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: 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.

Background & Aim: There are more than 140 species of bats in China, accounting for about 10 percent of the world’s bat species. China is one of the countries with the richest bat species diversity in the world. With the development of urbanization, the species diversity of bats in China has been seriously threatened. This paper aims to discuss the current state of research on bats in China under the background of urbanization, and then, based on the threats of urbanization factors faced by bats in China, to propose targeted conservation recommendations.

Progresses: The review preliminarily defines urban bats as those whose life history is not directly controlled by humans, but whose stages such as foraging, roosting, and migration are completed in urban and surrounding areas affected by urbanization. Thus, their morphological, physiological, behavioral, and genetic adaptive characteristics are influenced by the urbanization In the process of urbanization, bats face a range of threats, including human hunting, human buildings, roads, light pollution, noise pollution, and chemical pollution; this is mainly manifested in three aspects in China: loss of habitat, utilization of biological resources, and disturbance of habitat. Despite this, preliminary bibliometric analysis indicates that research on the impacts of urbanization on bats in China is relatively lacking, and this field needs more attention.

Conservation Measures: In view of the significant impact of urbanization threats on the existence of bats in China and the scarcity of related research, it is necessary to strengthen the protection of bats in the process of urbanization in China. We suggest that research in the fields of taxonomy and conservation genomics should be intensified, special surveys for urban bats should be conducted, and the protection of bat habitats should be valued. As a result, the management of light and noise pollution should be strengthened, legislative protection should be carried out for bats that are unique to China and have a higher level of threat, and science popularization education related to bats should be carried out for the public, i to better protect bats in the process of urbanization.

Aims: This study aims to compile and update information on China’s newly described taxa of Hemiptera and 28 other orders of Insecta (excluding Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera) from 2022 to 2023.

Methods: We summarized the list of type specimens and bibliographies for China’s newly described taxa of Hemiptera and 28 other insect orders during 2022-2023. The preservation locations of type specimens and the journals in which the new species were published were also analyzed.

Results: From 2022 to 2023, a total of 727 new taxa were published for Hemiptera and 28 other insect orders in China, comprising 668 new species/subspecies, 58 new genera and 1 new family. Among these, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Plecoptera were the top three orders with the highest number of new taxa. Specifically, Hemiptera had 252 new species, 22 new genera, and 1 new family; Orthoptera had 183 new species and 19 new genera; and Plecoptera included 54 new species and 1 new genus. No new taxa were reported for Mantophasmatodea, Zoraptera, Isoptera, and five other orders during this period. Based on an analysis of provincial administrative regions, hotspots for new taxa discovery were concentrated in Southwest China (Yunnan, Guizhou, Xizang and Sichuan), South China (Guangxi, Hainan and Guangdong), Central China (Hunan and Hubei), and Southeast China (Taiwan, Zhejiang, and Fujian). Yunnan led with 338 new species, representing 50.60% of the total, followed by Guangxi with 115 new species (17.22%), and Guizhou, Xizang, and Sichuan with 90, 88, and 79 new species, respectively. In total, 5,252 type specimens of the 668 new species and subspecies were deposited across 70 preservation facilities. Over 95% of holotypes and paratypes are preserved in 40 universities and 11 research institutions in China, while less than 5% of paratypes are deposited in 3 universities and 12 research institutions abroad. Type specimens are predominantly stored in universities, followed by research institutes and museums. These newly described taxa were published in 320 articles across 35 journals. Over 70% of these articles appeared in Zootaxa, ZooKeys and European Journal of Taxonomy. The Chinese journal Entomotaxonomiaaccounted for 4.69% of the articles, while Systematic Entomology and 24 other journals each published one relevant article.

Conclusion: This study provides a timely update on the biodiversity data of Hemiptera and 28 other insect orders in China for 2022-2023. It plays a crucial role in accelerating the development of data-sharing platforms and enhancing the understanding of insect biodiversity.

