The author has been engaged in taxonomic research for 60 years, from Flora of China to world monographs, and has been recognized both at home and abroad. During this process, the author has realized that a complete and reasonable research method is of vital importance. Taxonomy is a highly comprehensive discipline, involving almost all branches of biology, among which morphology, palynology, cytology, genetics, molecular biology and statistics are indispensable. Taking the research on the genus Paeonia (Paeoniaceae) and the genus Codonopsis (Campanulaceae) and their related groups as examples, the author has applied all the above-mentioned disciplines, emphasizing that field investigation and statistical analysis are indispensable research methods. Only through field investigation can necessary experimental materials be obtained and between the population polymorphism and interspecific differences be distinguished; only through statistical analysis can intraspecific variations and genetic isolation be differentiated. The rise of molecular systematics has brought taxonomy into a brand-new era, and taxonomists must recognize and learn it. My team has applied it in the above two studies and achieved unexpected results. My feeling is that high-level research must be based on complete scientific methods.

Aims: In the face of the extinction crisis primarily driven by human activities, understanding the dynamics of forest succession under varying disturbance regimes is more vital than ever. This study seeks to examine the influences of disturbances on the successional dynamics of species diversity in mid-subtropical forests, aiming to provide scientific insights for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration efforts.

Methods: We selected four typical forests within the Qianjiangyuan section of the Qianjiangyuan-Baishanzu National Park candidate area: evergreen broad-leaved old-growth forests (PR), once-disturbed secondary forests (MD), twice-disturbed secondary forests (SD), and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation forests (PL). A total of 12 1-ha forest dynamics plots (three plots for each forest type) were established in 2009 and recensused every five years. In each census, all free-standing stems ≥ 1 cm in DBH (diameter at breast height) were measured, mapped, and identified to species. With those data, we measured species diversity using four indices: species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson diversity index, and Pielou’s evenness index, collectively to explore the trajectories and rates of successions of biodiversity under different disturbance regimes.

Results: Our longitudinal data revealed that species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and Simpson diversity index in PR, MD, and PL increased over succession, while they decreased in SD. Pielou’s evenness index showed divergent dynamics: it initially increased and then decreased in PR and MD, whereas it consistently increased in SD and PL. Noticeably, when Chinese fir was excluded, Pielou’s evenness index in PL decreased over time. The succession rate of various species diversity indices generally showed a declining trend over time, but the rate of species richness and Pielou’s evenness index was mostly not significant. Affected by snow and ice disasters, the successional trajectory of PR deviated from its stable state. The succession rate of species richness in the early recovery stage of the impaired PR was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index was low and showed no significant change over time. The succession rate of Pielou’s evenness index in PL was significantly higher than in other forests and decreased significantly over time, while the succession rate of species richness was low and showed no significant difference from MD and SD.

Conclusion: We underscore the differentiated effects of disturbances on the succession of species diversity in subtropical forests. PR demonstrated a high capacity for self-recovery after disturbances, while SD exhibited a decline in species richness, emphasizing the critical role of disturbances in shaping community succession. Our results inform conservation strategies by suggesting that restoration efforts should be tailored to the disturbance history and succession stage of each forest type. For highly disturbed areas like PL, active restoration measures such as tree thinning are necessary to enhance biodiversity recovery, whereas PR might benefit from minimal intervention due to their inherent capacity for self-recovery. This research contributes to global efforts to halt biodiversity loss and promote sustainable forest management by providing evidence-based insights into the complex relationships between disturbance, succession, and species diversity.

Aims: Tropical rainforests are an important ecosystem because of their role in conserving species diversity and mitigating global warming. However, there have been few studies about the ability of secondary tropical forests to recover from environmental catastrophe. To fill this gap in the literature, the goal of this study was catalogue species diversity and spatial distribution in a secondary forest in Jianfengling, Hainan in order to explore the characteristics of the recovering community structure in tropical forests.

Methods: To meet this objective, a 64-ha secondary forest dynamics plot was established in a tropical montane rainforest from 2020 to 2021 in Jianfengling, Hainan. Trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5.0 cm were tagged and mapped, and the species of tree was identified. Finally, these survey data were analyzed based on their species diversity, importance value, and spatial distribution patterns.

