Biological Reviews最新文献

{"title":"Placental crises: disruptive selection and maternal under-investment as the foundations of mammalian placental evolution and dysfunction","authors":"Davis Laundon,&nbsp;Neil J. Gostling,&nbsp;Ian G. Reddin,&nbsp;Bram G. Sengers,&nbsp;Pascale Chavatte-Palmer,&nbsp;Rohan M. Lewis","doi":"10.1002/brv.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Among the vertebrates, mammals are notable for the dominance of live birth and placental nutrition. The structural diversity of the mammalian placenta is remarkable, despite sharing a single common ancestor and conserved physiological functions. Historically, investigations into the evolution of the mammalian placenta have been grounded in ‘the efficiency paradigm’, i.e. the assumption that certain placental configurations permit easier nutrient exchange, but this paradigm has struggled to explain the diversity of mammalian placentation strategies. Here, we propose a new paradigm to understand mammalian placental evolution. Using multidimensional plotting of recorded placental structures, quantitative metrics for mammalian maternal investment, and illustrative computational modelling of physiological processes, we argue that the ancestral mammalian placenta is not a streamlined ‘highly efficient’ design, but rather a product of low maternal investment, with fitness costs that manifest as gestational demand increases. Expansion of small mammals into larger-bodied, longer-lived niches induces a ‘placental crisis’ characterised by maternal under-investment and chronic gestational dysfunction, triggering an arms race through the interaction of disruptive selection and materno-fetal conflict. We propose the acute severity of the placental crisis is the foundation of placental evolution. We go on to argue that some primates are currently in a state of placental crisis and that maternal under-investment and inappropriate placentation are the evolutionary foundations of human gestational dysfunctions such as pre-eclampsia. We conclude that the ancestral mammalian placenta was not an efficiently optimised design that allowed placentation to dominate the clade, but rather an idiosyncrasy of mammal-specific biology, which likely hindered mammalian expansion into larger-bodied niches.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1627-1640"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70139","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146091588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methylation and merriment: an exploration of epigenetic mechanisms underlying play behaviour","authors":"Robert J. Malka,&nbsp;Marcos Arranz,&nbsp;Ignacio Baselga-Carretero","doi":"10.1002/brv.70142","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70142","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Species from octopi to humans engage in play. This review examines how epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, may regulate play behaviour across taxa. We frame play through historical definitions, categorizing it into object, locomotor, and social forms, and examine how each may be linked to epigenetic shifts, for example in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. We then explore the role of domestication in enhancing play <i>via</i> methylation of stress and sociality genes, comparing domesticated chickens, dogs, and foxes to their wild kin. We link the neurobiology of play, spanning the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and reward circuits, to epigenetic modulation. Assessing the evolutionary fitness advantages of play, we compare adaptive benefits against the surplus resource theory. Despite its presence in many taxa, there remains limited direct evidence for a role of epigenetic mechanisms in play, and we urge research into the developmental and adaptive roles of play across a wider range of species.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1683-1703"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of rivers on seabird foraging ecology","authors":"Julia B. Morais,&nbsp;Andre Chiaradia,&nbsp;Richard D. Reina","doi":"10.1002/brv.70143","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rivers act as vital arteries to the world's oceans, delivering fresh water and nutrients that sustain marine ecosystems. Globally, river flow increasingly is being altered by climate change and anthropogenic pressures; yet the significance of rivers to predatory marine species, such as seabirds, and the extent to which river-related changes affect their food webs, remains poorly understood. This review synthesises 51 studies specifically designed to examine river influences on seabird habitat selection, diet, health, and demographics, while highlighting methodological approaches and ecological patterns. Although river-related variables remain underutilised in seabird research, 88% (45/51) of studies that included them reported clear evidence of river effects for at least one type of seabird response, suggesting these ecological links are under-recognised rather than absent. When selected as the primary explanatory (most informative) variable in each study, plume-based metrics were conclusive