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[Display omitted] • Molecular data reveals undocumented diversity in Australian tick parasitoids. • The first known mitochondrial genomes were recovered for Ixodiphagus wasps worldwide. • A novel Ixodiphagus sp. was found parasitising Rhipicephalus linnaei – an introduced pest of importance. • The 28S rRNA gene is better than the COI gene for detection of Ixodiphagus DNA in tick samples. Ticks are important medical and veterinary parasites that represent a substantial health threat to humans, companion animals, and livestock. Ixodiphagus wasps (Hymenoptera; Encyrtidae) are known endoparasitoids of ixodid (hard) and argasid (soft) ticks, with potential utility as natural biocontrol agents. Two species, Ixodiphagus brunneus and Ixodiphagus mysorensis, are previously recorded from Australia, however, the genus lacks formal revisionary work in Australia, and the validity and host ranges of these species remain uncertain. This work aimed to investigate the diversity of Ixodiphagus in Australasia and provide a molecular data resource for future work on these understudied endoparasitoids. We extracted DNA from archival Ixodiphagus specimens from Australian and New Zealand insect collections and performed high-throughput sequencing which resulted in complete or mostly complete mitochondrial genome sequences from 11 specimens, including I. brunneus, Ixodiphagus taiaroaensis , and a novel Ixodiphagus sp. reared from Rhipicephalus linnaei from Townsville, Australia. In addition, approximately 70% of the genome of the Wolbachia endosymbiont of I. brunneus was recovered. Finally, we screened 178 recently collected pooled tick samples from southern New South Wales, Australia, for Ixodiphagus spp. using 28S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1(COI) gene PCR, and recovered 14 positive samples. Phylogenetic analysis of Australasian Ixodiphagus spp. based on 28S rRNA and complete mitochondrial genome sequences determined that members of the Australasian fauna are distinct from Ixodiphagus hookeri (the only other Ixodiphagus species for which genetic data exists), and that at least two distinct species are present in Australia; I. brunneus identified from Ixodes holocyclus and Haemaphysalis bancrofti ticks, and an uncharacterised Ixodiphagus sp. found in Rhipicephalus linnaei ticks from northern Queensland. Furthermore, there was substantial genetic diversity at the 28S rRNA loci among I. brunneus samples, which may represent normal genetic variability or a secondary cryptic species. The molecular data generated here represents the first known for the genus Ixodiphagus in Australasia, doubling that of the world fauna, and provides the first known complete mitochondrial genomes for these important tick parasitoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and nature assessments such as the US National Nature Assessment assess the state of biodiversity and the contributions of nature to humans.. Using three species relevant to public health, the economy, and ecosystem services, we illustrate here how socioeconomics relate to biodiversity data availability. Inequities in biodiversity records could risk inaccurate ecological assessments and hamper equitable policies. The US National Nature Assessment (NNA) will assess the state of biodiversity and the contributions of nature to humans. Using three species relevant to public health, the economy, and ecosystem services, we illustrate here how socioeconomics relate to biodiversity data availability. Inequities in biodiversity records could risk inaccurate ecological assessments and hamper equitable policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heat tolerance of corals is largely determined by their microbial photosymbionts, and manipulating these symbiont communities may enhance the ability of corals to survive summer heatwaves. Experimental evolution of Symbiodiniaceae cultures under elevated temperatures has been successfully used to enhance the upper thermal tolerance of both symbiont cultures in vitro and corals following inoculation. Novel culturing, upscaling, and biodiversity monitoring techniques are required to deliver experimentally evolved coral symbionts at scale, and success requires learning from, or directly utilising, adjacent industries (e.g., biotechnology for algae-based commodities). This intervention has transitioned from stakeholder engagement to regulatory approval for risk assessments via small-scale field trials, which is an essential step on the path to implementation. The heat tolerance of corals is largely determined by their microbial photosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae, colloquially known as zooxanthellae). Therefore, manipulating symbiont communities may enhance the ability of corals to survive summer heatwaves. Although heat-tolerant and -sensitive symbiont species occur in nature, even corals that harbour naturally tolerant symbionts have been observed to bleach during summer heatwaves. Experimental evolution (i.e., laboratory selection) of Symbiodiniaceae cultures under elevated temperatures has been successfully used to enhance their upper thermal tolerance, both in vitro and, in some instances, following their reintroduction into corals. In this review, we present the state of this intervention and its potential role within coral reef restoration, and discuss the next critical steps required to bridge the gap to implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic, an essential ecosystem on Earth, is subject to pronounced anthropogenic pressures, most notable being the climate change and risks of crude oil pollution. As crucial elements of Arctic environments, benthic microbiomes are involved in climate-relevant biogeochemical cycles and hold the potential to remediate upcoming contamination. Yet, the Arctic benthic microbiomes are among the least explored biomes on the planet. Here we combined geochemical analyses, incubation experiments, and microbial community profiling to detail the biogeography and biodegradation potential of Arctic sedimentary microbiomes in the northern Barents Sea. The results revealed a predominance of bacterial and archaea phyla typically found in the deep marine biosphere, such as Chloroflexi, Atribacteria , and Bathyarcheaota. The topmost benthic communities were spatially structured by sedimentary organic carbon, lacking a clear distinction among geographic regions. With increasing sediment depth, the community structure exhibited stratigraphic variability that could be correlated to redox geochemistry of sediments. The benthic microbiomes harbored multiple taxa capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons using aerobic and anaerobic pathways. Incubation of surface sediments with crude oil led to proliferation of several genera from the so-called rare biosphere. These include Alkalimarinus and Halioglobus , previously unrecognized as hydrocarbon-degrading genera, both harboring the full genetic potential for aerobic alkane oxidation. These findings increase our understanding of the taxonomic inventory and functional potential of unstudied benthic microbiomes in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incomplete elevational sampling in studies of biodiversity and community assembly along elevational gradients can result in inconsistent findings and potentially inaccurate conclusions about assembly mechanisms. In this study, we conducted extensive sampling of small mammals over a 3200 m elevational gradient on Xiling Snow Mountain, Southwestern China. We integrated functional and phylogenetic diversity to determine the mechanisms structuring small mammal assemblages. Our findings indicate that taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity, along with all species richness-corrected indices of functional and phylogenetic diversity, exhibit similar hump-shaped patterns. Our results suggest that environmental filtering plays a considerable role in structuring small mammal communities at low and high elevations, while competitive exclusion governs the assembly processes at middle elevations. Human footprint, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, precipitation seasonality and potential evapotranspiration are key drivers of small mammal diversity and community structure along elevational gradients. In summary, our study provides evidence that phylogenetic diversity is a robust surrogate for functional diversity, and challenges the recent large-scale studies that advocate a linear relationship between small mammal assembly process and elevation. We emphasize the importance of continuously documenting general patterns of small mammal diversity across entire elevational gradients in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Leucosidea sericea is expanding its range and densifying. • This leads to adverse impacts of ecosystem services such as biodiversity and water provisioning. • Runoff-and-run-on dynamics partly modulate the spread of Leucosidea sericea. • Future studies should aim to understand how the distribution of Leucosidea sericea responds to global environmental changes. Rapid woody encroachment by native species is transforming grasslands and savannas across the world. The drivers of this encroachment are diverse, complex, and potentially interlinked, including fire exclusion, overgrazing, plant-plant interactions, extirpation of local mega-fauna, carbon fertilisation, and global warming. In southern Africa, woody encroachment is a well-studied phenomenon that has primarily been documented in savanna and woodland systems, but there has been little work on woody encroachment in southern African mountain systems. These host much of the region's exceptional endemism and provide most of the region's water, and bush encroachment may have serious impacts on both. Leucosidea sericea Eckl. & Zeyh., is a Rosaceous shrub-tree endemic to the eastern Great Escarpment (Sneeuberg, South Africa, to Nyanga, Zimbabwe) that is believed to be rapidly expanding and densifying, however, there is very limited research on this species. Accordingly, we provide the first comprehensive review of the autecology of the species, outlining a summary of past research, and highlighting research needs related to encroachment, impact, and management. In addition, we demonstrate the potential for using repeat photography to study L. sericea ecology, confirming encroachment at some sites and highlighting how run-off-run-on dynamics may influence L. sericea establishment success. Future research on: (a) how the distribution and local density of L. sericea is responding to fire regimes, climate change and recent land-use changes, (b) water use of L. sericea to predict the potential impact of the species on water provisioning at the landscape scale, (c) insect herbivory release on L. sericea due to global warming, (d) changing farming practices and restoring Southern Eland population as the original large mammal that controlled L. sericea, s hould be a priority to guide the management of L. sericea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report provides an updated checklist of land and freshwater molluscs from Sifnos Island and, for the first time, from the nearby uninhabited islet Kitriani (Greece, Cyclades) with a critical review of available literature. Taxonomy, distribution, biogeographic issues, and the potential effect of human activities on these molluscs' communities are discussed. New morphological data for some snail species are presented, particularly for the genera Limax Linnaeus, 1758; Xerocrassa Monterosato, 1892; Monacha Fitzinger, 1833; and Albinaria Vest, 1864. Finally, based on shell and genitalia morphology, a new subspecies - Albinaria turrita rosettae n. ssp. - is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A catalogue of aphid species associated with Lactuca (Asteraceae) in Iran is presented. Information has been gathered on 24 aphid species from nine genera collected on three Lactuca host plant species, including two new aphid species: Aphis lactucariae sp. nov. and Uroleucon favreti sp. nov. Additionally, 37 specific associations between aphid species and Lactuca plants were identified, including one new record for Iran and two new global records. Modifications to the key provided by Blackman & Eastop for aphid species living on Lactuca , and an identification key to the aphids associated with Lactuca in Iran are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language connects cultural and biological diversity and can contribute to both big data and localised approaches to improve conservation. Analysing Indigenous languages at regional level supports understanding of local ecologies and cultural revitalisation. Collated linguistic datasets can help to identify large-scale patterns, including extinctions, and forge robust multidisciplinary approaches to biocultural decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nassella trichotoma is a serious invasive grass in South Africa's Mountain grasslands. • N. trichotoma alters soil nutrients, which impacts reestablishment of native plant species. • N. trichotoma invasion is associated with lower native and higher non-native species richness. • Native plant diversity is reduced by N. trichotoma invasion. Nassella trichotoma (Poaceae) is a highly invasive South American grass that is invading montane grasslands in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. Although N. trichotoma has been recognised as a major problem in these mountains for decades, the primary concern has been on impacts on rangeland productivity and management, while the impacts of invasions on plant biodiversity have not been considered. To understand the impact of N. trichotoma on local plant biodiversity, 81 pairs of plots (total of 162 plots) were laid out in the Sneeuberg and Eastern Cape Drakensberg mountains, Eastern Cape, in March 2020 and March 2021. At each site plots were located in grassland invaded by N. trichotoma and in nearby uninvaded grassland (control). A total of 20 N. trichotoma patches were sampled with two to four plot pairs per site. All vascular plant species were recorded in all plots, the cover abundance of each species per plot was visually estimated, and the topsoil was sampled and analysed for differences in nutrient and physical factors between invaded and uninvaded plots. Plant species diversity was 24 % higher in uninvaded areas, and the native grasses Pentameris airoides (Χ2 = 4.93, d.f. = 1, p < 0.01), Tenaxia disticha (Χ2 = 5.51, d.f. = 1, p < 0.01), and Themeda triandra (Χ2 = 9.28, d.f. = 1, p < 0.001) were significantly less abundant in invaded plots. Uninvaded areas had greater native species diversity (65 species) and fewer alien species (3) than invaded areas (47 and 9 respectively). Of the 18 soil variables measured, the following were significantly higher in invaded areas than uninvaded areas: boron (23 %), calcium (18 %), phosphorous (58 %), silt (10 %), total cations (12 %), and zinc (68 %). This suggest that N. trichotoma alters soil nutrients. The results indicate that N. trichotoma is a powerful driver of native biodiversity erosion in these montane grasslands and should be a cause for major concern by landowners and government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas play a crucial role in current global policies to mitigate the erosion of biodiversity and systematic reserve site