Ecology and Evolution最新文献

{"title":"Mitochondrial Genome Characteristics of <i>Rhodobryum laxelimbatum</i> and Comparative Analysis of RNA Editing and Codon Usage Bias With the Chloroplast Genome.","authors":"Jingyuan Niu, Shuo Shi, Shuangling Li, Jiancheng Zhao, Lin Li","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74421","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Rhodobryum laxelimbatum</i> is a traditional medicinal plant belonging to the genus <i>Rhodobryum</i>. To date, studies on this genus have focused primarily on its geographical distribution, chemical constituents, and biological activities, whereas genomic data within the genus are limited. The mitochondrial genome of <i>R. laxelimbatum</i> was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. Genomic structural features and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were comprehensively characterized. Comparative analyses of RNA editing patterns and codon usage bias were performed using the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of <i>R. laxelimbatum</i>. The results revealed that the complete mitochondrial genome of <i>R. laxelimbatum</i> was 103,071 bp in length. It comprises 40 protein-coding genes (<i>Nad7</i> is a pseudogene), 24 transfer RNA genes, and 3 ribosomal RNA genes. In total, 76 SSRs were detected. The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes contained 189 and 608 RNA editing sites, respectively, with the conversion of hydrophilic amino acids to hydrophobic amino acids being dominant. Both organellar genomes exhibited the highest GC content at the first codon position. GC12 was significantly associated with GC3 only in chloroplasts with steeper regression trends. Mitochondrial genes exhibited greater variation in the effective number of codons (ENC), and most genes in both genomes clustered near the expected ENC curve. Parity Rule 2 plot revealed a distinct base-composition imbalance at synonymous third codon positions-mitochondria exhibited T3s > A3s with comparable G3s and C3s, whereas chloroplasts exhibited T3s > A3s and G3s > C3s. Five optimal codons were identified in the mitochondrial genome, predominantly ending in G/A/C, whereas nine were identified in the chloroplast genome, ending in A/U. Correspondence analysis demonstrated that codon usage bias was shaped by multiple interacting factors rather than a single determinant. This study provides crucial evidence for clarifying the evolutionary patterns of organelle genomes in <i>Rhodobryum</i>, and for understanding its genetic characteristics and molecular basis.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74421"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13662536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149192014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Landscape Patterns and Ecological Risk Under Changing Human Activity in the Qilian Mountains.","authors":"Shengji Jiang, Heng Ren, Hua Xu, Tao Zhou","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74497","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74497","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human activities and environmental changes can alter landscape patterns and ecological processes, with important implications for ecological risk. Taking the Qilian Mountains as a case study, we used multi-temporal land-use data from 2000 to 2020 to quantify human activity intensity (HAI), landscape patterns and landscape ecological risk (LER). Spatial autocorrelation and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were used to examine spatial associations between HAI and landscape patterns. HAI remained generally low but exhibited pronounced spatial heterogeneity, increasing from west to east and from higher to lower elevations. Landscape patterns were relatively stable overall, despite localized increases in fragmentation and spatial heterogeneity in aggregation and connectivity. Higher HAI was generally associated with greater fragmentation and lower aggregation and connectivity, while GWR revealed pronounced spatial non-stationarity in these relationships. Low- and moderate-low LER levels dominated, whereas moderate- and moderate-high risk patches were concentrated in central-western and high-altitude areas, with risk increasing from southeast to northwest. The spatial relationships between HAI and LER in some high-altitude areas indicate that ecological risk does not always correspond to the spatial distribution of human activity, highlighting the spatial complexity of ecological risk in the Qilian Mountains.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74497"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668482/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whale See, Whale Do: Drone Observations Reveal Social Learning Processes in Mom-Calf Pairs.","authors":"Clara N Bird, Leigh G Torres","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74517","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Social learning is a key indicator of culture and a valuable process to understand due to effects on behavioral diversity and specialization with subsequent impacts on population survival. While social learning has been identified and quantified across a diverse array of taxa, the specific underlying processes are rarely identified. However, identifying the mimetic process involved in learning is important as it informs our understanding of a species' cognitive abilities and contributes to the study of cultural and cognitive evolution. Social learning and culture are often studied in cetaceans, particularly amongst