Yuxin Chen, Eric Allan, Helge Bruelheide, Nico Eisenhauer, Daniela Hoss, Yuanyuan Huang, Forest Isbell, Daijiang Li, Ziyuan Lin, Noémie A Pichon, Yue Qiu, Christiane Roscher, Bernhard Schmid, Ute Schmiedel, Ingmar Staude, Liting Su, Donald M Waller
{"title":"Integrating long-term biodiversity change into biodiversity-ecosystem functioning studies.","authors":"Yuxin Chen, Eric Allan, Helge Bruelheide, Nico Eisenhauer, Daniela Hoss, Yuanyuan Huang, Forest Isbell, Daijiang Li, Ziyuan Lin, Noémie A Pichon, Yue Qiu, Christiane Roscher, Bernhard Schmid, Ute Schmiedel, Ingmar Staude, Liting Su, Donald M Waller","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.09.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) experiments seek to improve predictions of how biodiversity change affects ecosystem functioning. Bridging biodiversity change research with BEF experiments can accelerate these efforts. Diverse observational and experimental approaches for detecting and attributing biodiversity changes offer opportunities to re-analyze data from existing BEF experiments and design new ones. This integration helps us examine the effects of all biodiversity-change scenarios-species loss, gain, and turnover. We propose a mechanistic framework for experiments that manipulate both biodiversity and environmental conditions. The framework reveals how environment-driven biodiversity changes alter ecosystem functioning by identifying how species identity and interactions separately affect ecosystem functions. Integrating the fields of biodiversity change and BEF improves our understanding of the causes and functional consequences of biodiversity change.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149115231","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}
Maëva Gabrielli, Hernán E Morales, Víctor Noguerales, Wanyi Wei, Darko D Cotoras, Nicolas Dussex, Ricardo J Pereira, Brent C Emerson, José Cerca
{"title":"The paradox of persistence: island species as models for conservation.","authors":"Maëva Gabrielli, Hernán E Morales, Víctor Noguerales, Wanyi Wei, Darko D Cotoras, Nicolas Dussex, Ricardo J Pereira, Brent C Emerson, José Cerca","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species on islands frequently experience founder events and population bottlenecks and are often subject to disturbances that further reduce population sizes. Despite these challenges, some island lineages persist for millennia-the paradox of persistence. Here, we synthesize genomic studies across island systems and show that reported effective population sizes are frequently below 100, but assessments of genetic load and its temporal dynamics remain uncommon. We show that island systems can offer critical insights into how small populations maintain viability and adaptive potential. Future research on genomic erosion needs to broaden taxonomic and geographic coverage, leverage temporal genomic data, and integrate demographic and fitness-based approaches to link evolutionary resilience on islands with the conservation of increasingly fragmented populations worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149025654","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":"How will complex life cycles respond to increasing environmental variability?","authors":"Winsor H Lowe","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In complex life cycles that include a transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitat, life stages experience very different effects of environmental variability (e.g., precipitation vs. temperature). But stages do not evolve independently, constraining adaptive responses to stage-specific effects. Faced with these constraints, species often shift the timing of metamorphosis to minimize time in the stage-and habitat-experiencing the greatest fitness costs. Currently, however, we have limited understanding of how such life-cycle shifts affect phenotypic evolution within stages, fitness trade-offs across stages, and population demography. Resolving these effects will inform how many animals respond to climate change, but requires deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of phenotypic, developmental, and fitness trade-offs across complex aquatic/terrestrial life cycles.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148983631","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}
Ben D'Antonio, Graeme C Hays, Hannah Calich, Daniel P Costa, Arina Favilla, Luca Giuggioli, Robert Harcourt, Karen Evans, Mark Meekan, Sarah Marley, Nuno Queiroz, David W Sims, Anthony J Richardson, Jorge Rodríguez, Michelle VanCompernolle, Ana M M Sequeira
{"title":"3D tracking of marine megafauna to advance movement ecology.","authors":"Ben D'Antonio, Graeme C Hays, Hannah Calich, Daniel P Costa, Arina Favilla, Luca Giuggioli, Robert Harcourt, Karen Evans, Mark Meekan, Sarah Marley, Nuno Queiroz, David W Sims, Anthony J Richardson, Jorge Rodríguez, Michelle VanCompernolle, Ana M M Sequeira","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Modern animal tracking devices reliably record movement in horizontal and vertical dimensions, positioning movement ecology to transition towards true three-dimensional (3D) analyses. True 3D tracking, in which horizontal and vertical positions are paired through time, is particularly valuable for marine megafauna, which traverse coastal, pelagic, and aerial environments, making them ideal for illustrating how 3D data can advance movement ecology. By synthesising early approaches to 3D tracking in these taxa, we show that these studies provide ecological perspectives unobtainable from two-dimensional data, identify key barriers limiting wider adoption, and highlight emerging solutions. Broader adoption of true 3D tracking is critical for addressing remaining knowledge gaps in marine megafauna ecology and for improving conservation frameworks to protect the 3D environments these species occupy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148945331","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}
Sally A Keith, Brian McGill, Christopher T Monk, Jonathan P Drury, Theresa Rueger, Lydia Beaudrot, Ulrich Brose, Myriam R Hirt, Rucha Karkarey, Hayley C Lanier, Victoria Marchment, Leticia M Ochoa-Ochoa, Catherine Sheard, Katharine A Marske