in 95% (19/20) of cases, whereas river-specific metrics (namely number of rivers, river outflow and distance to river mouths) were conclusive in 84% (26/31) of cases, confirming that both metric types are highly reliable once aligned with the seabird response in question. River-influenced coastal waters consistently supported critical foraging hotspots across all seabird orders, whilst also exposing birds to potential pollutant burdens and altered prey dynamics. Seabird dietary data are a valuable indicator of prey variability associated with river outflows, with greater prey diversity recorded in estuarine habitats compared to marine ones. Rivers exhibited mixed effects under anthropogenic pressures but generally positive influences during climate disturbances, suggesting that seabirds may increasingly depend on riverine environments as buffers against changing marine conditions. We recommend expanding investigations into river impacts on seabird health in tropical systems, incorporating long-term hydrological influences, and prioritising the integration of river-specific and oceanographic data to predict seabird responses more effectively in a rapidly changing world.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1704-1734"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70143","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146148495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecology and evolution of pyrazines in insects","authors":"Zowi Oudendijk,&nbsp;Niklas Wahlberg,&nbsp;Johanna Mappes","doi":"10.1002/brv.70160","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70160","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chemical communication is the oldest and most widespread form of signalling among and within organisms. Among the many compounds involved in such communication, pyrazines – nitrogen-containing heterocyclic molecules – are especially intriguing due to their widespread occurrence across the tree of life, from bacteria and fungi to insects and mammals. In this review, we focus on the role of pyrazines in insects, where they mediate both intra- and interspecific communication. Social insects, particularly within the order Hymenoptera, exhibit a greater diversity and frequency of pyrazine use compared to solitary species and other insect orders. This diversity may be associated with the complexity of communication systems required by eusociality. Pheromonal pyrazines predominantly feature alkyl and alkenyl group substituents, whereas allomonal pyrazines more often feature methoxy groups. Pyrazines have been identified in seven insect orders. Hemimetabolous insects, such as Phasmatodea, Orthoptera, and Hemiptera typically produce alkyl-substituted pyrazines, with some Hemiptera also producing methoxy variants. Methoxy-substituted pyrazines are absent in Hymenoptera but present in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, where they serve as both pheromones and allomones. In Diptera, pyrazines are only known from a few species, and have alkyl or alkenyl substituents. Pyrazines are mainly associated with adult stages, suggesting a predominant role in later-life communication but more research is needed on early life stages. Current evidence suggests that pyrazine biosynthesis may be carried out by microbial symbionts. To understand fully the evolutionary origins and ecological functions of pyrazines in insects, comprehensive surveys across taxa and life stages alongside functional studies are essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1937-1959"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70160","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147483959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial metrics in fire ecology: seeking consistency amidst complexity","authors":"Alexander R. Carey,&nbsp;Geoffrey J. Cary,&nbsp;Teigan Cremona,&nbsp;Hugh F. Davies,&nbsp;Brett P. Murphy,&nbsp;Sam C. Banks","doi":"10.1002/brv.70140","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Technological advances, including remote sensing, have led to a proliferation of metrics used in ecological studies to examine spatial patterns of fire regimes and their ecological effects. Researchers can use many different metrics to analyse spatial variation in both fire events and resulting fire regimes, including fire size, shape, intensity, frequency and seasonality. However, variation in metric selection, definition, and application can yield inconsistent findings and/or difficulty in the synthesis of findings from different studies. This review aims to (<i>i</i>) visualise trends in spatial terminology within the broader fire ecology literature, (<i>ii</i>) characterise the variability among metrics for describing spatial fire patterns, and (<i>iii</i>) evaluate the ecological relevance of metrics, identifying opportunities to enhance consistency.