{"title":"A Deep Model Framework for Morphological Trait Imputation Across Taxonomic Groups.","authors":"Yuang Wang, Xinying Shi, Yu Bai, Hongjie Zhu, Xuemei Yin, Pengfei Song, Daji Ergu, Taxing Zhang, Shengkai Pan, Zhongru Gu, Fangyao Liu, Xiangjiang Zhan","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70178","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.70178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Incomplete morphological trait data pose major hurdles for trait-based analyses, particularly when missing values, multicollinearity, and sparse sampling constrain inference. These issues limit our ability to quantify trait variation and explore broad patterns of functional differentiation across taxa. Here, we introduce FS-DeepRBFNet, which overcomes these pitfalls through integrating correlation-based feature selection with a dual-layer adaptive radial basis function (RBF) network. This end-to-end approach effectively reduces noise and captures both linear allometric trends and nonlinear morphological relationships. We tested the framework on a large species-level morphological trait dataset of Chinese birds and further validated its cross-taxon transferability using the Amphibian Database (Caudata). FS-DeepRBFNet consistently outperformed conventional methods such as KNN, Random Forest, and XGBoost, demonstrating superior predictive accuracy across multiple traits. Beyond improvements, the model revealed biologically interpretable trait associations and stable cross-taxon generalization. These results demonstrate that FS-DeepRBFNet provides a robust and biologically grounded solution for morphological trait prediction, enabling reliable imputation for comparative phylogenetics, functional ecology, and biodiversity forecasting in data-limited situations.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976861","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":"Ecology and Brain Size Drive Feeding Innovations in Birds.","authors":"Yating Liu, Ying Jiang, Jiliang Xu, Wenbo Liao","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70182","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feeding innovations, reflecting behavioral plasticity, are crucial for animals adapting to rapidly changing environments. Although larger brains are theorized to enhance adaptability by increasing behavioral flexibility, the combined influences of brain size and ecological factors on feeding innovations remains poorly understood. Birds, with their well-documented feeding innovations, offer an ideal study system to explore these relationships. Here, we analyzed feeding innovations across 955 bird species, examining relationships with brain size and ecological variables. Our results reveal that residual brain size positively correlates with feeding innovation rate. A high feeding innovation rate is commonly observed in resident species that employ omnivorous feeding strategies. Moreover, the patterns of association with residual brain size and ecological variables differed between the two innovation subtypes, namely technical and food type innovation rates. Phylogenetic path analysis further indicates that the effects of residual brain size and temperature seasonality on feeding innovation are mediated via migration type and/or feeding strategy. Together, our findings suggest that cognitive abilities, regulated by residual brain size, interact with ecological factors to shape feeding innovations, ultimately facilitating birds' adaptation to environmental changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976190","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":"Baseline Cortisol and Behavioral Phenotype Are Linked to Context-Dependent Spatial Cognition and Space Use in Giant Pandas.","authors":"Yuxin Jiang, Yingmin Zhou, Wenling Wang, Yuhang Li, Yuanhao Du, Tianjiao Liu, Yanwu Lai, Daifu Wu, Shengshan He, Hong Yang, Jiqiu Zhou, Shijie Mou, Zhiguo Cui, Chuan Liu, Jia Zhou, Wen Zeng, Rong Li, Yuanming Zheng, Xinxing Zhang, Changyu Mou, Desheng Li, Jianghong Ran","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.70175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animals differ consistently in how they respond to novelty and environmental change, but whether such variation links endocrine state, spatial cognition, and space use remains unresolved. In giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), we combined novel object tests, a resource-change experiment, fecal cortisol measurements, and GPS tracking to ask whether baseline cortisol and repeatable behavioral differences relate to spatial cognition and space use in novel environments. We identified two repeatable behavioral dimensions, behavioral inhibition and exploration intensity, both positively associated with baseline cortisol. In the spatial task, BI was associated with higher task accuracy, EI showed a stronger association with accuracy after resource reversal, and the interaction between baseline cortisol and BI was associated with fewer search turns in the reversal phase. Exploratory GPS analyses showed directionally negative estimates between baseline cortisol and several adult movement or space-use metrics, although none remained statistically significant after FDR correction. These preliminary patterns suggest a possible association between baseline cortisol and more concentrated space use in unfamiliar environments. Overall, these findings identify stable endocrine-behavioral phenotypes in giant pandas that are linked to context-dependent spatial cognition, with GPS-derived