{"title":"Fundamental and realised behaviours structure geographic variation in ecological assemblages.","authors":"Sally A Keith, Brian McGill, Christopher T Monk, Jonathan P Drury, Theresa Rueger, Lydia Beaudrot, Ulrich Brose, Myriam R Hirt, Rucha Karkarey, Hayley C Lanier, Victoria Marchment, Leticia M Ochoa-Ochoa, Catherine Sheard, Katharine A Marske","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal behaviours shape ecological dynamics, from species distributions to ecosystem function. These dynamics emerge from the behaviours of multiple interacting species, which reflect both the available species pool and local environmental conditions. By taking an assemblage-scale approach, we add a new dimension to reveal how and why behaviour varies geographically and with what consequences. We distinguish between fundamental behaviours, a species' full repertoire, and realised behaviours, the filtered subset expressed locally. This framework provides the foundation for understanding geographic variation in assemblage-level behaviours, guiding development of testable predictions about how environmental gradients structure behavioural expression across space, with the potential to identify consequences for ecosystem function and behaviourally mediated vulnerabilities under global change.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148931275","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}
Carmen Galán-Acedo, Amanda E Martin, Rachel T Buxton, Lenore Fahrig
{"title":"Configuring tree planting and forest restoration for climate adaptation.","authors":"Carmen Galán-Acedo, Amanda E Martin, Rachel T Buxton, Lenore Fahrig","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate warming can threaten biodiversity and trigger warming-related disturbances. Increasing tree cover in a landscape is recognized as a measure for cooling and moisture retention under certain conditions, but the role of its configuration-the spatial pattern of tree cover for a given amount-remains poorly understood. Building on recent evidence, we propose that the configuration of planted trees or restored forest in the landscape can influence the effectiveness of warming adaptation measures. We hypothesize that planting trees or restoring forests in a more fragmented configuration increases microclimatic refugia, reduces warming exposure for open- and edge-habitat species, and limits warming-related disturbances. We also hypothesize that a less fragmented configuration creates fewer but cooler microclimatic refugia and mitigates negative warming effects on patch-interior species.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148931228","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}
Mark R Christie, Sarah W Fitzpatrick, Catherine L Searle
{"title":"Which rescue to the rescue? Disentangling demographic, evolutionary, and genetic rescue.","authors":"Mark R Christie, Sarah W Fitzpatrick, Catherine L Searle","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many populations face increasing extinction risk, but persistence can occur via 'rescue', defined as an increase in population growth rates or abundance that lowers extinction probability. Such rescue manifests as demographic rescue (immigration offsetting vital rate declines), evolutionary rescue (adaptive response to selection), or genetic rescue (gene flow introducing beneficial genetic variation). We emphasize that rescue is a population-level outcome, not a management strategy, and the three rescue types are not mutually exclusive; for example, gene flow could lead to demographic, genetic, and evolutionary rescue. Understanding the interactions within and among these types of rescue and balancing immediate demographic gains with long-term adaptive potential is crucial for developing effective management actions tailored to diverse taxa and changing ecological contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148921120","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":"Mind the gap: do herbivores shape light niches of trees?","authors":"Ernesto Gianoli, Luis Y Santiago-Rosario","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2026.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Moderately light-demanding juvenile tree species across light gradients are under-represented in forest ecosystems compared to shade-tolerant and strongly light-demanding species. We propose that herbivore-mediated constraints on shade adaptation provide a mechanistic explanation for this pattern because plant traits favoring shade adaptation often increase vulnerability to herbivory.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148913441","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}
Ben C Scheele, Geoffrey W Heard, Simon Clulow, Jane A Catford, Richard P Duncan
{"title":"Species range contractions in geographic and environmental space.","authors":"Ben C Scheele, Geoffrey W Heard, Simon Clulow, Jane A Catford, Richard P Duncan","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Species range contractions are a defining feature of the Anthropocene. Given their prevalence, a key question arises: do range contractions follow consistent patterns? Empirical studies have produced mixed results, revealing some emergent patterns, but also considerable variation among taxa. Here, we present a framework that seeks to explain this variation, conceptualising range contractions as the outcome of the interplay between species' intrinsic population growth rates and the impact of threats across environmental gradients. Our framework shows how four primary patterns of range contraction arise, with a fifth emerging under incomplete threat spread. By describing when, where, and why particular patterns of decline occur, our framework advances understanding of species' responses to global change and provides a basis for more generalisable conservation strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":"829-841"},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148472937","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}
Dustin Marshall, Craig White, Van Savage, Naomi Levine
{"title":"Second thoughts about first principles in biology.","authors":"Dustin Marshall, Craig White, Van Savage, Naomi Levine","doi":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tree.2026.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23274,"journal":{"name":"Trends in ecology & evolution","volume":" ","pages":"893"},"PeriodicalIF":17.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148698021","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}