odontocetes, but processes have only been identified in human care. Here, we analyze opportunistic drone footage of Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whale mom-calf pairs foraging off the coast of Oregon, USA for evidence of foraging tactic mimicry and evaluate alignment with different mimetic processes. We filmed 15 pairs across 9 years and observed a calf performing a foraging tactic while its mom was foraging in 6 of the pairs. The calf always initiated the tactic once its mom was already performing her tactic and the calf's tactic was either the same as its mom's current or previously performed tactic within the observation period. Furthermore, we present observations of these calves in later years employing tactics they observed their moms perform. We conclude that the process of stimulus/local enhancement occurs in most of our observations and find evidence suggesting imitation in calves attempting to reproduce an opaque movement (i.e., movement with dissimilar sensory inputs when observed and executed) performed by its mom. These findings represent the first evidence of social learning and vertical transmission of foraging tactics in gray whales, suggesting that gray whales are capable of complex cognitive tasks and that foraging tactics may be part of PCFG gray whale culture.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74517"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13662830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149191990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimising Survey Strategies for the Endangered Romer's Tree Frog (<i>Liuixalus romeri</i>): Effects of Diel, Seasonal and Weather Variation on Acoustic Detection.","authors":"Yik-Hei Sung, Amy Wing Lam Fok, Hiu Ching Yuen, Franco Ka Wah Leung, Michael Wai-Neng Lau, Jia Huan Liew, Simon Yung Wa Sin, Jonathan J Fong","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74491","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate estimation of species distribution and abundance depends on detection probability, which can vary with environmental conditions. For amphibians, calling activity and detectability are strongly influenced by diel, seasonal and weather conditions. However, these relationships remain poorly quantified for many species, limiting the optimisation of survey planning. We used passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) to investigate environmental factors of call detection in the endangered Romer's tree frog (<i>Liuixalus romeri</i>) in Hong Kong. Acoustic data were collected continuously across multiple sites to quantify the effects of time of day, season and weather variables on detection probability. We further compared PAM detections with active call surveys to assess concordance between methods. Detection probability exhibited strong diel and seasonal patterns, peaking during the wet season (June-August) and at night, with highest detection probability during early evening (20:00-22:00) and a secondary peak before dawn (03:00-04:00). Rainfall effects varied across the diel cycle, with positive effects during peak calling periods but negative or neutral effects at other times. Detection probability showed a non-linear relationship with temperature, peaking at approximately 27.5°C, and declined with increasing wind speed. Agreement between PAM and active call surveys was moderate (Cohen's Kappa = 0.47), with concordant call agreement for 73% of survey nights. This indicates that the two methods are complementary rather than interchangeable. Based on these findings, we recommend conducting manual surveys during peak activity periods (June-August, 20:00-22:00), under conditions of low wind and following recent rainfall. PAM provides a valuable tool for continuous monitoring and detecting temporal changes in call detection, while manual surveys remain important for estimating abundance. Integrating both approaches can improve monitoring protocols for <i>L. romeri</i> and other amphibians.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149215207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Human-Wildlife Coexistence Through the Lens of Value Pluralism Among Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs)","authors":"Anuradhi Dulangi Jayasinghe,&nbsp;Georgette Leah Burns,&nbsp;Duan Biggs","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74507","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74507","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A nuanced understanding of human–wildlife coexistence (HW-coexistence) is necessary to develop effective conservation approaches that are socially just and culturally sensitive. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are central to such efforts, given their diverse perspectives and values regarding interacting with wildlife. This paper focuses on understanding how pluralistic values of IPLCs can inform more nuanced perspectives of human–wildlife coexistence. Through a critical interpretive synthesis (CIS), we showed how the value pluralism of IPLCs begets and enriches the complexities and dynamics of coexistence. We identified a range of values held by IPLCs, such as reciprocity, tolerance, trust, and acceptance, among others. Finally, we developed a conceptual framework grounded in value pluralism that portrays the fluid and overlapping positive, negative, and ambivalent relationships between IPLCs and wildlife. The framework can act as a conceptual tool in conservation decision-making to construct and implement inclusive and adaptable conservation strategies that acknowledge the inherent value pluralism within IPLCs interacting with wildlife.