</p><p>This review comprises three sections. First, we used topic modelling to determine topic trends in fire ecology over the last three decades (1991–2025). We found a shift from studies primarily focused on individual fire regime aspects to a more holistic approach incorporating multiple fire regime aspects, including spatial patterns. Second, we present findings from a qualitative review, revealing marked variation in metric selection within and among taxa, biomes, and the technique used to measure spatial metrics. We also identified ecological processes, such as dispersal capacity, that prompt researchers to use more specific metrics to analyse their study system more precisely, leading to less consistency among studies. Finally, we offer recommendations for enhancing metric consistency whilst maintaining the flexibility to adapt and develop those metrics most relevant and informative for a given objective.</p><p>As technological advances allow for a more complete description of the spatial attributes of a fire regime, there is a potential trade-off between generality and precision, reducing comparability among studies. To ensure ecological relevance, it is crucial to consider the characteristics of data, landscape, and ecological contexts when selecting and applying metrics. Recent advances in landscape analysis techniques, such as through applying information theory, are leading to metrics that can be broadly applicable across study systems. Using the most generalised metrics possible, reporting standardised metrics of all fire regime components, aligning with landscape ecology where appropriate, and staying updated on emerging techniques will ensure the fire ecology field can move forward with a more coordinated approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1641-1661"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extent, characteristics and policy applications of Key Biodiversity Areas","authors":"Stuart H. M. Butchart,&nbsp;Olivia Crowe,&nbsp;Tom Scott,&nbsp;Andrew J. Plumptre,&nbsp;Megan Eldred,&nbsp;Ellen McKee,&nbsp;Zoltan Waliczky,&nbsp;Ibrahim Al Hasani,&nbsp;Adrián B. Azpiroz,&nbsp;Daniele Baisero,&nbsp;Fred Barasa,&nbsp;Alison E. Beresford,&nbsp;Bezeng S. Bezeng,&nbsp;Charlotte Boyd,&nbsp;Thomas M. Brooks,&nbsp;Graeme Buchanan,&nbsp;Gill Bunting,&nbsp;Sofia Capellan,&nbsp;Neil Cox,&nbsp;Tim R. B. Davenport,&nbsp;Tammy E. Davies,&nbsp;Gina Della Togna,&nbsp;Wendy Elliott,&nbsp;Matt Foster,&nbsp;Jo Gilbert,&nbsp;Jonathan M. Handley,&nbsp;Diego Juffe-Bignoli,&nbsp;Victoria R. Jones,&nbsp;Naomi Kingston,&nbsp;Jeannot Kivono,&nbsp;John Lamoreux,&nbsp;Penny F. Langhammer,&nbsp;James Lewis,&nbsp;Bruce Liggitt,&nbsp;Daniel Marnewick,&nbsp;Paul Matiku,&nbsp;Erin McCreless,&nbsp;Rachel A. Neugarten,&nbsp;Catherine Numa,&nbsp;Mark O'Brien,&nbsp;Madhu Rao,&nbsp;Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne,&nbsp;Justina C. Ray,&nbsp;Samridhi Rijal,&nbsp;Jon Paul Rodríguez,&nbsp;Jurgis Sapijanskas,&nbsp;Wes Sechrest,&nbsp;Martin Sneary,&nbsp;Andrew Snyder,&nbsp;Konstantina Spiliopoulou,&nbsp;Thomas Starnes,&nbsp;Cecilia Tobar,&nbsp;Gautam Surya,&nbsp;Marcelo F. Tognelli,&nbsp;Andrew W. Tordoff,&nbsp;Maria G. Toscano,&nbsp;Yongyut Trisurat,&nbsp;Amy Upgren","doi":"10.1002/brv.70144","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70144","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A global standard for the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) was published 10 years ago to provide a unified set of criteria for identifying ‘sites of significance for the global persistence of biodiversity’. We review the initiative's origins, the KBA identification process, characteristics of the current network, threats, policy uptake, private sector applications and future priorities. KBAs are identified using criteria with quantitative thresholds relating to threatened or geographically restricted species or ecosystems, ecological integrity, biological processes, or irreplaceability. These criteria can be applied in terrestrial, inland water, marine and subterranean environments, and to all taxonomic groups. A total of 16,596 KBAs covering 22.1 million km² has been identified, with 29% of these sites in marine and 26% in freshwater ecosystems. KBAs range from 0.001 km² to 712,457 km² in extent, with a median size of 141 km² and a mean of 1,364 km². Most (63%) qualify due to the globally threatened species they support, with 48% being important for biological processes and 39% for geographically restricted species. KBAs have been identified for 18,365 qualifying species in total, of which 37% are plants and 32% are birds. The most prevalent threats are biological resource use (hunting, logging, fishing, etc., impacting 40.8% of sites with available data), unsustainable agriculture (40.7%), human intrusions and disturbance (38.4%) and natural systems modifications (water management and fire; 33.4%). KBAs are important for delivering ecosystem services to people, both locally and globally. KBAs have had widespread impact in informing protected area designation in all regions. In total, 10,054 sites (62%) are covered completely or partially by protected areas. Hence, KBAs are highly relevant to Target 3 (and other targets) in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to Sustainable Development Goals 14.5, 15.1, and 15.4. Indicators based on KBA data are therefore being used by the Convention on Biological Diversity and United Nations to track progress towards these targets. Many