Results: The results revealed that: (1) A total of 152,958 surviving trees with DBH ≥ 5.0 cm were recorded in the plot, belonging to 65 families, 153 genera, and 262 species, among which there were 80 rare species, 113 occasional species, and 69 common species. (2) There were 24 species with an importance value greater than 1.00%, with the top 5 species being Castanopsis carlesii, Gironniera subaequalis, Nephelium topengii, Cryptocarya chinensis, and Lithocarpus fenzelianus. The dominant families were Fagaceae, Lauraceae, and Symplocaceae, and the dominant genera were Castanopsis, Symplocos, and Lithocarpus. (3) The average DBH was 13.00 cm, and the DBH distribution exhibited an inverted “J” shape, indicating this secondary forest was regenerating well and maintaining its stability. (4) The dominant species in the plot exhibited aggregated distribution patterns across spatial scales from 1 m to 100 m and demonstrated a preference for certain habitats, indicating that niche differentiation plays an important role in the maintaining biodiversity in this tropical montane rainforest.

Conclusion: This study elucidates the community structure of a secondary forest in a tropical montane rainforest, which can provide scientific basis for the conservation and management of species diversity in Jianfengling, Hainan.

Aims: Grassland degradation impacts the composition, structure, and ecological functions of plant communities, threatening ecosystem stability. Accurately assessing grassland degradation is essential for developing effective conservation measures and management strategies.

Methods: This study utilized remote sensing data based on vegetation coverage to evaluate the current status of grassland degradation in Hulunbuir. We categorized the degradation into different levels, and analyzed field survey data to examine species composition, distribution patterns, and changes in vegetation biomass across these degradation levels.

Results: As grassland degradation intensifies, we observed significant changes in community structure and dominant species. The species distribution shifted notably, with a decline in herbaceous species and a significant reduction in aboveground biomass and litter biomass. However, belowground biomass only decreased significantly at the extreme degradation stage. We also found that the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Simpson diversity index initially increased before declining, suggesting that moderate grazing may enhance species diversity, whereas overgrazing significantly reduces it. Our study showed that while aboveground biomass and litter biomass decreased significantly with grassland degradation, belowground biomass, species composition, and distribution patterns only exhibited significant differences at the stage of extreme degradation. This indicates that remote sensing methods based on vegetation coverage can accurately assess the condition of severely degraded grasslands, but they may be less accurate for light to moderate degradation stages. Early stages of grassland degradation might involve species changes that are undetectable through vegetation coverage alone.

Conclusion: Grassland degradation assessments should fully incorporate changes in species composition within communities, combined with more extensive field survey data, to improve the accuracy in identifying grassland degradation. Our findings provide valuable insights into monitoring and evaluation methods of grassland degradation and its impacts on plant communities, providing scientific evidence for restoring degraded grasslands.

Aims: Understanding the spatial patterns of vegetative populations is fundamental to plant ecology, as changes in spatial patterns can reveal past, present, and future processes that impacting the plant community. The study of population spatial patterns in natural communities has garnered increasing interest, particularly in the temperate steppe of China. In this region sheep overgrazing has degraded native grasslands since 1960s, decreasing production and biodiversity. In response, some primary Leymus chinensis communities have been preserved through enclosures that were established in 1979. Using both the primary L. chinensis communities that were preserved and the overgrazed L. chinensis communities, we aim to address two questions: (1) How do the spatial patterns of L. chinensis differ between primary and overgrazed community? (2) Is the L. chinensis aggregation intensity of the primary community lower than that of the overgrazed community?

Methods: Three 5 m × 5 m plots were established within the primary and long-term overgrazed L. chinensis communites with minimal variation in topography and environmental conditions, respectively. Within each plot, the location of each L. chinensis individual was recorded by integrating digital photographs into a geographical information system. To analyze spatial patterns of L. chinensis, we applied the pairwise correlation function g(r) and compared these to homogeneous and heterogeneous Poisson null models.

Results: In the primary L. chinensis community, L. chinensis exhibited a clustered pattern at small scales (< 0.71 m) and a random distribution at larger scales (0.71-2.50 m). In contrast, in the overgrazed L. chinensis community, L. chinensis exhibited a clustered pattern across all scales (0-2.50 m). When variations in the surrounding habitat (habitat heterogenity) were controlled for, the L. chinensis aggregation intensity of the overgrazed L. chinensis community was higher than the primary L. chinensis community at the small scale.