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13668322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149192021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breeding Behaviors and Kinship in the Endangered Hawaiian Stilt (Ae‘o; Himantopus mexicanus knudseni)","authors":"Melissa R. Price,&nbsp;Kristen C. Harmon,&nbsp;Robert J. Toonen,&nbsp;Evan B. Freel,&nbsp;Madeleine A. Emms,&nbsp;‘Ale‘alani Dudoit,&nbsp;Coral Loockerman,&nbsp;Arleone Dibben-Young","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74297","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74297","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding the genetic underpinnings of cooperative and noncooperative breeding behaviors is critical for species of conservation concern. We investigated the genetic relatedness of Hawaiian Stilts (Aeʻo; <i>Himantopus mexicanus knudseni</i>), a threatened subspecies restricted to the Hawaiian Islands, in relation to nesting behavior, given recent behavioral observations of cooperative breeding, potential conspecific brood parasitism, and potential pairing of closely related individuals for nesting. Using RAD sequencing of blood and feather samples, we generated ~6800 SNPs for parentage and relatedness analysis. Observational data documented behaviors including cooperative incubation, helpers-at-the-nest, and potential conspecific brood parasitism, which are rarely reported in Charadriiformes. Parentage, genomic relatedness, and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses revealed instances of conspecific brood parasitism and potential extra-pair paternity. We also find evidence of inbreeding, with an overall <i>F</i>_IS of 0.23 and close genetic similarity between some mates. Ecological constraints and limited dispersal opportunities may promote cooperative breeding, conspecific brood parasitism, and inbreeding in Hawaiian Stilts. These results underscore the importance of maintaining and restoring nesting habitat to reduce pressures that may otherwise intensify inbreeding in this recovering population but also highlight the behavioral flexibility and adaptive capacity in this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13659274/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149179983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking the Rules: Museum Data Reveal Divergent Support for Classic Ecogeographical Rules in North American Flying Squirrels.","authors":"Tiffany A Paalman, Joseph P Morton, Cori Lopazanski, Brian R Silliman, Amy T Wolf","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74470","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74470","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ecogeographic generalizations or \"rules\", such as Bergmann's rule and Allen's rule, propose that endotherms in colder climates evolve larger bodies and shorter appendages to minimize heat loss. These patterns are hypothesized to reflect physiological adaptations to thermal stress through reduced surface area-to-volume ratios. Although these rules have been extensively evaluated across birds and mammals, their applicability to arboreal gliders remains untested, with little consideration of how alternative ecological and evolutionary drivers may structure morphological variation in flying squirrels across environmental gradients. Using digitized museum specimens of North American flying squirrels (<i>Glaucomys sabrinus, Glaucomys oregonensis</i>, and <i>Glaucomys volans</i>), we tested these classic ecogeographic principles by examining how weight, total length, tail length, and ear length vary across a latitudinal gradient. We found significant support for Bergmann's rule, with body mass and total length increasing with latitude. In contrast, patterns in appendage morphology provided limited support for Allen's rule. Ear length exhibited a weak positive relationship with latitude, while tail length strongly increased with latitude, contradicting the prediction that appendages become shorter in colder climates. These findings suggest that thermoregulatory selection alone cannot explain morphological variation in North American flying squirrels and that functional demands, particularly those associated with gliding performance, may play a stronger role in shaping tail morphology. Overall, our results demonstrate that although classic ecogeographic rules provide a useful framework for understanding morphological variation, they do not fully capture the multiple selective pressures acting on <i>Glaucomys</i> species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74470"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149179985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drivers of Taxonomic Bias in Ecology and Evolution: Insights From Ethologists and Behavioural Ecologists","authors":"Pietro Pollo,&nbsp;Michael M. Kasumovic","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74460","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.74460","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Taxonomic bias, that is, the disproportionate attention given to some taxa relative to their diversity, continues to hinder innovation and the pursuit of generality in ecology and evolution. Yet, the factors shaping ecologists' and evolutionary biologists' choices of study organisms mostly remain a mystery. We propose a framework explaining researchers' taxonomic choices along three major axes, supported by evidence from a preregistered survey of 868 researchers' experiences. First, rational considerations, such as logistical