Diversity and Distributions最新文献

{"title":"Fine-Scale Oceanographic Processes Shape Marine Biodiversity Patterns Inferred From Environmental DNA in the Galápagos Islands","authors":"Luke E. Holman,&nbsp;Diana A. Pazmiño,&nbsp;Shyam Gopalakrishnan,&nbsp;Alexander Forryan,&nbsp;Alex R. Hearn,&nbsp;Alberto C. Naveira-Garabato,&nbsp;Marc Rius","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70239","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Uncovering the drivers that shape biodiversity patterns is critical to understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Despite evidence that biodiversity is influenced by processes at different spatial scales, little is known about the role of fine-scale oceanographic processes on the structure of marine communities. Here we evaluated how fine-scale oceanographic processes influence marine biodiversity patterns around the Galápagos Islands, with a focus on understanding the role of local current dynamics in structuring nektonic communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Galápagos Archipelago, eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We combined high-resolution ocean modelling with 12S environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding targeting teleost and elasmobranch species. Community composition across sites was analysed in relation to Lagrangian particle-tracking metrics, environmental variables, and spatial distance. When standard Lagrangian connectivity metrics failed to explain biodiversity variation, we developed a novel metric quantifying cumulative seawater flow resistance between geographic sites.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Significant differences in eDNA-based community structure were detected across the archipelago's heterogeneous seascape. Traditional Lagrangian particle-tracking metrics provided limited explanatory power for observed beta diversity. In contrast, the newly developed seawater flow resistance metric accounted for a substantial proportion of community dissimilarity, comparable to key abiotic factors such as temperature and geographic distance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The introduction of a cumulative flow resistance metric reveals that fine-scale oceanographic processes can shape biodiversity patterns to a previously underappreciated extent. We found that marine community composition around the Galápagos Islands is strongly influenced by local hydrodynamic variability. In addition, our findings highlight the need to integrate local current dynamics into ecological and biogeographic frameworks, particularly where subtle environmental shifts may have pronounced community-level effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70239","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fine-Scale Oceanographic Processes Shape Marine Biodiversity Patterns Inferred From Environmental DNA in the Galápagos Islands","authors":"Luke E. Holman,&nbsp;Diana A. Pazmiño,&nbsp;Shyam Gopalakrishnan,&nbsp;Alexander Forryan,&nbsp;Alex R. Hearn,&nbsp;Alberto C. Naveira-Garabato,&nbsp;Marc Rius","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70239","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Uncovering the drivers that shape biodiversity patterns is critical to understanding ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Despite evidence that biodiversity is influenced by processes at different spatial scales, little is known about the role of fine-scale oceanographic processes on the structure of marine communities. Here we evaluated how fine-scale oceanographic processes influence marine biodiversity patterns around the Galápagos Islands, with a focus on understanding the role of local current dynamics in structuring nektonic communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Galápagos Archipelago, eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We combined high-resolution ocean modelling with 12S environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding targeting teleost and elasmobranch species. Community composition across sites was analysed in relation to Lagrangian particle-tracking metrics, environmental variables, and spatial distance. When standard Lagrangian connectivity metrics failed to explain biodiversity variation, we developed a novel metric quantifying cumulative seawater flow resistance between geographic sites.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Significant differences in eDNA-based community structure were detected across the archipelago's heterogeneous seascape. Traditional Lagrangian particle-tracking metrics provided limited explanatory power for observed beta diversity. In contrast, the newly developed seawater flow resistance metric accounted for a substantial proportion of community dissimilarity, comparable to key abiotic factors such as temperature and geographic distance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The introduction of a cumulative flow resistance metric reveals that fine-scale oceanographic processes can shape biodiversity patterns to a previously underappreciated extent. We found that marine community composition around the Galápagos Islands is strongly influenced by local hydrodynamic variability. In addition, our findings highlight the need to integrate local current dynamics into ecological and biogeographic frameworks, particularly where subtle environmental shifts may have pronounced community-level effects.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70239","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population Structure of a Living Fossil, the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, and Its Vulnerability in the Face of Imminent Climate Change","authors":"Wenji Luo,&nbsp;Michael S. Eackles,&nbsp;Jaime Zaldívar-Rae,&nbsp;Akbar John,&nbsp;Alison K. S. Wee,&nbsp;Frank E. Rheindt,&nbsp;Qian Tang","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70256","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Maintaining viable populations of the Atlantic horseshoe crab, <i>Limulus polyphemus</i>, is a high conservation priority given their biomedical importance and keystone status in coastal-marine ecosystems, a task made more difficult by impending climate change. Their longevity and cryptic lifestyle have hindered population assessments, highlighting the value of a genetic and ecological approach to inform conservation planning.