Conclusion: Grazing caused habitat heterogeneity, shifting the spatial pattern of L. chinensis as it developed from a primary to an overgrazed community. Furthermore, controlling for habitat heterogeneity revealed that the positive interactions caused by grazing stress increased the aggregation intensity of L. chinensis compared to the primary L. chinensis communities.

Aims: The study aims to investigate the fish composition and diversity patterns in the source region of the Yangtze River, one of the most critical water conservation zones worldwide.

Methods: Field surveys were conducted in the headwaters of the Yangtze River, including the Tuotuo, Chumaer, Dam Qu, Tongtian, and Dadu rivers in Qinghai Province from 2021 to 2022. Data on the presence and abundance of fish, as well as environmental factors, were collected during the surveys.

Results: A total of 26 species (and subspecies) were recorded in the field surveys, belonging to 12 genera, 3 families, and 2 orders. Analysis of the index of relative importance (IRI) revealed that Schizopygopsis malacanthus and Herzensteinia microcephalus were the dominant species. Seven species are newly recorded, including four native species and three non-native species. Alpha diversity indices showed higher species diversity in the Tongtian and Dadu rivers compared to other tributaries, while the Yalong River exhibited a more uneven species distribution. Similarity coefficient analysis and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) indicated significant differences in species composition among tributaries, highlighting the influence of geographic isolation and ecological adaptation on fish diversity. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed notable differences in fish community structures across different river systems, with water temperature and altitude identified as key determinant factors. Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that the fish distribution patterns were random, with a slight tendency towards clustering. The Getis-Ord Gi* analysis identified two hotspots in the Dadu and the Tongtian rivers.

Conclusion: This study provides updated information on the fish composition in headwaters of the Yangtze River and enhances our understanding of spatial variations in fish diversity in the region. These findings lay the foundation for scientific management and conservation of native fish in the source region of the Yangtze River.

Aims: As vertebrates in the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, amphibians are an essential indicator of environmental health. The wetland-type Hainan Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve protects a major natural area of mangrove forests. Information on amphibian resources in mangrove wetland-type reserves remains limited. We aim to better understand the community characteristics and spatial distribution pattern of amphibians and their influencing factors in Hainan Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve. Further, we provide a scientific basis for the conservation and management of amphibians in mangrove wetland-type reserves.

Methods: Three rounds of line transect surveys at night were conducted for amphibians in the reserve from July 2022 to April 2023. We used a total of 39 fixed sample lines with a length of 200 m in the reserve, with a spacing of more than 500 m between sample lines. Every night from 19:00 to 24:00 we surveyed each sample line once and repeated this routine for 3 days. The Mann-Whitey U-test analysis was applied to determine if there were differences in amphibian richness and abundance between the two sample areas. Differences in amphibian community composition between breeding periods were compared by Chi-square test. Pearson analyses were used to determine the relationship of each factor with amphibian abundance, richness, and Shannon’s diversity index.

Results: Seven species of amphibians from five families were distributed in the reserve, including dominant species Fejervarya moodiei, suboptimal species Hylarana guentheri, and unfrequent species Fejervarya multistriata, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Microhyla fissipes, M. pulchra, and Polypedates megacephalus. Each sample line averaged a record of 2.67 amphibian species within the buffer and experimental zones, whereas the majority (94.44%) of sample lines recorded only a single species Fejervarya moodiei in the core zone. The seven amphibian species were recorded in the nearshore habitats of the reserve, while the near-sea habitats were inhabited only by Fejervarya moodiei. Species richness (P < 0.01) and abundance (P < 0.01) of nearshore amphibians were negatively correlated with seawater salinity. Further, their abundance was negatively correlated with ambient humidity (P < 0.01) and water pH (P < 0.01), but positively correlated with tidal height (P < 0.01), air temperature (P < 0.001), and water temperature (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our research shows that there are spatial differences in amphibian community composition, and seawater salinity and animal dispersal may contribute to these differences. We observe differences in amphibian community composition, with inter-monthly variations in breeding activities and ambient temperature being important factors. Additionally, we find that tidal height, humidity, and water pH significantly influence the variation of amphibian abundance in the reserve.

Aims: The purpose of this study is to clarify the species diversity of poplar pests and their geographic distribution characteristics in China.

Methods: Based on the constructed database of Chinese poplar pest species, we comprehensively analyzed the species composition, damage types, and geographic distribution of poplar pests.