space-use patterns providing preliminary support for future testing in unfamiliar environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148975907","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":"Evolutionary Mechanisms of Coagulation Factors in Cetaceans During Aquatic Adaptation.","authors":"Wenjun Lv, Wanfei Deng, Fei Deng, Shixia Xu, Wenhua Ren","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70200","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.70200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cetaceans exhibit rapid wound healing in marine environments characterized by hypoxia and high pathogen loads, yet the adaptive mechanisms underlying their coagulation system remain poorly understood. We integrated evolutionary analyses with functional experiments to elucidate the molecular basis of specialized coagulation in cetaceans. Routine coagulation tests performed on Tursiops truncatus (n = 3) and Bos taurus (n = 3) showed that T. truncatus plasma exhibited significantly shortened prothrombin time and thrombin time, as well as prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Evolutionary analyses revealed that 18 genes were under positive selection in cetaceans, with F11 showing accelerated evolution and lineage-specific amino acid substitutions. APTT mixing assays showed that bovine plasma shortened the prolonged APTT of T. truncatus plasma, suggesting that differences in intrinsic pathway components may contribute to the cetacean coagulation phenotype. Compared to B. taurus, Tursiops truncatus coagulation factor VII increased protein abundance, while factor V abundance was reduced. Plasma proteomic analysis further suggested that differentially expressed proteins were enriched in pathways related to lipid metabolism, the coagulation cascade, and antiviral responses. In conclusion, the cetacean coagulation system has undergone adaptive evolution at both genetic and protein levels. Key amino acid changes such as coagulation factor XI (FXI) and coagulation factor VII (FVII) may optimize coagulation balance by modulating protein interaction strengths; the conserved evolution and increased plasma abundance of PLG may indicate a potential contribution of fibrinolytic regulation to cetacean coagulation balance. This study provides coagulation biology evidence for physiological adaptation in aquatic mammals.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976157","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}
Flavio Monti, Marco Ciolfi, Giuseppe Anselmi, Niccolò Fattorini, Francesco Ferretti
{"title":"Nocturnal Behavior of Wintering Common Cranes (Grus grus) Under Varying Environmental Conditions.","authors":"Flavio Monti, Marco Ciolfi, Giuseppe Anselmi, Niccolò Fattorini, Francesco Ferretti","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.70195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nocturnal conditions impose strong constraints on diurnal species, requiring behavioral adjustments to balance predation risk and social interactions. We investigated how environmental factors shape nocturnal behavior in wintering Common cranes [Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758)] in central Italy during the 2022-2023 season, using an integrated approach combining camera trapping and acoustic monitoring. We quantified activity, vigilance, display, and vocal behavior in relation to night phase, moon illumination, cloud cover, and seasonal progression. Cranes exhibited high nocturnal activity overall (89.4% ± 2.1% of individuals per night), with 44.8% ± 3.9% showing vigilance. Activity peaked toward morning but decreased significantly with increasing moon illumination, and this effect was partially buffered by cloud cover. Vigilance followed a similar pattern, declining under bright conditions and increasing during darker periods, consistent with antipredatory responses. In contrast, display behavior was positively associated with moon illumination and increased over winter, indicating that cranes exploit illuminated conditions for visually mediated social signaling, possibly in preparation for migration. Vocal activity showed the opposite trend, being higher in darker conditions, indicating its role in maintaining social contact when visual communication is limited. Overall, Common cranes exhibit pronounced nocturnal behavioral flexibility, modulating different behavioral components in response to environmental cues. These findings show how external stimuli can act as selective forces shaping nocturnal strategies in diurnal species.</p>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148976198","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}
Integrative zoologyPub Date : 2026-09-14Epub Date: 2025-10-09DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.70013
Alan Erik S. Rodrigues, Jonathan Stuart Ready, Lucas Gabriel Pereira da Silva, Kamila de Fátima Silva, Derlan José Ferreira Silva, Mark H. Sabaj, Marcelo Ândrade, Santelmo Vasconcelos, João Bráullio L. Sales