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Atlantic coast of the United States (from Maine to Florida) and Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula), covering the entire extant geographical distribution of the American horseshoe crab.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using genome-wide polymorphisms from 55 samples across 16 sites, we inferred population structure via reconstructing ancestries and demographic histories. Using species distribution modelling and genome-environment association analyses, we assessed future climate change impacts on extant populations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analyses on genome-wide polymorphisms suggest two population clusters of <i>L. polyphemus</i> across its natural range, which diverged slightly before the Last Glacial Maximum and are separated by a habitat gap in the western Gulf. Historical demographic reconstruction indicates post-glacial expansion, suggesting that current populations may be in an expansion phase. Environmental association analyses indicate a potentially high vulnerability to future climate change, particularly for the Florida sub-population.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Conservation strategies for <i>L. polyphemus</i> should account for populations' genetic differences and susceptibility to climate change. Maintaining and facilitating population expansion can be crucial to mitigate potential future bottlenecks. A uniform conservation approach may be inadequate due to varying regional vulnerabilities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70256","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population Structure of a Living Fossil, the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, and Its Vulnerability in the Face of Imminent Climate Change","authors":"Wenji Luo,&nbsp;Michael S. Eackles,&nbsp;Jaime Zaldívar-Rae,&nbsp;Akbar John,&nbsp;Alison K. S. Wee,&nbsp;Frank E. Rheindt,&nbsp;Qian Tang","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70256","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Maintaining viable populations of the Atlantic horseshoe crab, <i>Limulus polyphemus</i>, is a high conservation priority given their biomedical importance and keystone status in coastal-marine ecosystems, a task made more difficult by impending climate change. Their longevity and cryptic lifestyle have hindered population assessments, highlighting the value of a genetic and ecological approach to inform conservation planning.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Atlantic coast of the United States (from Maine to Florida) and Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula), covering the entire extant geographical distribution of the American horseshoe crab.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using genome-wide polymorphisms from 55 samples across 16 sites, we inferred population structure via reconstructing ancestries and demographic histories. Using species distribution modelling and genome-environment association analyses, we assessed future climate change impacts on extant populations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Analyses on genome-wide polymorphisms suggest two population clusters of <i>L. polyphemus</i> across its natural range, which diverged slightly before the Last Glacial Maximum and are separated by a habitat gap in the western Gulf. Historical demographic reconstruction indicates post-glacial expansion, suggesting that current populations may be in an expansion phase. Environmental association analyses indicate a potentially high vulnerability to future climate change, particularly for the Florida sub-population.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Conservation strategies for <i>L. polyphemus</i> should account for populations' genetic differences and susceptibility to climate change. Maintaining and facilitating population expansion can be crucial to mitigate potential future bottlenecks. A uniform conservation approach may be inadequate due to varying regional vulnerabilities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70256","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking Boundaries: Multidirectional Responses of Malagasy Bats to Unmitigated Future Climate Change","authors":"Sky Stewart-Roberts,&nbsp;Ricardo Rocha,&nbsp;Daniel Hending","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70254","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change has become one of the main drivers of species extinctions in the Anthropocene and its impact is only expected to increase. This presents an immediate problem for the conservation of Malagasy endemics, as the island is expected to be particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, the degree of which is expected to vary across Madagascar. Our current data deficiency hinders accurate assessments of species' vulnerability, particularly in Chiroptera, which are considered climate-sensitive due to their large surface area to volume ratio and high metabolic rates. Therefore, forecasting how climate change will affect their distributions is a key stepping stone towards effective conservation management.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Madagascar.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using an ensemble modelling approach, we projected the current geographic ranges of 32 endemic species of Malagasy bat, and we assessed how their distributions are forecast to change under a ‘business as usual’ representative climate pathway (RCP 8.5).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While species are normally expected to move to latitudes away from the equator as the climate warms, this study demonstrates far more nuance in the relationship between individual species and their environment. Malagasy bat populations are expected to undergo substantial changes in their future distribution, with one species showing range contractions greater than 50%, two doubling their range, and nearly half significantly shifting their ranges either latitudinally or longitudinally.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These results highlight the complex interplay between biodiversity and climate and add to the body of evidence for multidirectional range shifts. With the limited conservation resources available it is thus paramount to ensure that conservation interventions are well-researched and species-specific, to target vulnerable populations and maximise benefits.