Result: There are 1,674 species of poplar pests across 9 orders and 126 families documented in China, with Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera being the dominant groups. In terms of damage types, leaf pests have the highest species count at 1,058, while nursery and root pests have the lowest at 173 species. However, the latter exhibit more evenly distributed species composition and the highest diversity. From the perspective of hosts, the Leuce poplar group harbors the most pest species at 1,258, but these pests show the lowest species diversity and evenness. In contrast, pests associated with the Leucoides and Turanga poplar groups are fewer in number at 20 and 44 species, respectively, but display higher diversity and evenness. Regarding geographical distribution breadth, the number of poplar pest species gradually decreases as the number of provinces or districts increases. Over 70% of pests are confined to less than half of Chinese provinces or districts, whereas major destructive pest species are distributed nearly nationwide.

Conclusion: Poplar pest distribution in China exhibits pronounced geographical disparities, with higher species richness in eastern provinces and regions east of the “Hu Huanyong Line”. Through cluster analysis, the geographical distribution of poplar pests can be divided into six taxa, and different taxa show strong geographical similarity. Our findings provide critical theoretical foundations for advancing targeted and science-based pest management strategies in poplar ecosystems.

Aims: A pond-to-wetland restoration project along the Liao River Estuary was launched in 2015 to improve coastal ecological protection. However, the recovery effects on macrofauna and the underlying mechanisms associated with different pond-to-wetland restoration methods remain unclear. We analyze the macrofaunal community characteristics and their relationships with environmental factors to assess the effects of different pond-to-wetland restoration methods on macrofauna recovery.

Methods: Macrofauna and environmental factors in May (spring) and September (autumn) 2023 were taken for our analysis. We used 82 sampling points across three types of restored pond sites with increasing degrees of pond-to- wetland restoration (unleveled, semi-leveled, and fully leveled pond dike sites) and a natural Suaeda salsa control site in the Liao River Estuary. We analyzed the community structure, biodiversity, and their relationships with environmental factors using classical taxonomy, biodiversity indices, non-metric multidimensional scaling, analysis of similarities, and nonlinear regression analysis.

Results: We collected a total of 21 macrofauna species and classified these into 3 phyla, 5 classes, and 16 families. The dominant species are Ilyoplax deschampsi, Assiminea latericea, and Capitella capitata in spring and Assiminea latericea, Assiminea sp., and Capitella capitata in autumn. In spring, the species biomass in the semi-leveled pond dike area is significantly higher than in the unleveled and fully leveled pond dike area. In autumn, the species density in the fully leveled pond dike area is significantly higher than in the unleveled and semi-leveled area. Further, biomass is significantly higher than in the unleveled area with an evenness index significantly lower than in the semi-leveled area. There are significant differences in macrofaunal community structure among the different restored pond dike areas in both seasons. We also find elevation, sediment temperature, water content, conductivity, sand content, and total nitrogen content are significantly related to macrofauna distribution.

Conclusion: The species density, biomass, and diversity index values for macrofauna rose as the degree of pond-to-wetland restoration increased. Still, the semi-leveled pond dike area showed a biomass recovery similar to that of the fully leveled pond dike area and had favorable biodiversity index results. These results suggest that the semi-leveled pond dike approach may be the most suitable option after taking into account resource consumption, project duration, and restoration effects.

Aims: Plants are often exposed to environmental stresses. In order to survive, plants must adapt to these hostile environments by developing morphological, structural, and physiological traits that enable the plants to become compatible with their habitats. While there are many methods that would allow researchers can gain insight into the plants’ adaptive strategies, there has not a comparative analysis of these methods. To fill this gap in the literature, we collected articles from the thirteen years on seven methods that are commonly used to evaluate plant stress tolerance: (1) average membership function value, (2) cluster analysis, (3) fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (based on membership function and weights), (4) principal component analysis, (5) composite evaluation (combining membership function and principal component analysis), (6) convolutional neural network, and (7) grey relational analysis. Our objectives are to examine these methods’ main principles, key steps, advantages, and disadvantages. The overall goal is to select appropriate evaluation methods according to different research purposes and data characteristics, and to provide some theoretical basis for the accurate evaluation of plant resilience.

Review results: Our results indicated that fuzzy mathematics is an important theoretical foundation in the three methods(i.e., average membership function value, fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (based on membership function and weights), and composite evaluation (combining membership function and principal component analysis) are based on fuzzy mathematics theory). By using trait fuzzification, these methods enable researchers to establish models demonstrating how plant traits may affect plant resilience. We found that over half the models enable trait selection (i.e., average membership function value, principal component analysis, composite evaluation (combining membership function and principal component analysis), and grey relational analysis).