Background & Aims: Exotic plant invasions seriously threaten native biodiversity and ecological security. Although numerous studies have explored the mechanisms of exotic plant invasion, the critical role of soil organisms in this process has not been systematically reviewed.

Progress: In this review, we summarize five ways by which soil biota influence exotic plant invasions, including (1) the role of soil microorganisms (pathogenic microorganisms, symbiotic microorganisms, saprophytic microorganisms, microbial diversity); (2) the role of soil fauna (herbivorous insects, nematodes and protozoa, mites and collembolans, earthworms); (3) the role of soil food webs (micro-food webs, entire food webs); (4) the relationship between plant-soil feedback and plant invasions; and (5) the effect of plant above- and below-ground biotic interactions.

Prospectives: We propose four directions for future studies, including (1) biogeographic comparisons between native and invasive ranges; (2) the verification of the diversity-invasibility hypothesis; (3) the expansion at the plant community level; and (4) the application of multi-omics technology. By elucidating soil biological mechanisms for exotic plant invasion, this review provides important insights for the management of invasive exotic plants and biodiversity conservation.

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.

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.

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: 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 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.

Aim:Hubei Province, located in central China, features a complex and diverse topography that provides heterogeneous habitats for rich flora. Lycophytes and ferns are important elements in biodiversity. However, they were not included in the Flora of Hubei.

Methods: To comprehensively document the diversity and distribution of lycophytes and ferns in Hubei Province, we compiled a checklist integrating data from the Catalogue of Life China: 2024 Annual Checklist, the National Specimen Information Infrastructure (NSII), published books, and journal articles. Families and genera were classified based on the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (PPG I) system.

Results: Our results identified 31 families, 99 genera, 570 species, 3 subspecies, and 27 varieties of lycophytes and ferns in Hubei Province. Among these, lycophytes comprised 2 families, 8 genera, 38 species, and 1 subspecies, while ferns comprised 29 families, 91 genera, 532 species, 2 subspecies, and 27 varieties. In addition, this study confirmed that 42 species previously recorded in Hubei Province were not actually distributed there, and we questioned the authenticity of 37 species reported in the province.

Conclusion: To improve the accuracy of plant documentation in Hubei Province, we recommend strengthening field investigations, and ensuring rigor and precision in specimen collection records. Our results provide a valuable dataset for future study on lycophytes and ferns in Hubei Province.

Aims: Spatial ecological niche differentiation is a crucial mechanism for biodiversity maintenance. The ungulates in the Chongzhou Area of Giant Panda National Park are numerous and widely distributed, but their spatial ecological niche differentiation remains unclear. The objective of our study is to analyze the ungulates spatial distribution and their spatial coexistence.
Methods: A survey on ungulates was conducted using 56 camera traps near Chongzhou, China from October 2021 to March 2022. To analyze species spatial distributions, we used single-species single season model to calculate the occupancy rates of six main local ungulate species including Sus scrofa, Elaphodus cephalophus, Rusa unicolor, Budorcas taxicolor, Naemorhedus griseus, and Muntiacus reevesi. Further, two-species single season model was used to calculate the species interaction factors (SIF) between these species to explore their spatial coexistence.
Results: We found that (1) Elaphodus cephalophus had the highest spatial occupancy rate (0.61) followed by Sus scrofa (0.55), and Rusa unicolor, Budorcas taxicolor, Naemorhedus griseus with 0.44, 0.42, and 0.11, respectively, while Muntiacus reevesi had the lowest occupancy rate (0.05); (2) The occupancy rate of ungulates was affected by environmental variables, with elevation being the highest-ranking factor; (3) There was no significant avoidance between Rusa unicolor and other ungulates in terms of spatial co-existence except Sus scrofa, nor between Elaphodus cephalophus and Sus scrofa, Budorcas taxicolor, whereas the other species were more avoidant in their spatial distributions to each other.
Conclusions: Our results suggest environmental factors influence the spatial ecological position of ungulates, while spatial distribution patterns among species significantly affect the coexistence mechanism and interspecific competition among animals distributed in the same area. We provide a scientific basis for the conservation and management of ungulates in the Chongzhou Area of Giant Panda National Park. Further, our research highlights the importance of considering spatial ecological niche differentiation in species diversity conservation.