companies and financial institutions use KBAs to assess their exposure to nature-related risks and to identify opportunities for site-level, nature-positive actions. Future priorities include expanding and updating KBA assessments, and strengthening efforts to protect, conserve and safeguard these sites effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1735-1759"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70144","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146224667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Host, vector, and parasite dynamics: exploring intrinsic and extrinsic factors shaping tick-borne filarial nematode transmission","authors":"Oluwaseun D. Ajileye,&nbsp;Gabriel L. Hamer,&nbsp;Sarah A. Hamer,&nbsp;Guilherme G. Verocai,&nbsp;Jessica E. Light","doi":"10.1002/brv.70146","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70146","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tick-borne filarial nematodes are a complex and understudied group of parasites that rely on ticks for transmission in vertebrates. This review examines how intrinsic and extrinsic factors may influence the successful transmission of filarial nematodes in tick vectors, drawing insights from extensively studied haematophagous dipteran vector systems. We explore how different tick life stages contribute to potential nematode transmission to the host and the influence of abiotic factors on nematode survival and development within ticks. Understanding nematode life stage periodicity and enhancement phenomena in tick-borne filarial systems is equally important for determining transmission dynamics and co-infection patterns. Also important to nematode transmission are vertebrate host movement and tick feeding patterns, which create opportunities for parasite exchange across ecological environments. Knowledge gaps include the physical and molecular mechanisms of transmission, the potential influence of tick genetic variation on vector competence, immune responses across different tick–filarial associations, and epidemiological studies of host and tick patterns of nematode infection. Comprehensive empirical data are also needed to model transmission patterns, including temperature and humidity thresholds for nematode development and survival, field-based tick infection rates, and how tick immune responses affect these processes. Understanding these factors requires integrating expertise from multiple disciplines and adopting an ecosystem-based perspective that considers the interconnected nature of vertebrate hosts, vectors, and environment in the transmission of filarial nematodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1779-1792"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70146","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146163132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diet of bird-like troodontid dinosaurs: synthesis of a contentious clade","authors":"Yui Chi Fan,&nbsp;Case Vincent Miller,&nbsp;Michael Pittman","doi":"10.1002/brv.70145","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70145","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Troodontidae is a clade of small-to medium-sized maniraptoran theropods that mainly lived in Laurasia (modern Asia, North America and Europe) during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and are believed to have had a variety of diets. The uniqueness of troodontid teeth suggests that they diverged from the typical flesh-based diet of non-avian theropods. Some Asian troodontids even lack tooth serrations completely, which has been linked to herbivory or omnivory. However, troodontids still possessed multiple traits suited for predation. These include a large curved second pedal digit; laterally compressed, curved, and serrated teeth; and ‘puncture-and-pull’ microwear on their teeth. Extrinsic evidence, such as stomach contents and gastric pellets, supports a diverse dietary intake among troodontids with evidence that they ingested both plant and animal material. Environmental, morphological, and biogeochemical analyses suggest that the iconic North American troodontid, <i>Troodon</i>, was likely to have been omnivorous, potentially preying on both plants and small animals, such as mammals and baby dinosaurs (hatched or unhatched). Our understanding of different diets among troodontids remains limited due to the sparsity of both relevant fossil material and palaeodiet research. Nevertheless, what information we have on troodontid diet informs ancestral deinonychosaurian and paravian diets, which we suggest were omnivorous. We encourage research into troodontids outside the Late Cretaceous of North America and further study of troodontid biogeochemistry and postcranial anatomy to improve our understanding of troodontid diet and the larger story of theropod ecological diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1760-1778"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/brv.70145","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146193866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Marine foundation species facilitate biodiversity: systematic and quantitative syntheses identify