Conclusion & Suggestions: We find four key principles: (1) The Latin names of domestic animals and wild relatives must consider their origin and domestication history. (2) The Chinese names of domestic animals and wild relatives should conform to the rules of taxonomy, using the names of official documents or related monographs is recommended. (3) The Latin name of offspring produced by the hybridization of species should be expressed by the Latin scientific name of the parent, and the order of the Latin name should be distinguished from the orthogonal or inverse cross. (4) International conventions, national laws and regulations, scientific reports, and other official documents shall be used first according to context.

Aims:Guangdong Province is one of the provinces with the high diversity of Chiroptera in China and is also one of the global hotspots for chiropteran distribution. To comprehensively understand the current diversity resources of Chiroptera in Guangdong Province, and to provide basic data for future biodiversity research and conservation practices, the timely updating of species checklists and the availability and accuracy of molecular barcode databases, even those based on local species specimens, are necessary.

Methods:This study was based on our long-term survey results over 30-years effort, combined with a summary of historical records and literature on Guangdong Province, we aimed to update the chiropteran species checklist for the province. Additionally, we selectively utilized our specimen resources that collected by our research team over 30-years to specifically construct their molecular barcode database via molecular barcoding technology. We provided primers and PCR systems for molecular barcoding technology that cover the known species of Chiroptera, facilitating future use by researchers.

Results:As of July 2024, Guangdong Province had recorded 61 species of Chiroptera across 8 families and 24 genera, making its species diversity second only to Yunnan Province, which had 82 species across 8 families and 31 genera. Its diversity accounted for 43.2% of the bats in China. Among these, the family Vespertilionidae had the highest diversity with 37 species, while the genus Myotis was the most diverse genus with 11 species. We compiled 11 pairs of universal primers for the Cytb gene and 9 pairs for the COI gene. Based on molecular sequence data primarily obtained from samples that historically collected in this province, we established a reference barcoding database for the 61 Chroptera species in Guangdong Province.

Conclusions:This study not only revises and updates the species checklist of Chiroptera in Guangdong Province, but also establishes the molecular barcoding database. It could provide accurate and convenient basic data for the molecular identification of Chiroptera species in the province and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We hope this will benefit future biodiversity research and conservation practice.