selection models are increasingly involved in their design. These models address the optimisation problem that seeks to cover spaces hosting biodiversity features with nature reserves at a minimum cost for human activities. To increase the likelihood of a successful implementation, reserves need to be spatially consistent. Widely used decision support tools such as Marxan and PrioritizR commonly enforce compactness indirectly by penalising the reserve perimeter in the objective function. Few other optimisation models explicitly consider spatial properties such as limited fragmentation, connectivity of selected sites, and buffer zones around them, etc. So far, no reserve site selection model can guarantee the production of a connected, compact, and gap-free reserve all at once. The impossibility of designing reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties using existing models makes it difficult to implement such solutions in the real world. Therefore, we propose a mixed-integer linear program to build a reserve that is connected, compact, and gap-free. To enforce these spatial attributes within a reserve site selection model, we used a multicommodity flow approach. We tested the computational feasibility of our model on generated instances and the real instance of Fernando de Noronha. The results indicate that a single model can be used to enforce compactness, connectivity, and the absence of gaps. Using this optimisation model, conservation practitioners can design reserve solutions with desirable spatial properties, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful implementation. • We provide a mixed-integer linear program that allows the explicit designing of compact, connected and gap-free reserves. • These spatial characteristics are essential for the successful implementation of protected areas in the real world. • We propose several variations in the formulation to give greater control over the geometric characteristics of the reserves. • Compact, connected, and gap-free reserves do not result in a significant increase in socio-economic costs. • Our model can solve instances of 500 planning units within a realistic timeframe, although larger instances may be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial communities in water and sediments are important decomposers of lake ecosystem. However, the differences in bacterial community structure and biodiversity in overlying water and sediments covered by aquatic plants such as Lotus in lake ecosystems are still poorly understood. Here we collected paired overlying water and sediments in the Baiyangdian (BYD) Lake to explore their characteristics of bacterial community. Our results showed that bacterial diversity indices such as Sobs, Shannon, Simpsoneven and Phylogenetic diversity in sediment samples were significantly higher than those in overlying water samples, which were mainly affected by ofloxacin (OFL), dissolved oxygen and pH in the overlying water, while norfloxacin (NOR), OFL and sulfapyridine (SPD) in sediments. Dominant phyla across all overlying water samples were Actinobacteriota (36.65%) , Proteobacteria (29.12%) and Patescibacteria (17.01%), while Proteobacteria (20.97%) , Chloroflexi (19.56%) and Actinobacteriota (13.37%) in all sediment samples. Source Tracker results showed that about 6.59 ± 1.9% of the variations in bacterial community in sediments could be attributed to the contribution of the overlying water bacterial community, which is higher than that of sediments to the overlying water bacterial community. The dominant factors shaping the bacterial communities in the overlying water were NOR, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total phosphorus, while in sediments were NOR, OFL and DOC. It is suggested that antibiotics (especially NOR) may have a substantial effect on bacterial community rather than interaction of environmental compartments (overlying water and sediments), and would help to improve the understanding of bacteria transfer and coalescence in a shallow lake ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first study on the diversity of plant species of locally protected forests patches in Inhambane Province, southern Mozambique. • Vepris myrei (Rutaceae) dominated a quadrat and it is simultaneously a near endemic and endangered tree species. • Dolichandrone alba (Bignoniaceae) dominated a quadrat and it is simultaneously a near endemic and vulnerable tree species. • Communities and their local heritage practices play a fundamental role in safeguarding plant diversity in non-officially protected forests. This study presents the vegetation composition of two forests, Chitanga and Mafai in Inhambane Province, Mozambique, which are protected by local communities. Plant diversity, forest structure and the existence of threatened plant species are assessed. This is the first biological study carried out in locally protected forests in Inhambane Province. Plant species were recorded in twelve 20 m × 20 m plots. A total of 952 plants from 151 species, 166 genera and 30 families were identified. 50 plant species occurred in both forests; 64 were only recorded in Chitanga; and 37 were unique to Mafai. In both forests, plant communities were dominated by the Fabaceae and Malvaceae families. Statistical analysis on the number of plants, genera, stand density, stand basal area, species richness, Shannon diversity, Inverse Simpson, and Piélou evenness indices shows that on average Chitanga is similar to Mafai. Both forests host near endemic and red listed plant species (Cissampelos hirta, Dolichandrone alba, Diospyros inhacaesis, Hyperacanthus microphyllus, Paropsia braunii, Synaptolepis oliveriana, and Vepris myrei). The study is significant in demonstrating the biological richness of locally protected forests. It illustrates how locally organised protection through customary laws plays an important role in the biodiversity and conservation status of non-formally protected areas. Inventories of other heritage forests in Inhambane province and Mozambique are recommended for the future firstly, as a means of providing botanical data and, secondly, as a means of supporting the formal adoption of heritage forest as conservation areas in a manner that does not alienate the communities safeguarding the forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assessed and included 11 eligible studies across 5 provinces in South Africa • An inventory of 67 leafy vegetables was generated as source of nutrition and medicine • Bidens pilosa was the most popular leafy vegetable from the 11 eligible studies • Amaranthaceae was the most dominant plant family recorded with 12 leafy vegetables • Phytochemical profiles and biological effects of the leafy vegetables were described Despite the cultural and nutritional importance associated with locally sourced leafy vegetables, they are largely overlooked and underutilized globally. In this review, we provide an appraisal of the ethnobotanical uses, biological and chemical profiles of locally available leafy vegetables in South Africa. A comprehensive search was conducted using various scientific databases and ethnobotanical books, with a timeline from January 2010 to August 2023. This yielded 11 eligible scientific articles that generated an inventory of 67 locally sourced leafy vegetables from 23 plant families. The most mentioned leafy vegetables were Bidens pilosa (8) , Vigna unguiculata (6), Amaranthus hybridus (6), Chenopodium album (5), and Cleome gynandra (5). In terms of plant families, Amaranthaceae (17.9 %), Asteraceae (10.4 %), Cucurbitaceae (11.9 %), Malvaceae (7.4 %), and Urticaceae (5.9 %) were the most represented groups. Based on the ethnobotanical data, these