{"title":"The Role of Miocene-Pleistocene Environmental Change in Diversification of the Genus Hypoclinemus Chabanaud, 1928","authors":"Alan Erik S. Rodrigues, Jonathan Stuart Ready, Lucas Gabriel Pereira da Silva, Kamila de Fátima Silva, Derlan José Ferreira Silva, Mark H. Sabaj, Marcelo Ândrade, Santelmo Vasconcelos, João Bráullio L. Sales","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Neotropical region stands out as one of the most taxonomically diverse areas on the planet, garnering significant attention in the context of marine incursions and their role in shaping this diversity. Among marine-derived taxa, pleuronectiform fishes exhibit distinctive morphological characteristics that have attracted significant scientific interest. The broad distribution of a single species across multiple South American river basins positions <i>Hypoclinemus mentalis</i> as an ideal candidate for biogeographic studies within South America, with an emphasis on the detection of cryptic lineages associated with major drainage basins. This study aimed to investigate the monotypic status of <i>Hypoclinemus</i>, its evolutionary history, and whether historical paleogeographical events could play a role in the dispersion of <i>H. mentalis</i> in the Neotropical region, utilizing mitochondrial and nuclear markers. In our study, we employed mitochondrial and nuclear markers to investigate the potential existence of such lineages within the broader context of a molecular phylogeny that encompasses all valid genera in the flatfish family Achiridae. Our findings reveal that <i>Hypoclinemus</i> comprises seven operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as deduced from specimens collected across the majority of its documented range. Furthermore, our phylogeographic analyses support the hypothesis that colonization of freshwater habitats occurred through connections between the Caribbean Sea and Lake Pebas approximately 21.28 million years ago. Moreover, we observed that differentiation of lineages within the <i>Hypoclinemus</i> genus was significantly influenced by pronounced sea level fluctuations during the Plio-Pleistocene epoch, underscoring the impact of glaciations and interglacial periods on the biogeographic patterns.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":"21 5","pages":"1219-1234"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145250901","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}
Integrative zoologyPub Date : 2026-09-14Epub Date: 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.70045
Qiangqiang Wang, Bin Hu, Yuanfeng Wang, Xiaoxuan Feng, Naiwen Zhang, Pengfei Zhao, Shouping Zhang, Ruibiao Wang, Qiuxia Wang, Yanhui Han, Muhammad Tahir Aleem, Shuai Wang, Hongxuan He
{"title":"Zoonotic Parasite Nanovaccines: Progress, Challenges, and Future Perspectives","authors":"Qiangqiang Wang, Bin Hu, Yuanfeng Wang, Xiaoxuan Feng, Naiwen Zhang, Pengfei Zhao, Shouping Zhang, Ruibiao Wang, Qiuxia Wang, Yanhui Han, Muhammad Tahir Aleem, Shuai Wang, Hongxuan He","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70045","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Parasitic infections remain major global health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although traditional vaccines have made significant progress against parasites, limited success has been obtained due to the parasites’ complex life cycles and immune evasion. Nanoparticle-based vaccines, including mRNA-lipid particles, polymeric particles, and virus-like particles (VLPs), offer a promising alternative, showing improved immunogenicity in trials. In this study, the recent advancements in nanoparticle-based vaccines for parasitic infections and the roles of various types of nanoparticles are summarized in detail. Furthermore, the existing challenges regarding the parasite nanovaccines, such as clinical, ethical, and regulatory hurdles, are analyzed, and the constructive perspectives for future studies are provided simultaneously. This review will contribute to the understanding of functions and the current status of parasite nanovaccines, prompting the development of next-generation parasite nanovaccines.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":"21 5","pages":"1206-1218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145819126","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}
Integrative zoologyPub Date : 2026-09-14Epub Date: 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.70027
Germán Alfredo Gutiérrez-Liberato, Jenny C. Dunn, Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas
{"title":"Optimizing Lankesterella Detection in Avian Hosts: A Comparative Analysis of Microscopic and Molecular Techniques","authors":"Germán Alfredo Gutiérrez-Liberato, Jenny C. Dunn, Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70027","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70027","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Lankesterella</i> Labbe, 1899 is a genus of blood parasites found in reptiles, amphibians, and birds that has been poorly understood. In birds, it was originally classified as <i>Hepatozoon</i> Miller, 1908 or <i>Atoxoplasma</i> Garnham, 1905, but recent studies have revealed the diversity, prevalence, and host specificity of <i>Lankesterella</i> using integrative approaches, particularly the <i>18S</i> rDNA gene. The introduction of new diagnostic protocols focusing on mitochondrial genes requires assessing the comparability of different diagnostic methods. This study aims to compare microscopy and molecular detection methods for <i>Lankesterella</i> spp. infections in wild birds, while also exploring the phylogenetic relationships inferred from different genetic markers. A total of 99 samples from nine passerine species were analyzed in a double-blind study using microscopy and PCR protocols targeting <i>18S</i> rDNA, <i>CytB</i>, and <i>COI</i>. The overall <i>Lankesterella</i> sp. prevalence was 33%, with 17% detected by microscopy and 23% by molecular methods. In our study, the highest prevalences were found in European robins <i>Erithacus rubecula</i> (8.08%) and wrens <i>Troglodytes troglodytes</i> (9.09%). <i>CytB</i> detected the highest number of infections among the three used protocols, followed by <i>COI</i>, whereas <i>18S</i> rDNA yielded the lowest detection rate. Only four samples were positive for all three genes and by microscopy. <i>CytB</i> and microscopy combined detected the highest number of infections, despite the low correspondence. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed high host specificity, with the best phylogenetic tree resolutions seen in <i>COI</i> and <i>CytB</i>. The study emphasizes the importance of using multiple methods, especially <i>CytB</i> and microscopy, to determine infection prevalence.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":"21 5","pages":"1044-1054"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145534479","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}
Integrative zoologyPub Date : 2026-09-14Epub Date: 2026-03-31DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.70098
Fangnan Liu, Ke Zhou, Shan Li, Yu Zhang, Hai Chi, Yue Zhan, Yubo Zhu, Junpeng Zhang, Zhe Wang, Stephen J. Rossiter, Yang Liu, Shuyi Zhang
{"title":"Evolutionary Shifts in Rhodopsin Function Illuminate Dim-Light Adaptations in Birds","authors":"Fangnan Liu, Ke Zhou, Shan Li, Yu Zhang, Hai Chi, Yue Zhan, Yubo Zhu, Junpeng Zhang, Zhe Wang, Stephen J. Rossiter, Yang Liu, Shuyi Zhang","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70098","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70098","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rhodopsin evolution suggests the ancestral bird lineage underwent a shift from dim-light environments to niches characterized by brighter conditions. Despite this, little is known about functional variation of rhodopsin or its consequences for sensory ecology in crown birds. Here, we performed in vitro expression and determined the retinal release rate and spectral tuning of rhodopsin pigments in 16 extant bird species, including seven members of two clades adapted to nocturnal niches, namely owls and nightbirds (nightjars and allies). We found that rhodopsin retinal release was conserved in owls but accelerated in nightbirds, suggesting adaptation for higher temporal resolution in dim light. The oilbird (<i>Steatornis caripensis</i>), which inhabits caves and uses echolocation, showed the fastest release rate, possibly representing convergent evolution with echolocating bats that exhibit similar kinetics. Unexpectedly, the flightless cassowary (<i>Casuarius casuarius</i>) exhibited a blue-shifted spectral tuning of rhodopsin relative to its close relative, the emu (<i>Dromaius novaehollandiae</i>). Blue-shifted rhodopsins were also identified in another bird, the white-bellied erpornis (<i>Erpornis zantholeuca</i>), and in a terrestrial mammal, the okapi (<i>Okapia johnstoni</i>), but not in its close relative, the giraffe (<i>Giraffa camelopardalis</i>). Thus, the blue-shifted rhodopsin, normally associated with deep-sea or fossorial amniotes, appears to have undergone convergent evolution in these three lineages, suggesting possible visual adaptation to dim-light conditions in forest habitats.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":"21 5","pages":"1266-1273"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147591901","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}
Integrative zoologyPub Date : 2026-09-14Epub Date: 2026-04-10DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.70112
Mengqing Zhe, Zhixin Zhang, Yanbo Sun
{"title":"Genomic-Environmental Integration Predicts Climate Vulnerability and Adaptive Potential of Tibetan Plateau Herpetofauna","authors":"Mengqing Zhe, Zhixin Zhang, Yanbo Sun","doi":"10.1111/1749-4877.70112","DOIUrl":"10.1111/1749-4877.70112","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The herpetofauna of the Tibetan Plateau, home to Earth's highest-elevation ectothermic vertebrates, face escalating threats from rapid climate change. However, conventional conservation strategies often overlook intraspecific genetic variation and adaptive potential, limiting their predictive accuracy and effectiveness. Here, we integrate whole-genome resequencing data with environmental modeling to assess climate vulnerability in two endemic species: <i>Nanorana parkeri</i> (Tibetan frog) and <i>Thermophis baileyi</i> (hot-spring snake). Results suggest that the western populations of the two species exhibit higher genomic offsets under future climate, while some eastern populations of the Tibetan frog face a decrease in niche suitability, and the hot-spring snake will experience varying degrees of loss of suitable habitats. Furthermore, heterozygosity, genetic diversity, and genetic load demonstrate significant correlations with genomic offsets, suggesting that low genetic diversity and high genetic load may weaken the potential to adapt to environmental changes. Based on a genome-niche index that combines genomic offsets with niche suitability change, we identified evolutionary rescue populations that are potentially tolerant to climate change. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating genomic and environmental data to forecast the adaptive potential and enable effective conservation management of high-altitude herpetofauna under rapid climate change.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13654,"journal":{"name":"Integrative zoology","volume":"21 5","pages":"1274-1287"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147654024","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}