Aims: Urban development influences local aquatic ecosystems. As one of the world’s megacities, urbanization process in Beijing are more rapid compared to other cities. Beijing’s local aquatic ecosystem is more affected by its urbanization projects, particularly the fish fauna, which is one of the most sensitive groups in the aquatic ecosystem. This study focuses on fish to better understand the impact of urbanization on Beijing’s aquatic ecosystem over the past decades. We apply functional diversity (FD), a crucial component of biodiversity, to assess ecosystem function, and to reflect the extent of resource allocation and complementarity among species within fish communities.

Methods: Using field survey data, historical specimens, and relevant literature, this study screened functional indicators that relate to fish habitat, feeding, movement, and reproduction. This enabled us to calculate and compare the functional richness index (FRic), functional evenness index (FEve), functional divergence index (FDiv), and functional dispersion index (FDis) of fish in Beijing across four periods (1920-1960, 1960-1984, 1984-2013, and 2013-2024). This study then compares these indices from developed/ developing areas in Beijing, and its ecological conservation area.

Results: We found that decreasing numbers of indigenous fish were recorded in Beijing as urban development was progressing, with 81, 66, 48 and 55 species detected in 1920-1960, 1960-1984, 1984-2013 and 2013-2024, respectively. The fish FRic in Beijing initially decreased and then increased over the four periods, from 28.889 to 17.693, then to 11.358, and finally to 19.888, which was synchronized with the change in species diversity. The FEve, FDiv, and FDis showed no significant changes. There was a positive correlation between the FRic and species diversity in both the built-up area and the ecological conservation area of Beijing. The FRic in the built-up area (1.639) was significantly lower than in the ecological conservation area (14.156), while the other three indices showed little variation between the two areas. Additionally, the introduction of non-native fish species had some impact on FRicbut had minimal impact on the other three indices.

Conclusions: Overall, FRic responds more clearly to the changes caused by urban development. Fish FRicin Beijing continuously declined before 2013 and slightly rebounded after 2013 due to the restoration of native fish resources, however it has yet to rebound to the level of the pre-urbanization 1960s. The functional diversity in built-up areas is significantly lower than in the ecological conservation area, clearly due to the impact of urban development. Moreover, non-native fish species can occupy the niches of native fish, making it challenging for native fish species to recover. Although the non-native fish can increase functional diversity to some extent, they introduced threats to the survival of native fish. Therefore, it is necessary to control the non-native fish species in Beijing.

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.

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.

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: 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: Invasive alien plants, particularly herbaceous species, posed a threat to the native community structure and ecosystem functions of nature reserves. This study aims to investigate the influence of invasive alien herbs on the phylogenetic structure of plant communities across 13 national nature reserves in Guangxi.

Methods: A total of 1,046 plots were surveyed for herbaceous plants in 13 national nature reserves. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using species data and nucleotide sequences, including the rbcL, matK, and ITS obtained from GenBank. The structural composition of herb communities was assessed using standardized effect sizes of mean phylogenetic distance and mean nearest-taxon distance (SES.MPD and SES.MNTD). R software was used to visualize the phylogenetic changes in herb communities following the naturalization of invasive alien herbs.

Results (1) Forty-seven species of invasive alien herb plants (from 38 genera and 15 families) were recorded in 13 national nature reserves. Thirty-two (68.1%) of these species were classified as serious and malignant invasive species, predominantly comprising annual Asteraceae herbs originating from the Americas. Each national nature reserve were affected by invasive alien herbs, with the highest number of species found in Damingshan National Nature Reserve (24 species) and the lowest number found in Yuanbaoshan National Nature Reserve (5 species). (2) In eight (61.5%) national nature reserves, the introduction of invasive alien herbs consistently led to reduced phylogenetic diversity at two phylogenetic levels, regardless of whether these communities were initially clustered or overdispersed. This reduction indicated increased phylogenetic clustering among herb communities.