leafy vegetables possess several medicinal uses, with indications for different health conditions affecting humans and livestock. We highlighted the wide range of health benefits of these leafy vegetables, which are linked to their diverse nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber) and phytochemicals. The recorded leafy vegetables are known to exert diverse biological activities and health benefits. Furthermore, the phytochemical profiles revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids, in these locally sourced leafy vegetables. Taken together, the evidence from the existing ethnobotanical surveys, biological activities, and phytochemical profiles revealed the importance of these locally available leafy vegetables for food security, good health, and general well-being in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pangpang Bay is a wetland with mangrove forests, covering an area of more than 3,000 ha, which has been designated as an Indonesian Essential Ecological Area to maintain its high floral and faunal diversity. However, land-use changes and anthropogenic pressure from surrounding areas have caused changes in its biodiversity and community structures, including those of macrobenthic fauna. This study was conducted to determine the current environmental characteristics of Pangpang Bay and their influence on indicator organisms, such as macrobenthos. Eight stations were selected based on their geographical locations, macrobenthic fauna, physicochemical parameters, heavy metal concentrations, and sediment types to represent the entire Pangpang Bay. Results revealed that Pangpang Bay was strongly influenced by the sea. There were no significant differences among the sediment characteristics at all stations, which were all mud. Polychaetes were dominant at stations with muddy characteristics. Furthermore, the physicochemical parameters of water affected macrobenthic diversity and dominance. In contrast, the concentrations of heavy metals, such as Pb, Cu, Cd, and Fe were below the threshold values at all stations. Therefore, they did not affect macrobenthic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of the genus Atlantirivulus from a small first-order stream on the right margin of the Paraná River basin in the Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The region of occurrence of the new species is known to be a hotspot for Melanorivulus species. This area, however, is approximately 700 km away from the record of occurrence of its closest congeners, which are distributed along the Brazilian coast in different hydrographic basins. Atlantirivulus enigmaticus, new species, is distinguished from all congeners by it s unique coloration, which consists of the flank being purplish grey with light green iridescence with brownish red dots scattered along of the body, by the neuromasts of the infraorbital series being aligned around eye, and by the presence of the short ventral process of the posttemporal. The phylogenetic position of the new species within the Atlantirivulus genus was based on molecular phylogenetic analysis using sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit 1. The results show that the new species is closely related to Atlantirivulus luelingi from the coastal drainages of the Brazilian state Santa Catarina. The phylogenetic position of the new species among congeners endemic to coastal river basins may be related to ancestral connections between coastal drainages and the Paraná River basin. The new species constitutes the westernmost record for the genus, and the first record of Atlantirivulus in the Paraná River basin. Insufficient collection efforts in areas of potential occurrence for the group and extinction processes in the broad region between the locality of the new species and the distribution areas of the remaining species may be a possible explanation for this disjunct distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas can be both detrimental for pollinators or function as suitable habitats, depending on the land-use type, the urban context and the pollinator group in focus. Urban green spaces, including gardens, parks or cemeteries can provide essential resources for a wide range of pollinator groups, like wild bees, hoverflies and beetles. Urban community gardens can be particularly structurally complex and harbour a diverse range of nesting and food resources for pollinators. However, we know little about how garden features may vary with the urban context of gardens and which specific garden features can increase the abundance of pollinators in general and of different pollinator groups. Over two summer seasons, we recorded garden features and pollinators using flower observations in 33 urban community gardens in Munich and Berlin, Germany. We examined how garden features differ amongst urban community gardens from three urbanisation categories, and analysed the effects of garden features such as floral and nesting resources and landscape imperviousness (as indicator of urbanisation) on pollinator abundance, richness and diversity. In more urbanised gardens, flower richness and bare substrate were less prevalent. Flower richness was positively correlated with overall pollinator abundance, richness and diversity as well as with the abundances of all pollinator taxa excluding beetles. Landscape imperviousness was negatively correlated with hoverfly and beetle abundances. Hoverflies also decreased with increasing bare substrate and wasp abundance decreased with increasing deadwood availability. Our findings highlight the important role of flower richness for insect conservation in urban management and show that pollinator taxa react differently to garden features and urbanisation. To support pollinating insects, gardeners can increase flower richness, especially in highly urbanised areas. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensively managed viticulture dominates vast landscapes in the Mediterranean, but considerable vineyard abandonment has been observed over the past two decades. The effect of vineyard abandonment on biodiversity is poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the restoration potential of this common land-use change. We assessed biodiversity responses to vineyard abandonment in Vaucluse, Southern France, using birds as indicator group. We compared bird abundance and diversity in a sample of 64 vineyards, pairing 16 currently managed vineyards with 16 recently abandoned and 16 managed with 16 longer abandoned vineyards. We used mixed models and multivariate techniques to establish relationships between bird diversity and structural attributes of the habitats, and we derived management-specific population densities in a distance sampling approach. Long-abandoned vineyards hosted three times more species and showed a 3.6 times higher total bird abundance than managed viticulture. More recently abandoned vineyards had intermediate species numbers and abundance. Species richness patterns were not modulated by landscape composition and configuration, but higher abundances were found in landscapes with intermediate size of land-cover patches (i.e. field size). In managed vineyards, bird abundances were extremely low, with the exception of Woodlark Lullula arborea , which reached its highest abundance in managed vineyards. The bird community on abandoned vineyards shifted towards forest and woodland shrub species, likely driven by secondary succession, namely shrub encroachment and tree establishment. The strongly positive effects of land abandonment might be due to the fact that only single vineyards (not entire landscapes) were abandoned, thereby increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale. The