Ecological Research最新文献

{"title":"Leaf-Branch Coordination of Dehydration Resistance and Tree Invasion Success in Dry Ridge Forests of Subtropical Pacific Islands, Japan","authors":"Kanji Minagi,&nbsp;Kiyosada Kawai,&nbsp;Shin-Taro Saiki,&nbsp;Atsushi Ishida","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70125","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Oceanic islands host many endemic tree species but are threatened by invasive trees globally. Woody plants exhibit substantial interspecific variation in leaf and branch traits. Assessing plant functional traits and coordination across organs is key to understanding species' ecological strategies and tree invasion success. We examined 11 hydraulic traits of sunlit leaves and 3 branch wood traits in 12 native and 6 invasive evergreen tree species in dry ridge forests on the Bonin Islands, Japan. Across woody species, branch wood density (WD) was negatively correlated with <i>P</i>₅₀, the xylem water potential causing 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity in branches. High leaf mass per area (LMA) was associated with greater dehydration resistance in leaves, including higher bulk modulus of elasticity of leaf cell wall (<i>ε</i>), more negative leaf water potential (<i>Ψ</i>_tlp), lower relative water content (RWC_tlp) at turgor loss point, and more negative osmotic potential at full turgor (<i>Ψ</i>_sat). LMA was positively associated with WD across species. More negative <i>Ψ</i>_tlp in leaves was significantly correlated with more negative <i>P</i>₅₀ in branches but not with WD. This trait coordination of rigid leaves and dense wood enhances dehydration resistance, albeit at high carbon construction cost. Compared to native/endemic tree species, invasive tree species exhibited significantly lower-cost tissues in leaves and branches (i.e., lower LMA and WD), potentially enabling rapid regrowth after disturbance and prolonged drought despite lower dehydration resistance. We predict that climate change may favor tree species with less dense tissues and acquisitive strategies, shifting community composition within dry ridge forests.</p>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1440-1703.70125","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148999113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Potential for Pest Management Using Plant-Derived Signaling Compounds","authors":"Junji Takabayashi,&nbsp;Kaori Shiojiri,&nbsp;Masayoshi Uefune,&nbsp;Junichiro Abe,&nbsp;Rika Ozawa","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70123","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Herbivory-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), artificially damaged plant volatiles (ADPVs), plant hormones, and related compounds mediate plant–herbivore, plant–carnivore, and plant–plant interactions and represent promising tools for sustainable pest management. First, we describe a key ecological function of HIPVs: the attraction of natural enemies of herbivorous insects. Then, we present a case study on the use of HIPVs in greenhouses within a satoyama landscape (see Section Features of the Satoyama Landscape in the Research Area Called Miyama for a definition of satoyama). In this study, dispensers containing a synthetic HIPV blend, coupled with sugary food feeders, enabled the native parasitoid <i>Cotesia vestalis</i> to suppress diamondback moth (<i>Plutella xylostella</i>) larvae. We then review plant–plant communication mediated by HIPVs and ADPVs, emphasizing compound specificity, the metabolic conversion of exogenous volatile alcohols, and field evidence showing that early exposure to weed-derived ADPVs can reduce herbivory and, in some cases, increase crop yield, while noting that some ADPV sources may have negative effects. Next, we synthesize evidence on the exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and related compounds, focusing on their effects on herbivores and their natural enemies. Finally, we discuss how combinations of signaling compounds, appropriate formulations, and habitat management strategies can facilitate information-based pest management while reducing reliance on conventional insecticides.</p>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1440-1703.70123","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Direct and Element-Mediated Edaphic Effects Shape Resource-Conservative Leaf Trait Variation Across Serpentine and Limestone Soils","authors":"Shogo Ueyama,&nbsp;Emi Kusatake,&nbsp;Makiko Mimura","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70124","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Edaphically extreme substrates, such as serpentine and limestone, impose strong physiological constraints on plants and are frequently associated with resource-conservative leaf traits and narrow plant endemism. However, it remains unclear how edaphic selection shapes leaf traits and whether these shifts are driven primarily by direct soil-imposed constraints or indirectly by changes in leaf elemental composition. Here, we examined soil–leaf elemental relationships, leaf functional traits, and CSR strategies (Competitive, Stress-tolerant, and Ruderal strategy) using piecewise structural equation modeling across 16 populations of five closely related <i>Epimedium</i> taxa distributed on serpentine, limestone, and other substrates in western Japan. Despite marked differences in soil and leaf elemental composition between serpentine and limestone sites, populations on both substrates converged toward resource-conservative leaf traits, including lower specific leaf area (SLA) and a shift toward thicker leaves and higher leaf dry matter content (LDMC), even after accounting for species identity. Piecewise structural equation modeling revealed two pathways consistent with the proposed hypotheses: A strong direct association between soil elemental composition and leaf trait variation and a weaker indirect association involving leaf elemental composition. Together, our results suggest that edaphic mosaics are linked to convergent resource-conservative phenotypes through two partly overlapping pathways across serpentine and limestone soils: strong direct associations with leaf functional traits and weaker associations involving leaf elemental composition.