trait-based standards to understand seascape functionality","authors":"Thomas Benoit,&nbsp;Aurélien Boyé,&nbsp;Mathieu Chevalier,&nbsp;Bastien Mourguiart,&nbsp;Cédric Bacher,&nbsp;Victor L. Jardim,&nbsp;Anaëlle Bizien,&nbsp;Martin P. Marzloff","doi":"10.1002/brv.70161","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70161","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Marine foundation species play a critical role in shaping seascapes and supporting biodiversity through their physical structure and biological activity. However, global changes can alter foundation species and subsequently induce profound changes in ecosystem functions and integrity. To understand better how foundation species influence biodiversity, we first conducted a systematic review of 311 articles that either compared biodiversity metrics associated with foundation species or examined relationships between biodiversity and foundation species traits (at the individual or habitat scale). A subsequent meta-analysis on a subset of suitable articles showed that foundation species generally enhance species richness by an average of 72%, although the strength and nature of this effect vary across scales and taxa. To understand these variations better, we synthesised the range of traits associated with foundation species and how these relate to various diversity metrics. While many traits are measured at both individual and habitat scales, inconsistencies across studies and foundation species groups prevent a formal assessment of functional trade-offs across marine foundation species. Despite high variability in trait–richness relationships, both common (e.g. density) and more specific (e.g. interstitial space) traits can serve as reliable proxies for species richness when capturing facilitative processes at the relevant scale for the response community. To reconcile this diversity of traits, we classify foundation species traits into 26 standardised categories, which constitutes a valuable framework to consolidate the interoperability of future research on the effects of foundation species on biodiversity. This classification and the associated database on foundation species–biodiversity relationships set a baseline for a comprehensive assessment of how multiple foundation species shape heterogeneous seascapes, which is essential for predicting the effects of habitat alteration or restoration on coastal biodiversity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 4","pages":"1960-1986"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147490231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Animal empathy reconsidered: a multidimensional profile account.","authors":"Albert Newen, Maja Griem, Ludwig Huber, Thomas Bugnyar, Aaron Blaisdell, Simone Pika","doi":"10.1002/brv.70196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/brv.70196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Empathy is the glue that holds societies together and yet several fundamental questions about empathy persist. What is empathy (the definitional question)? Is it uniquely human and, if not, which nonhuman animals possess empathy (the distribution question)? Which type or quality of empathy is realized in different species (the quality question)? To tackle these three questions, we developed a species-sensitive, multidimensional profile account of empathy. The main function of this account is to enable cross-species comparisons and to capture the rich variety of typical empathetic phenomena. Therefore, we aim to characterize behaviour-based cognitive profiles of empathy which are built on multifactorial characterizations of the dimensions of empathy and of the features realizing these dimensions. The distribution question can be answered by assessing family resemblances of profiles of empathy to paradigmatic cases of empathy. Answers to the quality question can be provided with reference to the relevant empathy profile, which allows us to describe and predict associated behaviours. To gain an initial understanding of the feasibility of this framework for interspecies comparisons, we applied it to four groups of animals: rodents, apes, canids and corvids. Comparing these groups, we demonstrate that each species has a specific empathy profile which has a predictive power: in complex situations requiring empathy, distinct profiles will result in more distinct behavioural responses whereas similar profiles will result in more similar responses, even among phylogenetically distinct groups. This new multidimensional profile account enables fine-grained comparisons within and between species instead of the prevailing all or nothing perspectives of empathy. Furthermore, it offers the integration of phylogenetic and ontogenetic perspectives thereby providing a crucial tool to explicate the notion of empathy to humans and other animals in a species-sensitive way. We demonstrate this framework by applying it specifically to empathy, and the framework's advantages invite it to be generalized to all rich and flexible cognitive abilities in nonhuman animals.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148343473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}