Conclusion: Compared to communities composed solely of native species, the inclusion of invasive alien species leads to a more clustered phylogenetic structure. We examined the impacts of alien invasion on biodiversity from a phylogenetic perspective, provides a theoretical foundation for future prevention and management of invasive alien plants in nature reserves.

Background: The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the primary tool for the Parties to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity and serves as the master plan for national biodiversity conservation. Local governments play a crucial role as the managers of regional biodiversity conservation. The coordinated actions between central and local governments, according to their respective powers will unite the overall implementation of NBSAP and have a significant impact on the action effectiveness.
Results: The China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) has updated the strategy, priority areas, and actions to address the challenges to biodiversity conservation in the new era. The responsibilities of local governments for biodiversity conservation have been continuously clarified through the development of relevant regulations and policies. Although the central and local governments have coordinated to promote NBSAP implementation and achieved remarkable results through multiple means such as strengthening legal safeguards, improving policies and planning, and integrating biodiversity into demonstration, evaluations, and assessments, challenges still remain. These challenges include: (1) operational methods and pathways for biodiversity conservation, (2) the return on conservation investment, and (3) the scale of social participation.
Recommendations: In view of the challenges to biodiversity conservation and NBSAP implementation, it is recommended to provide operational methods through technical guidance and pilot demonstrations to bridge the gap from concept to practice. Additionally, promoting the market value realization of biodiversity and enhancing political returns can stimulate intrinsic motivation and improve the sustainability of conservation efforts. Lastly, enriching biodiversity-related policy instruments are crucial to mobilize extensive participation from the whole of society.

Aims: The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, being at the forefront of China’s economic development, is undergoing rapid urbanization, posing potential effects on biodiversity. Birds, prevalent in urban and suburban landscapes, possess a sensitivity to environmental shifts and are crucial indicators of urban biodiversity. This research focuses on the avifauna of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, delving into differences in bird community structure and functional traits among urban, rural, and wild habitats.

Methods: A dataset of 58,620 observation records spanning 2000 to 2019 was compiled from China Bird Report, GBIF, ebird, and other databases. After excluding records outside the breeding and wintering seasons, 17,978 valid observations were retained for analysis. We employed non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), principal component analysis (PCA), multivariate kernel density estimation, and other analyses to examine the differences in species composition and functional traits across the three landscape zones.

Results: Initial records documented 482 bird species in the region, representing 23 orders and 77 families. Following data screening, rural areas exhibited the highest species diversity (258 species) compared to the urban and wild zones. These species, spanning 20 orders and 64 families, accounted for 92.1% of the total number of species richness in the region. Urban and wild zones harbored 251 and 228 species, respectively, with 198 species (70.7%) shared among all zones. Species richness per sampling location was significantly greater in rural and wild areas compared to urban zones, with comparable levels between rural and wild habitats. Notable species composition overlaps were observed among the three habitat types. Functional traits analysis revealed that birds in urban and rural areas had higher mean body mass than those in wild areas, with no significant difference between urban and rural zones. Clutch size exhibited no significant variation among the zones. Urban habitats supported wide-ranging species, while wild areas hosted primarily narrow-ranging species. Despite these distinctions, dietary composition showed similarity across urban, rural, and wild landscapes.

Conclusions: Our investigation underscores the capacity of well-designed urban and suburban ecologies to sustain diverse avian populations. Noteworthy is the adaptability of birds to both urban and rural terrains amid the ongoing urbanization trend. Against this backdrop, we advocate for further research into conservation strategies tailored for regions with dense human populations and intensive land utilization. Future research endeavors should focus on safeguarding crucial resources within urban green spaces, water bodies, wetlands, rural agricultural lands, and paddy fields across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.