</p>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1440-1703.70124","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forty-Seven Years of Tree Census Data at the Botanical Gardens of Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan","authors":"Riichi Oguchi,&nbsp;Satoshi Nanami,&nbsp;Satoshi Koi,&nbsp;Seita T. Watanabe,&nbsp;Hirofumi Takeshita,&nbsp;Mitsuhiro Sakoda,&nbsp;Yutaka Tsujimoto,&nbsp;Akira Kimura,&nbsp;Shingo Tanaka,&nbsp;Hideki Tanaka,&nbsp;Mitsuru Nakahara,&nbsp;Haruo Fujita,&nbsp;Satoshi Kataoka,&nbsp;Kentaro Ito,&nbsp;Kiyohiro Tanaka","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As the importance of ecosystem functions and services is receiving increasing attention, it is necessary to understand the difference in the functions and services of various ecosystems. Nevertheless, it is difficult to investigate the differences in ecosystem functions and ecosystem services among different forest types, excluding the effect of environmental differences, which is because different forest types in nature grow in different environments. The botanical gardens of Osaka Metropolitan University have a unique study site that exhibits 11 types of Japanese forests for more than 60 years. These 11 forest types are grown under “one” environmental condition in the same botanical garden; therefore, this study site can be considered a “forest types common-garden experiment,” and hence researchers can explore the differences in ecosystem functions and services, excluding the effect of environmental differences. This large-scale project was started soon after the establishment of the botanical gardens in 1950, primarily by Dr. Tatsuo Kira, and a tree census has been conducted since 1978 by the staff of the botanical gardens. Here, we report tree census data, including the diameter at breast height of all trunks with &gt; 5 cm diameter and height of the tree, measured at the 11 types of forests, which co \tnsist of five evergreen forests, three deciduous forests, and three coniferous forests. The Metadata and complete dataset for this abstract are available in MetaCat in JaLTER at https://doi.org/10.20783/DIAS.JLE.96.</p>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1440-1703.70070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148942725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nickel Accumulation in the Endemic Species Odontarrhena orbelica From Pirin Mountain, Bulgaria","authors":"Dolja Pavlova,&nbsp;Veradina Nacheva,&nbsp;Irina Karadjova,&nbsp;Rossen Tsonev,&nbsp;Aida Bani","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70121","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In the present study, we evaluated the capacity of the endemic species <i>Odontarrhena orbelica</i>, which occurs exclusively on non-serpentine soils, to accumulate Ni. Initial field data on Ni accumulation are presented for <i>O. orbelica</i> and <i>Odontarrhena muralis</i>, both growing under natural conditions on non-serpentine soils, and <i>Odontarrhena decipiens</i>, which grows on serpentine soil. To further assess the Ni accumulation capacity of <i>O. orbelica</i> in comparison with <i>O. muralis</i> and <i>O. decipiens</i>, two controlled experiments were conducted: (1) a pot experiment using different soil types—three serpentine soils, one carbonate soil, and one volcanic soil; and (2) a hydroponic experiment with increasing concentrations of NiSO₄ (10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000, and 3000 μM). In both the field and pot experiments, concentrations of Ni, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ca, and Mg were measured in roots, stems, and leaves using ICP-OES. Root-to-leaf translocation factors and bioaccumulation factors were also calculated. In the hydroponic experiment, Ni concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves were determined, and bioaccumulation factors were also calculated. The results clearly indicate that <i>O. orbelica</i> behaves as a Ni excluder. In contrast, <i>O. decipiens</i> exhibited characteristics of a hyperaccumulator in both the pot and hydroponic experiments, showing high tolerance to increasing Ni concentrations. <i>Odontarrhena muralis</i> accumulated Ni in serpentine soils and demonstrated both tolerance and high bioaccumulation factors, up to approximately 2000 μM Ni. In comparison, <i>O. orbelica</i> showed very low tolerance to elevated Ni concentrations.