Conclusion: Average membership function value and gray relational analysis are often used for small sample data sets, and principal component analysis and convolutional neural network are often used for large sample data sets. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis can enable researchers to present their data in easily-interpretable visuals. Currently, the most commonly used method in the domestic biological field is the composite evaluation (combining membership function and principal component analysis). This literature review revealed that these seven methods have strengths that can be used to complement each other during evaluations of plant traits, allowing researchers to select evaluation methods that are tailored to specific research objectives and data characteristics.

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.

There are 94 cetacean species worldwide, which represent one of the most enigmatic and threatened groups among mammals. Throughout their transition from land to water, cetaceans have evolved numerous morphological, life history, and ecological traits that enhance their adaptability to aquatic environments. However, a comprehensive global database of cetacean ecological characteristics is still lacking. Our study systematically reviews books, literature, and other data resources to collect and compile cetacean characteristic data, including 15 morphological traits, 12 life-history traits, and 11 ecological traits. Based on the collected data, we quantified the trait completeness for each species and employed phylogenetic linear regression model to explore the factors influencing the ratio of data completeness. The completeness of the morphological traits ranges from 72.15% to 100.00%, life history traits from 17.72% to 100.00%, and ecological traits from 25.32% to 100.00%. The regression analyses showed that species described earlier and inhabiting nearshore habitats tend to exhibit higher data completeness. This dataset provides essential foundational information for research in cetacean ecology, conservation biology, and evolutionary biology. It also serves as a significant platform for data sharing and communication in regional and global cetacean conservation efforts.

The inherent ecological and life-history characteristics of organisms are fundamental in determining species population dynamics and survive strategies, as well as their ability to adapt to environmental changes. Snakes are a group of vertebrates with a high degree of morphological specialization. However, due to the cryptic nature of snakes and their solitary behavior, life-history and ecological studies on snakes remain relatively lagged compared with other vertebrate groups, and no comprehensive trait database specifically dedicated to snakes has been available. This study collected and compiled 28 traits of 4,145 snake species by systematically consulting published snake books, peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature, online databases and other data resources. These traits include life-history traits (8 traits including body mass, total length, prey), ecological traits (7 traits including distribution, microhabitat, elevational distribution), and biogeographical traits (13 traits including annual mean temperature, annual mean precipitation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)). The data completeness of these traits ranged from 42.41% to 99.90%. Compared to other datasets, this dataset has the most complete number of species, the richest traits, and offers higher completeness for some traits. As the most comprehensive and up-to-date global trait dataset for snakes, it provides valuable data support for research in ecology, biogeography and conservation biology of snakes at both global and region scales.

Insects represent the most diverse group of organisms on Earth, and research on the mitochondrial genomes of specific insect groups remains in the stages of development and accumulation. A notable lack of mitochondrial genome data for certain Hemiptera species in the GenBank database has hindered further exploration and applications in this field. This study reports detailed mitochondrial genome information for seven Hemipteran species: Maevius indecorus, Limnogonus cereiventris, Oxycarenus laetus, Hormaphis cornu, Melanaphis donacis, Pentalonia nigronervosa, and Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae. Among these species, Maevius indecorus and Pentalonia nigronervosa represent the first complete mitochondrial genomes reported for the family Hyocephalidae and the genus Pentalonia, respectively. The mitochondrial genome data for these seven species were retrieved from the SRA database, encompassing seven regions across six countries: Australia, Cameroon, China, India, Kenya, and the United States. This dataset provides valuable support for research on phylogenetic relationships, biodiversity, and population differentiation within certain Hemiptera species.

Background & Aims: Guangdong Province, located at the southern tip of China’s mainland, is one of the most representative areas of subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests in China. Its complex and diverse ecosystem harbors approximately 6,658 native wild higher plant species. However, rapid economic development and high population density pose significant challenges to plant diversity protection. In response, the Guangdong Forestry Bureau has formulated the Planning of Plant Ex situ Conservation System in Guangdong Province (2024-2035) to advance research in plant conservation, promote the exploration and application of plant resources, and support sustainable economic and social development.