future state of the old abandoned vineyards is difficult to predict. As of yet, the abandoned vineyards support a comparably diverse community of breeding birds that reach high abundances in comparison to managed vineyards, within an otherwise impoverished agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Given that it was a once-in-a-century emergency event, the confinement measures related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused diverse disruptions and changes in life and work patterns. These changes significantly affected water consumption both during and after the pandemic, with direct and indirect consequences on biodiversity. However, there has been a lack of holistic evaluation of these responses. Here, we propose a novel framework to study the impacts of this unique global emergency event by embedding an environmentally extended supply-constrained global multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) into the drivers-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework. This framework allowed us to develop scenarios related to COVID-19 confinement measures to quantify country-sector-specific changes in freshwater consumption and the associated changes in biodiversity for the period of 2020–2025. The results suggest progressively diminishing impacts due to the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines and the socio-economic system's self-adjustment to the new normal. In 2020, the confinement measures were estimated to decrease global water consumption by about 5.7% on average across all scenarios when compared with the baseline level with no confinement measures. Further, such a decrease is estimated to lead to a reduction of around 5% in the related pressure on biodiversity. Given the interdependencies and interactions across global supply chains, even those countries and sectors that were not directly affected by the COVID-19 shocks experienced significant impacts: Our results indicate that the supply chain propagations contributed to 79% of the total estimated decrease in water consumption and 84% of the reduction in biodiversity loss on average. Our study demonstrates that the MRIO-enhanced DSPIR framework can help quantify resource pressures and the resultant environmental impacts across supply chains when facing a global emergency event. Further, we recommend the development of more locally based water conservation measures—to mitigate the effects of trade disruptions—and the explicit inclusion of water resources in post-pandemic recovery schemes. In addition, innovations that help conserve natural resources are essential for maintaining environmental gains in the post-pandemic world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Relations among hedgerow structure, biodiversity & ecosystem services are unclear. • We performed a systematic review including 89 studies from Central Europe and UK from 1974 to 2022. • Arthropods & birds, were most often, earthworms & bats least often studied. • Structural diversity, layering & woody vegetation promoted biodiversity. • Connectivity, density & structural complexity improved ecosystem service provision. Agricultural intensification decreases the heterogeneity of the landscape and leads to a decline in hedgerows. As hedgerows provide important habitats for many taxa, this contributes to the loss of biodiversity in agroecosystems. However, the extent to which hedgerows, and in particular their habitat quality in terms of structural characteristics, also influence biodiversity-based ecosystem services is poorly studied. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the Scopus and other literature databases focusing on Central European and UK studies examining (1) the influence of hedgerow habitat quality on the biodiversity of arthropods, earthworms, birds, bats and small mammals and (2) the relationship between selected hedgerow parameters, animal taxa, and ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, pest and disease control and soil quality regulation. A total of 2260 studies (cut-off date: 13 September 2022) published between 1974 and 2022 were found. After sorting based on inclusion criteria related to the research focus, 89 studies remained for evaluation. Arthropods, birds, and small mammals were studied most frequently, earthworms and bats least frequently. The selected studies showed that structural diversity, layering, woody biomass and density were strongly positively correlated with animal species diversity, while hedgerow length, width and age showed less relevant relationships. Hedgerow connectivity, density, structural diversity, and layering were strongly positive associated with the provision of ecosystem services. We conclude that the structural diversity of hedgerows needs to be increased if their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem service provision is to be improved. It is therefore recommended that hedgerow management measures should specifically consider the ecological importance of the structural diversity of hedgerows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Expanding the network of connected and resilient protected areas (PAs) for climate change adaptation can help species track suitable climate conditions and safeguard biodiversity. This is often overlooked when expanding PAs and quantifying their benefits, resulting in an underestimate of the benefits of expanding PAs. We expanded PAs through terrestrial mammalian species distribution hotspots, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and wilderness areas. Then, we constructed climate connectivity networks using a resistance-based approach and further quantified the network resilience to propose resilient climate response strategies in China. The results showed that existing PAs suffered from location biases with important biodiversity areas. The existing PAs represented about half of the KBAs and wilderness areas, yet only 12.08% of terrestrial mammalian species distribution hotspots were located within existing PAs. Compared with the existing PA network, the network efficiency and resilience of the expanded PAs' climate connectivity increased to 1.80 times and 1.78 times, respectively. With 56% of the nodes remaining, the network efficiency of the expanded PAs was equivalent to that of the existing PAs with all nodes. The network resilience of preferentially protecting and restoring low human footprint patches was approximately 1.5–2 times that of the random scenario. These findings highlighted that confronted with the unoptimistic situation of global warming, nature conservation based on existing PAs was no longer optimal. It was critical to construct a connected and resilient conservation network relying on both important biodiversity areas and low human footprint patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study documents four quill mite species in Birds-of-Paradise, indicating complex host-parasite dynamics. • The presence of mite genera typically associated with non-passerines on Birds-of-Paradise indicates host-switching events. • While some mites prefer closely related host genera, others infest phylogenetically distant hosts. • This study notes predominantly low prevalence and highlights specific habitat preferences of different mite species. • A network analysis reveals new insights into the ecological dynamics of the host-parasite relationships. Mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are permanent and obligatory parasites of birds. This study presents an analysis of mite material collected from 22 avian species belonging to the family Paradisaeidae (Passeriformes), revealing the presence of four mite species belonging to four genera: Syringophiloidus attenboroughi n. sp., Peristerophila regiusi n. comb., Picobia frankei , and Gunabopicobia garylarsoni. In the present work, the genus Neoperisterophila is synonymized with the genus Peristerophila. While the genera Syringophiloidus and Picobia were expectedly found on paradisaeid birds, given their prevalence in passerines, the presence of Peristerophila and Gunabopicobia was intriguing, suggesting potential host-switching events. The specificity of these mites varies, with some showing occurrence on hosts of closely related genera and others infesting phylogenetically distant hosts. Notably, the distribution of specific mite species on the Birds-of-Paradise appears to be influenced by both long coevolutionary histories and incidental contacts between often unrelated or intergeneric hybrid species of paradisaeid birds. Furthermore, our research of 104 specimens from 22 Birds-of-Paradise species shows generally low infestation rates across the studied species, suggesting a nuanced interaction between these mites and their avian hosts. Additionally, our network analysis provides a deeper understanding of these host-parasite interactions, revealing a high level of specialization and complexity in these ecological relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural milk culture (NMC) represents a key factor in Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Montasio cheese, contributing to its distinctive sensory profile. The complex microbial ecosystem of NMC is the result of heat treatment and incubation conditions, which can vary considerably among different production plants. In this study, the microbiota of NMC collected from 10 PDO Montasio cheese dairies was investigated by employing colony counts and metagenomic analysis. Furthermore, residual sugars, organic acids, and volatile profiles were quantitatively investigated. Results showed that Streptococcus thermophilus was the dominant species in all NMC, and a subdominant population made of other streptococci and Ligilactobacillus salivarius was also present. The incubation temperature appeared to be the main driver of biodiversity in NMC. Metagenomics allowed us to evidence the presence of minor species involving safety (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) as well as possible functional aspects (Next Generation Probiotics). Statistical analysis based on residual sugars, organic acids, and volatiles' content allowed to correlate the presence of specific microbial groups with metabolites of great technological and sensory relevance, which can contribute to giving value to the artisanal production procedures of NMC and clarify their role in the creation of the characteristics of PDO Montasio cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and hydropower dams, can indirectly benefit biodiversity by mitigating climate change. However, we explain why such indirect benefits should not contribute towards the accounting of project-level net biodiversity outcomes and provide guidance on the steps needed to legitimately claim no-net-loss of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the links between causes and consequences of biodiversity is key to achieving conservation of both biodiversity and its functions, yet previous studies have mostly studied them independently. Ecologists have developed bipartite frameworks of high-level processes to understand mechanisms of species coexistence (niche and fitness differences) and biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning (complementarity and selection effects) and stability (species stability and asynchrony). These high-level processes represent combined effects of low-level processes, which mediate either positive or negative associations between coexistence and biodiversity effects on functioning or stability. Our synthesis, based on high-level processes, provides a first step towards an integrative framework of biodiversity science. Future research needs to address low-level processes using more mechanistic approaches across broader contexts and scales. The global biodiversity crisis has stimulated decades of research on three themes: species coexistence, biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships (BEF), and biodiversity–ecosystem functional stability relationships (BEFS). However, studies on these themes are largely independent, creating barriers to an integrative understanding of the causes and consequences of biodiversity. Here we review recent progress towards mechanistic integration of coexistence, BEF, and BEFS. Mechanisms underlying the three themes can be linked in various ways, potentially creating either positive or negative relationships between them. That said, we generally expect positive associations between coexistence and BEF, and between BEF and BEFS. Our synthesis represents an initial step towards integrating causes and consequences of biodiversity; future developments should include more mechanistic approaches and broader ecological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth Hologenome Initiative (EHI) is a global collaboration to generate and analyse hologenomic data from wild animals and associated microorganisms using standardised methodologies underpinned by open and inclusive research principles. Initially focused on vertebrates, it aims to re-examine ecological and evolutionary questions by studying host–microbiota interactions from a systemic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological stage of mating interactions has crucial implications for trait divergence and speciation; the novel environments created by humans can undermine the speciation process. Sexually selected traits and the fitness benefits of mating interactions are often finely attuned to the environments in which they evolved; anthropogenic change alters signal–receiver dynamics and mating decisions, thereby often increasing hybridization. Hybridization can undermine biodiversity. Occasionally it can have a creative function by increasing potentially adaptive genetic diversity, allowing for adaptive introgression, or enhancing mating trait evolution. Yet, these outcomes are uncertain and may not fully compensate for biodiversity loss. We inject a much-needed global change perspective for understanding sexual selection as a driver of the speciation process in a rapidly changing world. Anthropogenic change threatens global biodiversity by causing severe ecological disturbance and extinction. Here, we consider the effects of anthropogenic change on one process that generates biodiversity. Sexual selection (a potent evolutionary force and driver of speciation) is highly sensitive to the environment and, thus, vulnerable to anthropogenic ecological change. Anthropogenic alterations to sexual display and mate preference can make it harder to distinguish between conspecific and heterospecific mates or can weaken divergence via sexual selection, leading to higher rates of hybridization and biodiversity loss. Occasionally, anthropogenically altered sexual selection can abet diversification, but this appears less likely than biodiversity loss. In our rapidly changing world, a full understanding of sexual selection and speciation requires a global change perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As most life-forms exist as holobionts, reduction of host-level biodiversity drives parallel habitat losses to their host-adapted microorganisms. The holobiont concept helps us to understand how species are habitats for – often ignored – coevolved microorganisms also worthy of conservation. Indeed, loss of host-associated microbial biodiversity may accelerate the extinction risks of their host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity conservation on farmland is the result of the interplay of many different stakeholders. Most stakeholders have developed unique communication narratives that support their own worldviews and serve their interests. Societal dissemination of scientific results inevitably lands in the playing field of the narratives from other stakeholders. Presenting evidence without communicating the implications risks inappropriate use of scientific results. Farmland biodiversity conservation scientists need clear, evidence-based communication narratives to improve societal impact. Integrating biodiversity conservation into agriculture is a pressing challenge promoted by conservationists. Although biodiversity can also provide important benefits to farmers, the adoption of biodiversity-enhancing measures is lagging behind the scientific evidence. This may partially be related to the way scientists position themselves. If scientists do not convincingly communicate about the implications of their evidence, other interested stakeholders will drive the conversations. To increase societal impact, scientists must understand the complex communication environment and take an informed and strategic position. We describe the prevailing conservation and farming narratives, highlighting how the term 'biodiversity' can be used to start dialogues between parties with conflicting demands and exemplifying how scientists can build effective narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drip irrigation is currently the main solution adopted by winegrowers to cope with climate change in Mediterranean vineyards. • Evidence of the ecological impact is still scarce. • Irrigation reduced entomophilous flower cover in vineyard inter-rows. • Irrigation negatively affected beneficial arthropods. • Irrigation reduced the diurnal predation. Over the last decades, the use of irrigation in vineyards has grown exponentially in response to climate change. In the Mediterranean region, irrigation is the most widely used method of preventing water stress and high sugar content in grapes. However, little is known about potential irrigation effects on biodiversity. This study aims to understand the effect of irrigation on inter-row vegetation, on the abundance of beneficial arthropods and on the predation of pest insects. In the Luberon region of South-Eastern France, nine irrigated and nine non-irrigated vineyards were analysed. Drip irrigation was applied only during the two driest months of the growing season. We found lower flower cover in irrigated vineyards but no difference in species richness and total vegetation cover. Similarly, abundances of several beneficial arthropods were directly affected by irrigation, such as crab spiders, ladybirds, ladybird larvae and parasitic wasps. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that negative irrigation effects on these arthropods were mediated by negative effects on flower cover. Predation rates were also lower in irrigated vineyards but only during daytime. Grapevine yield was not affected by irrigation. Experiments manipulating water availability under controlled conditions may help to understand this surprisingly strong effect of irrigation on flower cover and beneficial arthropod abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusivity is fundamental to progress in understanding and addressing the global phenomena of biological invasions because inclusivity fosters a breadth of perspectives, knowledge, and solutions. Here, we report on how the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessment on invasive alien species (IAS) prioritized inclusivity, the benefits of this approach, and the remaining challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil's main goal is zero deforestation and degradation (ZDD) in the Amazon. Existing policies do not consider the region's heterogeneity. Integrated sectoral policies are necessary for consolidating sustainable subregional territories. To protect the world's largest tropical forest while improving local people's lives, government agencies must overcome funding shortfalls and gaps in coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating and mapping ecosystem functions and associated Nature's contributions to people (NCP) across large spatial scales is complex. One particular and often overlooked challenge is to integrate community-level processes, such as species interactions, into the evaluation of flux-related NCP supply, especially when working at macroecological scales. This flux-related NCP evaluation could greatly benefit from advances in food web theory and statistical biodiversity modeling, which could simultaneously improve our understanding of the trophic interactions in ecological networks and the prediction of biodiversity across time ad space while accounting for abiotic drivers (climate and land use). We propose a macroecological framework that integrates biodiversity models and energy flux theory to upscale ecosystem functions and predicts the associated supply of flux-related NCP. At macroecological scales, the provision of Nature's contributions to people (NCP) is mostly estimated with biophysical information, ignoring the ecological processes underlying them. This hinders our ability to properly quantify the impact of declining biodiversity and the provision of NCP. Here, we propose a framework that combines local-scale food web energy flux approaches and large-scale biodiversity models to evaluate ecosystem functions and flux-related NCP at extensive spatiotemporal scales. Importantly, this approach has the potential to upscale ecosystem functions, assess the vulnerability of flux-related NCP to the climate crisis, and support the development of multiscale mitigation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approaches to rapidly collecting global biodiversity data are increasingly important, but biodiversity blind spots persist. We organized a three-day Datathon event to improve the openness of local biodiversity data and facilitate data reuse by local researchers. The first Datathon, organized among microbial ecologists in Uruguay and Argentina assembled the largest microbiome dataset in the region to date and formed collaborative consortia for microbiome data synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant diversity is an important driver of many ecosystem processes within and among trophic levels. There is growing evidence that the strength of plant diversity effects depends on the biotic and abiotic environmental conditions. Plant and soil history may be underlying mechanisms of an observed strengthening of biodiversity effects in aging biodiversity experiments. Temporal changes in biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships have been observed primarily for plants, while dynamics of higher trophic levels are little studied. However, similar patterns can be expected for higher trophic levels because of the close links between producers and consumers. Here, we compare the effects of plant diversity on consumer communities (richness, abundance, diversity, and community composition) and consumer-mediated functions (herbivory and predation) in plant communities with different plant and soil histories. Across six study years, plant diversity had a positive effect on consumer richness, abundance, diversity, and herbivory, whereas the level of predation was not significantly affected by plant diversity. Furthermore, consumer community composition shifted significantly with increasing diversity of plant communities. In addition, consumer abundance, composition, and consumer functions (herbivory and predation) differed between plant communities of different