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70254","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking Boundaries: Multidirectional Responses of Malagasy Bats to Unmitigated Future Climate Change","authors":"Sky Stewart-Roberts,&nbsp;Ricardo Rocha,&nbsp;Daniel Hending","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70254","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change has become one of the main drivers of species extinctions in the Anthropocene and its impact is only expected to increase. This presents an immediate problem for the conservation of Malagasy endemics, as the island is expected to be particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, the degree of which is expected to vary across Madagascar. Our current data deficiency hinders accurate assessments of species' vulnerability, particularly in Chiroptera, which are considered climate-sensitive due to their large surface area to volume ratio and high metabolic rates. Therefore, forecasting how climate change will affect their distributions is a key stepping stone towards effective conservation management.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Madagascar.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using an ensemble modelling approach, we projected the current geographic ranges of 32 endemic species of Malagasy bat, and we assessed how their distributions are forecast to change under a ‘business as usual’ representative climate pathway (RCP 8.5).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While species are normally expected to move to latitudes away from the equator as the climate warms, this study demonstrates far more nuance in the relationship between individual species and their environment. Malagasy bat populations are expected to undergo substantial changes in their future distribution, with one species showing range contractions greater than 50%, two doubling their range, and nearly half significantly shifting their ranges either latitudinally or longitudinally.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These results highlight the complex interplay between biodiversity and climate and add to the body of evidence for multidirectional range shifts. With the limited conservation resources available it is thus paramount to ensure that conservation interventions are well-researched and species-specific, to target vulnerable populations and maximise benefits.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70254","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148848757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beta Diversity and Rarity Assessment of Sessile Cryptobenthic Communities Across Depth and Islands Can Inform Coral Reef Conservation","authors":"Baptiste Frattini,&nbsp;J. Henrich Bruggemann,&nbsp;Sophie Bureau,&nbsp;Boris Leroy,&nbsp;Marion Couëdel,&nbsp;Fleur Bruggemann,&nbsp;Jean-Lindsay Azie,&nbsp;Mireille M. M. Guillaume","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70222","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70222","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates a poorly known component of coral reefs, the cryptobiome, species that live hidden within the reef matrix, essential for reef functioning and productivity. It focuses on patterns of diversity and rarity of sessile cryptobenthic communities across Mascarene islands, and across shallow and mesophotic habitats (in deep low-light conditions). It aims to: (i) assess community uniqueness and local extinction risks for conservation, (ii) evaluate taxonomic overlap between mesophotic and shallow communities to explore mesophotic habitats as refugia for degrading shallow reefs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Reunion and Rodrigues islands, Mascarene Archipelago, south-west Indian Ocean.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Forty-four Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) were deployed on outer reef slopes at Reunion (~11 m and ~51 m depths) and at Rodrigues (~11 m depth). Seven hundred four ARMS plate photographs were analysed using a point counting method, and 138 morphospecies (MSP) were distinguished. Analyses included alpha, beta and gamma diversity, rarity and taxonomic overlap.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sessile cryptobenthic communities from Rodrigues and mesophotic habitats were characterized by unique MSP compositions, higher spatial heterogeneity and elevated rarity indices. A strong species turnover was observed between shallow and mesophotic habitats and taxonomic overlap assessment revealed that two-thirds of the MSP were habitat-exclusive, while only one-quarter were common and shared across habitats.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We highlight the uniqueness and rarity of sessile cryptobenthic communities in mesophotic habitats and in shallow habitats on the southwest coast of Reunion and in Rodrigues, and the need to consider broad geographical coverage in conservation strategies to account for their spatial heterogeneity and uniqueness. The low proportion of shallow-water MSP found in deeper habitats argues against the deep reef refugia hypothesis for sessile cryptobenthic communities in Reunion. Each habitat holds a distinct conservation value that should be recognized independently.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70222","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148785130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beta Diversity and Rarity Assessment of Sessile Cryptobenthic Communities Across Depth and Islands Can Inform Coral Reef Conservation","authors":"Baptiste Frattini,&nbsp;J. Henrich Bruggemann,&nbsp;Sophie Bureau,&nbsp;Boris Leroy,&nbsp;Marion Couëdel,&nbsp;Fleur Bruggemann,&nbsp;Jean-Lindsay Azie,&nbsp;Mireille M. M. Guillaume","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70222","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70222","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study investigates a poorly known component of coral reefs, the cryptobiome, species that live hidden within the reef matrix, essential for reef functioning and productivity. It focuses on patterns of diversity and rarity of sessile cryptobenthic communities across Mascarene islands, and across shallow and mesophotic habitats (in deep low-light conditions). It aims to: (i) assess community uniqueness and local extinction risks for conservation, (ii) evaluate taxonomic overlap between mesophotic and shallow communities to explore mesophotic habitats as refugia for degrading shallow reefs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Reunion and Rodrigues islands, Mascarene Archipelago, south-west Indian Ocean.