Results: The plan confronts current existing challenges and deficiencies by enhancing coordination among ex situ conservation institutions in the Pearl River Delta city cluster and in the eastern, western, and northern regions of Guangdong. (1) It establishes a three-level conservation framework comprising national, regional, and native botanical gardens, with the national botanical garden as the central core, supported by regional and native sites. (2) The plan also introduces a structured system for promoting, withdrawing, and assessment to enable dynamic supervision of regional and native botanical gardens. (3) To optimized ex situ conservation outcomes, the plan recommends a comprehensive strategy involving “Homologous Lineage-Transplantation and Ex situ Conservation” and “Near situ Conservation” to preserve critically threatened plants in different regions of Guangdong. (4) The plan also emphasized the development of conservation institutions, advanced management platforms, research facilities, and skilled teams. Together, these initiatives aim to create a dynamic, effective ex situ conservation network, an innovation-driven research system, a diversified green industry, an interdisciplinary talent training system, and a region-specific natural education program. This comprehensive development will enhance the institutional capacity of ex situ conservation efforts in Guangdong.

Outlook: By 2035, the plan targets protecting over 80% of the key protected wild plants and over 70% of the rare and endangered wild plants distributed in Guangdong Province. This initiative aims to create a model of integrated plant protection and sustainable utilization, positioning Guangdong as a leading region in national biodiversity conservation. This plan offers both theoretical support and practical guidance for the high-quality development of regional biodiversity conservation across the region in the new era.

Background & Aim: In recent years, the global rise in demand for pollination services of insect-pollinated crops has led to a surge in the use of managed alien pollinators. This extensive proliferation significantly impacts mutualistic relationship between native plants and pollinators, posing serious threats to local biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Progresses: This article reviews the impacts of alien pollinators on native plants, native pollinators and pollination networks. (1) Morphological and behavioral differences between alien and native pollinators often render the former inefficient or ineffective pollinators for native plants, negatively affecting plant reproductive success. However, in pollination-limited environments, alien pollinators may supplement pollination effectively. The specific flower-visiting preferences of alien pollinators and their impact on the flower-visiting behavior of native pollinators alter pollen flow, gene flow, and consequently, the genetic structure of plant populations. In addition, alien pollinators also exert new selective pressures on floral traits, driving adaptive evolution in plant populations. (2) Alien pollinators may outcompete or prey on native pollinators, disrupt their reproductive process, or spread of pathogens, thereby threatening the diversity and abundance of native pollinators species. (3) As generalist species, alien pollinators integrate rapidly into the pollination networks, forming numerous new connections with native plants. This often increases the generalization and nestedness of the entire pollination network, profoundly affecting its stability.

Prospects: In China, research on alien pollinators has mainly focused on their agricultural pollinations. In the future, we should: (1) Investigate the mechanisms trough which alien pollinators impact native flowering plants, pollinators, and the structure and function of pollination network. (2) Expand research level across species, communities and ecosystems. (3) Broaden the geographical and temporal scales of research, incorporating advanced technologies and methodologies, while accounting for global warming and agricultural intensification.

Suggestions: Given the continuous expansion of alien pollinator distribution in China, measures are urgently needed to protect native plant and pollinator diversity, and to maintain ecosystem authenticity and stability. (1) Strategic planning is necessary for the introduction and management of alien pollinators. (2) Establish native pollinator nature reserves, with priority species and conservation area. (3) Additionally, the promotion and conservation of native pollinators are essential to provide sustainable pollination services for crops, and to avoid ecological damage caused by the introduction of alien pollinators.

Background & Aim: Previous studies have found a correlation between genome size (GS) and many distinct traits in plants. However, there is a lack of systematic summarization of these connections. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of known relationships between GS and plant traits, while also proposing a new hypothesis to better explain these correlations.

Results: Plant traits were first divided into nine categories: molecule, cell, tissue, organ, individual, population, community, ecosystem and biogeography. Next, we applied our hypothesis to better explain the ecological consequences of GS and the plant evolution in the context of each trait. Our new hypothesis states that there may be two balance points and one optimal point in the range of GS. Changes in environmental factors such as nutrients and moisture will change the position of balance points and optimal point. This shift drives plant GS to evolve to a new optimal point, allowing the plant to adjust to new environmental stresses.

Conclusions: We propose that GS should be considered as a key plant functional trait and incorporated into future predictive models, which will improve our understanding of how communities and ecosystems respond to global environmental challenges, such as nitrogen deposition and extreme drought events.