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Multi-Species Examination of Temporal Capture Trends in Freshwater Turtles","authors":"Fenton S. McKown,&nbsp;Ana G. G. Sapp,&nbsp;Emma M. Wilson,&nbsp;Elizabeth H. Culp,&nbsp;Ivana Mali","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70122","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Accurate estimates of wildlife population demographics are essential for ecological research and conservation, yet field sampling is often constrained by limited resources and imperfect detection. Freshwater turtles, among the most threatened vertebrate taxa, are commonly surveyed using baited traps; however, behavioral responses to trapping may introduce bias into demographic estimates. We evaluated species-specific temporal patterns in capture rates across multi-day trapping periods using data from 102 wetland sites in North Carolina, USA (2023–2025). Standardized trapping protocols were used to sample six species, and generalized linear mixed-effects models were applied to assess changes in daily capture rates. Capture rates declined significantly over time for five species—<i>Chelydra serpentina</i>, <i>Chrysemys picta</i>, <i>Clemmys guttata</i>, <i>Kinosternon</i> spp., and <i>Trachemys scripta</i>—with daily reductions ranging from 19% to 43%. In contrast, <i>Sternotherus odoratus</i> showed no significant temporal trend. Analyses of baiting regimes indicated that more frequent bait replacement did not consistently mitigate declines, although <i>T. scripta</i> exhibited increased responsiveness to bait freshness. These results suggest that short-term behavioral responses, including trap avoidance, can rapidly influence detection probability and vary substantially among species. Consequently, survey designs that assume constant detection may produce biased demographic estimates. Incorporating species-specific behavioral dynamics into both field methodologies and analytical frameworks will improve the accuracy and efficiency of freshwater turtle monitoring and conservation efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1440-1703.70122","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nickel Hyperaccumulation by the Species of the Genus Odontarrhena From North Macedonia","authors":"Slavcho Hristovski,&nbsp;Maja Mladenova,&nbsp;Marija Chobanova,&nbsp;Daniela Jovanovska,&nbsp;Olgica Micevska","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70119","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ultramafic soils are characterized by elevated nickel (Ni) concentrations and provide highly selective environments for metal-tolerant plant species. The genus <i>Odontarrhena</i> (Brassicaceae) includes several species known for their ability to hyperaccumulate Ni; however, information on accumulation patterns of <i>Odontarrhena</i> species and soil–plant relationships in North Macedonia remains limited. To address this, this study assessed Ni hyperaccumulation potential, organ-specific partitioning, and soil–plant relationships in seven <i>Odontarrhena</i> species of the <i>Odontarrhena muralis</i> group across ultramafic sites in North Macedonia. Plant and soil samples were collected from 10 regions, and elemental concentrations of Ni and selected trace elements were quantified. All investigated species occurring on ultramafic soils showed clear Ni hyperaccumulation, with leaf concentrations exceeding 25,000 mg/kg in <i>Odontarrhena skopjensis</i> and <i>Odontarrhena chalcidica</i> from the Radusha serpentine outcrop. Ni accumulation followed a consistent organ-specific pattern (root &lt; stem &lt; branch &lt; fruit &lt; leaf), indicating preferential allocation to aboveground tissues. While soil Ni contributed significantly to multivariate patterns of elemental composition, plant organ and species were the strongest predictors of plant Ni concentrations, and soil–plant relationships varied among species. These findings highlight the importance of intrinsic physiological regulation and tissue-specific sequestration in shaping Ni hyperaccumulation, reinforcing the role of <i>Odontarrhena</i> species as key functional components of ultramafic ecosystems in the Balkans.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioaccumulation and Trophic Transfer of Heavy Metals in Terrestrial Soil–Plant–Insect Food Chains Within Agricultural Systems: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Ecological Implications","authors":"Mohd Irfan Naikoo,&nbsp;Mazen K. Nazal,&nbsp;Mohamed O. Abouelresh,&nbsp;Naveen Kumar Vannaratta Veettil,&nbsp;Ali Hassan Almusabeh,&nbsp;Fauzia Naushin,&nbsp;Luai M. Alhems","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70118","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Heavy metal contamination is a persistent environmental problem in terrestrial ecosystems, where metals present in soils can enter food chains and affect organisms across multiple trophic levels. In terrestrial systems, heavy metals are transferred from soils to plants and subsequently to phytophagous insects and their predators, yet these pathways have received less integrated attention than aquatic food webs. This issue is especially relevant in naturally metal-rich environments such as serpentine ecosystems, where elevated concentrations of metals, particularly nickel, strongly shape plant–insect interactions. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and elimination of heavy metals in terrestrial soil–plant–insect food chains, drawing on evidence from natural ecosystems as well as laboratory and field studies. We examine the behavior of key essential and non-essential metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Hg, Cu, and Ni) and highlight how soil properties, plant uptake mechanisms, insect feeding strategies, and detoxification processes regulate metal movement across trophic levels. Particular attention is given to bioaccumulation and biomagnification patterns, as well as to excretion and elimination pathways such as honeydew production and molting that can limit metal transfer to higher consumers. Overall, the review shows that metal transfer is highly species and metal-specific, leading to changes in trophic interactions, community structure, and ecosystem functioning. Most available studies were conducted in agricultural systems, highlighting the need for more field-based ecological investigations across natural ecosystems. We conclude by identifying key knowledge gaps and outlining future research directions needed to better predict ecological risks under increasing metal contamination.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148849324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Highly Acidic Volcanic Soils on Plant Ionome Related to Aluminum Tolerance Strategies: Aluminum Accumulator and Non-Accumulator Plants","authors":"Daisuke Aoshima,&nbsp;Soshi Osaki,&nbsp;Akihiro Yamamoto,&nbsp;Hayato Maruyama,&nbsp;Toshihiro Watanabe,&nbsp;Takayuki Nakatsubo,&nbsp;Jun Wasaki","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70117","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Acidic soils impose multiple stresses on plants and affect soil nutrient availability. Some elements are essential to many physiological processes within plants. Comprehensive studies on the ionomic profiles in plants are insightful for uncovering plant strategies for nutrient uptake and tolerance to environmental stress. This study aimed to elucidate plant nutrition strategies by comparing the ionomes of plants grown in highly acidic soils, so-called solfatara fields, and in non-solfatara fields, with average pH values of 3.89 and 5.29, respectively. A quadrat survey was conducted to investigate the effects of fumaroles, which emit volcanic gases and are characteristic of solfatara fields, on plant ionomes. Our study classified ionomic profiles in solfatara and non-solfatara fields into two groups: aluminum (Al)-accumulating and non-Al-accumulating plants. Among non-Al-accumulating plants, concentrations of manganese, magnesium, and sulfur were similar or higher in solfatara than in non-solfatara fields. Among Al-accumulating plants, the concentration of Al in <i>Palhinhaea cernua</i> was higher than in other species, and it did not differ significantly between solfatara and non-solfatara fields. In the quadrat survey, only four species were found, and their ionomes did not change with distance from the fumarole. The most acidic area had a pH of 2.28, and only <i>Fimbristylis dichotoma</i> subsp. <i>podocarpa</i> was found there. Although it remains unclear whether these patterns reflect species traits or adaptive responses to environmental conditions, the results enable us to hypothesize that manganese, magnesium, and sulfur were associated with tolerance for very acidic soil exhibited by non-Al-accumulating plants.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148849140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying Spectral Characteristics of Quercus hondae, an Endangered Tree Species, Using Time-Series Imagery Acquired With an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle","authors":"Naoyuki Hashimoto,&nbsp;Ryosuke Saino,&nbsp;Ryosuke Murai,&nbsp;Tomoaki Ichie","doi":"10.1111/1440-1703.70120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1703.70120","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While <i>Quercus hondae</i> (Qh), a rare tree species, is crucial for maintaining forest ecosystem diversity, Qh has only been found in limited locations. To support future remote sensing-based exploration for unknown habitats, we investigated the spectral characteristics of Qh and six tree species using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based multispectral time-series imagery acquired during the flowering and leafing seasons. Species similarity was evaluated using dynamic time warping distance, and trend filtering was applied to species showing phenological patterns similar to those of Qh. Species differences were then assessed using reflectance values and reflectance variation, with separability evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. <i>Quercus glauca</i> and <i>Cinnamomum camphora</i> showed phenological patterns most similar to those of Qh. Nevertheless, Qh exhibited significant differences in red-edge and near-infrared reflectance during flowering, with differences exceeding 0.08 in some cases. Reflectance variations in the flowering and leafing periods generally provided greater separability than single-date reflectance values. These differences were associated with species-specific timing and rates of flowering, leaf expansion, and leaf coloration. These results suggest that time-series analysis of UAV-based reflectance can distinguish differences in phenology even among species with similar seasonal patterns. The identified spectral wavelength bands, observation periods, and reflectance variations provide practical guidance for developing optical satellite-based approaches to map the potential site of unknown habitats of Qh.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11434,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Research","volume":"41 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}