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Forty-four Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) were deployed on outer reef slopes at Reunion (~11 m and ~51 m depths) and at Rodrigues (~11 m depth). Seven hundred four ARMS plate photographs were analysed using a point counting method, and 138 morphospecies (MSP) were distinguished. Analyses included alpha, beta and gamma diversity, rarity and taxonomic overlap.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sessile cryptobenthic communities from Rodrigues and mesophotic habitats were characterized by unique MSP compositions, higher spatial heterogeneity and elevated rarity indices. A strong species turnover was observed between shallow and mesophotic habitats and taxonomic overlap assessment revealed that two-thirds of the MSP were habitat-exclusive, while only one-quarter were common and shared across habitats.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We highlight the uniqueness and rarity of sessile cryptobenthic communities in mesophotic habitats and in shallow habitats on the southwest coast of Reunion and in Rodrigues, and the need to consider broad geographical coverage in conservation strategies to account for their spatial heterogeneity and uniqueness. The low proportion of shallow-water MSP found in deeper habitats argues against the deep reef refugia hypothesis for sessile cryptobenthic communities in Reunion. Each habitat holds a distinct conservation value that should be recognized independently.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70222","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148785131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental Variability Predicts Geographic Patterns of Body Size Variation in Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum)","authors":"Connor J. Hughes,&nbsp;Kristoffer H. Wild,&nbsp;Jason L. Jones,&nbsp;C. Richard Tracy,&nbsp;Erika M. Nowak,&nbsp;Daniel D. Beck,&nbsp;C. M. Gienger","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Body size can influence nearly every aspect of organismal ecology, but drivers of intraspecific variation in body size are often poorly understood. We aimed to assess three hypotheses as potential explanations for intraspecific body size patterns in a desert ectotherm: that body size is driven by (i) potential foraging opportunities related to thermal constraints on activity; (ii) proxies for the abundance of resources (precipitation, primary productivity); and (iii) within and across year variability of resource availability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Southwestern United States, Northwestern Mexico.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We use a long-lived lizard, <i>Heloderma suspectum</i> , to explore how environmental gradients inform body size patterns across a species range. We compile a dataset of measurements from 674 adult individuals spanning the entire species range and model body size as a function of 15 a priori selected environmental and mechanistic variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found body size was primarily influenced by spatial gradients in across-year precipitation variability (+), within-year resource seasonality (+), and within-year average annual air temperature (−).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that within and among-year patterns of resource availability are stronger drivers of body size than annual resource availability in the environment. Large body size may provide greater capacity for accumulating energy reserves, a potentially adaptive trait in environments where access to resources may be inconsistent across years and where resources may come in seasonal pulses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70251","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148785164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental Variability Predicts Geographic Patterns of Body Size Variation in Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum)","authors":"Connor J. Hughes,&nbsp;Kristoffer H. Wild,&nbsp;Jason L. Jones,&nbsp;C. Richard Tracy,&nbsp;Erika M. Nowak,&nbsp;Daniel D. Beck,&nbsp;C. M. Gienger","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Body size can influence nearly every aspect of organismal ecology, but drivers of intraspecific variation in body size are often poorly understood. We aimed to assess three hypotheses as potential explanations for intraspecific body size patterns in a desert ectotherm: that body size is driven by (i) potential foraging opportunities related to thermal constraints on activity; (ii) proxies for the abundance of resources (precipitation, primary productivity); and (iii) within and across year variability of resource availability.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Southwestern United States, Northwestern Mexico.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We use a long-lived lizard, <i>Heloderma suspectum</i> , to explore how environmental gradients inform body size patterns across a species range. We compile a dataset of measurements from 674 adult individuals spanning the entire species range and model body size as a function of 15 a priori selected environmental and mechanistic variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We found body size was primarily influenced by spatial gradients in across-year precipitation variability (+), within-year resource seasonality (+), and within-year average annual air temperature (−).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that within and among-year patterns of resource availability are stronger drivers of body size than annual resource availability in the environment. Large body size may provide greater capacity for accumulating energy reserves, a potentially adaptive trait in environments where access to resources may be inconsistent across years and where resources may come in seasonal pulses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70251","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148785166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}