histories. However, contrary to our expectations, plant and soil history caused no significant change in the effects of plant diversity on consumer communities and functions, indicating that these history effects do not provide a mechanistic explanation for plant diversity effects on aboveground invertebrate communities. Thus, our results suggest that plant diversity is a major driver of aboveground invertebrate communities and functions across grassland ages and should be maximized to protect and restore multitrophic biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is not just jeopardizing the health of our planet but is also increasingly affecting our immune health. There is an expanding body of evidence that climate-related exposures such as air pollution, heat, wildfires, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss significantly disrupt the functioning of the human immune system. These exposures manifest in a broad range of stimuli, including antigens, allergens, heat stress, pollutants, microbiota changes, and other toxic substances. Such exposures pose a direct and indirect threat to our body's primary line of defense, the epithelial barrier, affecting its physical integrity and functional efficacy. Furthermore, these climate-related environmental stressors can hyperstimulate the innate immune system and influence adaptive immunity—notably, in terms of developing and preserving immune tolerance. The loss or failure of immune tolerance can instigate a wide spectrum of noncommunicable diseases such as autoimmune conditions, allergy, respiratory illnesses, metabolic diseases, obesity, and others. As new evidence unfolds, there is a need for additional research in climate change and immunology that covers diverse environments in different global settings and uses modern biologic and epidemiologic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgency of the biodiversity crisis calls for high-quality habitat data now. Ground-based images (GBIs) represent one of the least-utilized fine-grain data sources with a worldwide coverage and low acquisition cost. The integration of GBIs with other data sources and computer vision can provide objective approaches to improve species–habitat models. We need to understand how GBIs complement existing remote sensing resources, and develop standardized descriptive statistics characterizing the composition and complexity of GBIs. Fine-grained environmental data across large extents are needed to resolve the processes that impact species communities from local to global scales. Ground-based images (GBIs) have the potential to capture habitat complexity at biologically relevant spatial and temporal resolutions. Moving beyond existing applications of GBIs for species identification and monitoring ecological change from repeat photography, we describe promising approaches to habitat mapping, leveraging multimodal data and computer vision. We illustrate empirically how GBIs can be applied to predict distributions of species at fine scales along Street View routes, or to automatically classify and quantify habitat features. Further, we outline future research avenues using GBIs that can bring a leap forward in analyses for ecology and conservation with this underused resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity underlies many crucial ecosystem functions and nature's contributions to people (NCP), but they are typically mapped and predicted with approaches that ignore information on species and communities. At the same time, great progress has been made in statistical biodiversity modeling to predict aspects of biodiversity over space and time. However, breakthroughs in this field have yet to find widespread use in predicting NCP. In particular, new approaches that employ diverse data sources, estimate different dimensions of biodiversity, incorporate biotic interactions, and address analytical uncertainty could have profound applications for NCP prediction. Here, we describe the current state of NCP prediction and its challenges, highlight potential benefits of biodiversity modeling advances, and end with how these improved predictions can help to meet goals of international frameworks for biodiversity conservation. Accurate predictions of ecosystem functions and nature's contributions to people (NCP) are needed to prioritize environmental protection and restoration in the Anthropocene. However, our ability to predict NCP is undermined by approaches that rely on biophysical variables and ignore those describing biodiversity, which have strong links to NCP. To foster predictive mapping of NCP, we should harness the latest methods in biodiversity modeling. This field advances rapidly, and new techniques with promising applications for predicting NCP are still underutilized. Here, we argue that employing recent advances in biodiversity modeling can enhance the accuracy and scope of NCP maps and predictions. This enhancement will contribute significantly to the achievement of global objectives to preserve NCP, for both the present and an unpredictable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Desert is one of the harshest places on the earth due to low precipitation and soil nutrients. • Global desertification is a continuous process; almost 60% of the land surface is now desertified. • The plants in these desert ecosystems have developed several novel phenotypic characteristics that overcome the harsh environment. • Genome sequencing of the desert plant can enable us to identify the novel trait responsible for overcoming the xerophytic condition. • Transfer of novel genetic traits can be done to the crop plants. So that plants can withstand the harsh environment and overcome crop loss due to drought and other extreme conditions. Despite the exposure to arid environmental conditions across the globe ultimately hampering the sustainability of the living organism, few plant species are equipped with several unique genotypic, biochemical, and physiological features to counter such harsh conditions. Physiologically, they have evolved with reduced leaf size, spines, waxy cuticles, thick leaves, succulent hydrenchyma, sclerophyll, chloroembryo, and photosynthesis in nonfoliar and other parts. At the biochemical level, they are evolved to perform efficient photosynthesis through Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and C4 pathways with the formation of oxaloacetic acid (Hatch-Slack pathway) instead of the C3 pathway. Additionally, comparative genomics with existing data provides ample evidence of the xerophytic plants' positive selection to adapt to the arid environment. However, adding more high-throughput sequencing of xerophyte plant species is further required for a comparative genomic study toward trait discovery related to survival. Learning from the mechanism to survive in harsh conditions could pave the way to engineer crops for future sustainable agriculture. The distinct physiology of desert plants allows them to survive in harsh environments. However, the genomic composition also contributes significantly to this and requires great attention. This review emphasizes the physiological and genomic adaptation of desert plants. Other important parameters, such as desert biodiversity and photosynthetic strategy, are also discussed with recent progress in the field. Overall, this review discusses the different features of desert plants, which prepares them for harsh conditions intending to translate knowledge to engineer plant species for sustainable agriculture. This review comprehensively presents the physiology, molecular mechanism, and genomics of desert plants aimed towards engineering a sustainable crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]