Background & Aim: Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) refer to viral DNA sequences intergrated into the genomes of cellular organisms. The integration of retroviral elements has been reported in animal genomes, while plant viruses were once thought to be incapable of integrate into plant genomes because they do not encode integrases. However, with the advancement and application of bioinformatics and comparative genomics, the integration of viral nucleic acids in plant genomes has been continuously reported, and showing close associations with the healthy growth, development, adaptation and evolution of plants. This review aims to provide insights for producing genetically stable and virus-free plant materials (such as virus-free seedlings), tracing the origin of viruses, and exploring the interaction, coadaptation and coevolution of host plants and their endogenous viruses.

Progresses: This review summarizes the types and diversity of integrated viruses in plant genomes, the mechanisms of viral integration and activation, the harmful and beneficial effects of viral integration on plants, and outlines the methods for exploring EVEs within plant genomes.

Prospects: We emphasize that endogenous virus mining can be carried out throughout the plant domain from lower to higher plants, to reveal the characteristics of viral infection in various plants in the past, and explore the potential role, function and contribution of viruses in the evolution of plants from aquatic to terrestrial, from low to high. In addition, we advocate the use of multiple techniques to investigate the mechanisms of viral infection, integration, activation, and host genetic control in order to clarify the mechanisms of endogenous virus integration, control, and activation, while providing more accurate insights into endogenous virus-host interactions. Our article can help the study of endogenous viruses in plants.

Background & Aims: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), widely present in the insect epicuticle, provide significant contributions to many terrestrial insect adaptations. Insect CHCs function primarily in waterproofing, resisting harmful substances, and facilitating chemical communication. Compared to the compositional and functional diversity of CHCs in solitary or subsocial insects, the diversity of social insects offers a valuable source of insights into their unique genetic structure, population composition, and characteristic behavioral patterns.

Progresses: This review characterizes the structures and properties of CHCs that enable particular functions, summarizes their functional diversity, and discusses the influence of both endogenous factors and external elements on the profile variability of CHCs in social insects. Furthermore, potential future research directions are proposed. The CHCs in social insects are regulated through nestmate recognition, caste differentiation, division of labor, social immunity, reproductive state recognition, and inter-specific interactions. Remarkably, some CHCs have been designated for queen pheromones. The CHC profiles of social insects can exhibit remarkable variability to meet the demands of functional differentiation. The synthesis, composition, and content of CHCs in social insects can be influenced by a wide range of internal factors (including gene and hormone levels) as well as extrinsic factors (including diet, gut microbiome, pathogenic organisms, temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, nest materials, etc.).

Prospects: Emerging technologies, such as the quantitative genetic framework, immunohistochemical localization, and fluorescent in situ hybridization, will enable new insights to be obtained into the synthesis, translocation, release, functional diversity, and regulation of CHCs, enhancing our understanding of their role in insect adaptive evolution. The research discussed in this review can provide a theoretical basis for the development of novel technologies to control invasive agroforestry pests.

Background: Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, are microscopic invertebrates inhabiting diverse environments across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. As essential components of microfauna communities, they are renowned for their extraordinary extremotolerant adaptability and occupy multiple trophic levels within micro-food webs, indicating their significant ecological roles. Despite significant advancements made in understanding tardigrade biodiversity, identification methodologies, physiological and ecological traits recently, a comprehensive summaries remains lacking.

Bibliometric analyses & Perspective: Through bibliometric analyses of global tardigrade research over the past three decades, this review systematically summarizes the research progress in the new species discovery, identification methods, distribution characteristics, and ecological functions of tardigrades. The primary findings encompass: (1) Up to 2024, 1,488 documented tardigrade species inhabit a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including moss, soil, marine environments, polar regions, and even anthropogenic habitats, with new species being continuously discovered. (2) Current identification methods remain predominantly morphology-based, while standardized molecular tools for phylogenetic resolution are critically underdeveloped, severely constrain taxonomic advancements. (3) We describe characteristics in aquatic ecosystems and unique adaptive mechanisms to global change stressors including climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. (4) Preliminary summaries reveal their ecological roles in micro-food webs through interactions with meiofauna and microbial communities.

Future prospects: We propose three critical research priorities: (1) Emphasizing the need to improve molecular biology research methods; (2) Exploring the distribution characteristics across different ecosystems on large spatial and long-term temporal scales; (3) Elucidating their position in micro-food webs and ecological functions.