ease and societal relevance, were associated with the choice of research organisms within major animal groups but rarely across them. Second, contextual factors, like the prominence of certain organisms within peer networks or early-career exposure to specific taxa, were also associated with researchers' decisions about which organisms to study. Third, emotional factors, including taxonomic affinities, closely mirrored taxonomic patterns in the literature, indicating that they are a major driver of organism choice at broad taxonomic scales. Based on these findings, we suggest actions to mitigate taxonomic bias, including promoting (i) outreach initiatives featuring neglected taxa, (ii) taxonomically equitable education and (iii) taxonomically diverse research experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149179991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does Mother Provide? Re-Examination of Maternal and Embryonic Microbiomes of <i>Diploptera punctata</i>.","authors":"Brennan Jonas, Victoria Arrowsmith, Paul Ayayee","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74504","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cockroach endosymbiont <i>Blattabacterium cuenotii</i> plays a central role in host nutrition throughout development, particularly during embryogenesis in the viviparous cockroach <i>Diploptera punctata</i>. However, the presence and potential functional relevance of non-blattabacterial taxa in developing embryos of this species remain unclear. Previous studies of maternal and embryonic microbiomes in <i>D. punctata</i>, based on Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing, have yielded inconsistent findings, partly due to differences in how endosymbiotic sequences were treated. Here, we reanalyzed microbiome data from two studies, with and without Blattabacterial reads, to reevaluate the presence and composition of non-blattabacterial taxa in embryonic microbiomes. Embryonic microbial communities (1) differed significantly from each other between datasets and (2) from associated maternal gut communities, suggesting that environmental (maternal, dietary, and laboratory) and sequencing factors may influence their acquisition and composition rather than reflecting a stable, consistently transmitted microbiome. Nevertheless, the detection of non-blattabacterial taxa in embryonic microbiomes suggests the possible acquisition of non-endosymbiotic bacteria by developing embryos. The functions of these microbes are speculated, but were not explicitly tested in this study and remain to be verified. Overall, our findings suggest that although non-endosymbiotic embryonic bacteria may be environmentally acquired and variable, their biological relevance remains unresolved and cannot be determined from 16S amplicon data alone. This highlights the importance of investigating acquired non-endosymbiotic bacteria and their potential functional roles in the development of viviparous cockroaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74504"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149179954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeted eDNA Survey Enables Consistent Detection of the Invasive Blue Crab in Trans-Border Adriatic Coastal-Marine Ecosystems.","authors":"Maria Dolores De Donno, Francesco Zangaro, Pietro Arnosti, Sara Bergamin, Josip Boban, Maria Pia Bozzetti, Armando Cazzetta, Cristiano De Pittà, Dario Dessanai, Filippo Drigo, Olumide Temitope Julius, Laura Ključe, Jelena Lušić, Francesca Marcucci, Roberto Massaro, Valeria Morelli, Isabella Moro, Nikša Nazlić, Michele Pellizzato, Marco Rainò, Mahallelah Shauer, Marta Tasinazzo, Emanuele Troli, Valeria Specchia, Maurizio Pinna","doi":"10.1002/ece3.74462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74462","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The invasive blue crab <i>Callinectes sapidus</i> poses a significant ecological and economic threat to Mediterranean marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for sensitive and reliable tools for its early detection. We developed and validated a species-specific environmental DNA (eDNA) assay designed for sensitive detection of <i>C. sapidus</i>. Species-specific primers targeting a 464 bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene were designed, and their specificity was confirmed through in silico analyses using Primer-BLAST and Sanger sequencing, and their effectiveness was validated via high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples. The assay based on eDNA proved to be reliable and robust in confirming the presence of blue crab DNA in five cross-border Adriatic pilot areas impacted by this invasive species. In addition, the dominant OTU was consistently present in all sites, while haplotype network analysis using ASVs revealed a shared central haplotype across Adriatic populations, supporting their genetic cohesiveness and a common invasion history. These results emphasize the importance of molecular tools for tracking invasion dynamics and reinforce the potential for uniform genetic profiles to facilitate management efforts. Overall, our findings demonstrate that targeted eDNA approaches are essential for effective early detection and containment strategies in marine ecosystems threatened by biological invasions, and that the blue crab in the Adriatic Sea constitutes a potential genetically cohesive invasive entity.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":"16 10","pages":"e74462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149180012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}