Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Human footprint with machine learning identifies risks of the invasive weed Conyza sumatrensis across land-use types under climate change","authors":"Hua Cheng ,&nbsp;Kasper Johansen ,&nbsp;Baocheng Jin ,&nbsp;Shiqin Xu ,&nbsp;Xuechun Zhao ,&nbsp;Liqin Han ,&nbsp;Matthew F. McCabe","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological invasions pose significant threats to ecosystem structure and function, disrupt ecosystem services, cause high economic losses, and negatively impact human well-being. However, accurate prediction of species distribution is a critical challenge in ecological and biodiversity conservation. This study compares the predictive performance of 10 machine learning algorithms, including random forests, maximum entropy, support vector machines, and others, by integrating global occurrence records with climatic, edaphic, and human activity variables to identify the most robust model for predicting the global distribution of the invasive weed, <em>Conyza sumatrensis</em> (Retz.) E.Walker. Different algorithms yielded large variations in the predicted area of <em>C. sumatrensis</em>. Among these, random forests had the highest performance accuracy metrics and high agreement of predictions, aligning well with global occurrence records, and are used to explain and predict the potential distribution of <em>C. sumatrensis</em>. Distributions of <em>C. sumatrensis</em> are mainly influenced by temperature variables, adapted to a wide range of precipitation and various soil conditions, and facilitated by human activities. Currently, <em>C. sumatrensis</em> is distributed widely across all continents (6.20 Mkm²). The suitable habitat for <em>C. sumatrensis</em> is projected to have an increase of 8.03–8.78 % by 2041–2060 and 0.84–3.29 % by 2081–2100. In addition, the global extent of suitable environmental conditions for the establishment and spread of <em>C. sumatrensis</em> was anticipated to expand in urban and farmland by 2081–2100. The results provide an early warning of specific land-use types at higher risk of <em>C. sumatrensis</em> extent, offering valuable insights for managers to develop targeted prevention and control strategies. Additionally, to enhance predictive accuracy, our study underscores the critical role of selecting suitable algorithms and integrating human activity factors into invasive species distribution models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03657"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical distribution, growth pattern, and age of an alien freshwater mussel, Sinanodonta pacifica, across elevations gradient on a tropical island and their implication for ecosystem management","authors":"Asep Sahidin ,&nbsp;Gunawan Muhammad ,&nbsp;Pringgo Kusuma Dwi Noor Yadi Putra ,&nbsp;Irfan Zidni ,&nbsp;Zahidah Hasan ,&nbsp;Bayu Kreshna Adhitya Sumarto ,&nbsp;Septiana Sri Astuti ,&nbsp;Yusli Wardiatno ,&nbsp;Akira Komaru","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The vertical distribution, growth patterns, and population dynamics of alien freshwater mussel, <em>Sinanodonta pacifica</em>, across elevations gradient in West Java, Indonesia were examined. Mussels were collected over one-year period (2020–2021) from lowland (0–300 m above sea level), midland (300–750 m), and highland (&gt; 750 m) regions to examine density, age structure, growth pattern, and mortality. In midland, the highest population density 5.63 ± 1.83 individuals/m² and the fastest growth rate (growth coefficient, <em>k</em> = 0.26) was shown attributed to moderate temperatures, low suspended solids, and nutrient availability. Conversely, the highest mortality rate was recorded in the lowland, with 80 % of the total recruits annually, presumably because high total suspended solids levels. The highland population showed the longest acquiring a maximum age of 15 years, although undergoing slower growth (<em>k</em> = 0.16). We found that environmental factors temperature, total suspended solids, and total organic matter significantly influenced to population dynamics, with the midland the optimal conditions for recruitment and growth. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies to manage the spread of <em>S. pacifica</em> and protect native biodiversity, particularly by monitoring midland areas where the species shows the greatest potential for rapid expansion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03654"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The community assembly of (sub)tropical macroinvertebrates significantly changes with functional groups and habitat degradation","authors":"Lu Wang ,&nbsp;Hao Yang ,&nbsp;Ci Chen ,&nbsp;Linglin Wan ,&nbsp;Tingting Zhou ,&nbsp;Bo-Ping Han","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03648","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03648","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a consensus that both deterministic and stochastic processes shape the composition of biological communities. However, it is difficult to quantitatively disentangle their relative importance, which is fundamental for conserving and managing biological diversity. We examined the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in the community assembly of macroinvertebrates in undisturbed and degraded streams by applying neutral community models (NCM) and calculating the normalized stochasticity ratio (NST). We focused on two dominant functional feeding groups with different traits: collector gatherers (small body size and weak dispersal ability) and predators (large body size and strong dispersal ability). The NCM showed that predator communities were largely shaped by deterministic processes (NCM R² &lt; 0.5), and collector-gatherers were mainly structured by stochastic processes (NCM R² &gt; 0.5). Stochastic processes in community assembly increased during the wet season due to frequent and intensive hydrological disturbances. Among undisturbed streams, community dissimilarity was primarily driven by stochastic processes (NST &gt; 50 %), whereas in degraded streams, deterministic processes played a greater role (NST &lt; 50 %). In other words, strong environmental filtering under intensive anthropogenic disturbance increased the influence of deterministic assembly mechanisms. In other words, the deterministic role increased with strong environmental selection under intensive anthropogenic disturbance. Analyses based on the occurrence and abundance data identified similar mechanisms underlying community assembly; however, the abundance data showed a stronger signal. Our study suggests that the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in community assembly can change significantly depending on the functional groups and environmental disturbances.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03648"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144137700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of climate extremes on vegetation health in the tropical savannas of Africa","authors":"Jeanine Umuhoza ,&nbsp;Guli Jiapaer ,&nbsp;Yu Tao ,&nbsp;Jie Bai ,&nbsp;Egide Hakorimana ,&nbsp;Liancheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongwu Liang ,&nbsp;Kaixiong Lin ,&nbsp;Tongwei Ju","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03649","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03649","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tropical savanna of Africa, which covers 65 % of the continent, supports livelihood, livestock, crops and wildlife, playing an important role in socio-economic development in Africa. However, these ecosystems experience high temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons, making them highly vulnerable to climate change, with shifts in temperature, precipitation, and drought posing significant threats to vegetation. Increasing droughts and altered rainfall patterns disrupt the balance of these ecosystems. This research employs linear regression analysis and boosted regression trees (BRT) to assess the influences of climatic factors, including precipitation, temperature, Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), Soil Moisture (SM) and drought, on vegetation health in the African tropical savanna from 2000 to 2020. The key results showed that: Based on the spatial distribution of annual solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) dynamics, 26.55 % of tropical savanna areas showed significant improvement, mainly in savanna and forest-savanna mosaic. In contrast, 5.56 % of areas experienced significant degradation, primarily in thickets and woodlands. Stable or non-vegetated areas, accounting for 13.76 %, were most common in grasslands and bushveld. The Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) analysis revealed that VPD and temperature were key drivers of tropical savanna dynamics, contributing 26 % and 21 %, respectively. Thickets and bushlands were particularly vulnerable to water stress and drought, with VPD and temperature playing significant roles in these conditions. This research provides valuable insights for formulating strategies to promote savanna restoration and efficient management by examining the effects of climatic conditions on vegetation health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03649"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144137699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal distribution and nature reserve planning of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River estuary from South China Sea","authors":"Xikai Tang ,&nbsp;Dingyu Luo ,&nbsp;Xian Sun ,&nbsp;Bin Sun ,&nbsp;Lang Guo ,&nbsp;Hongri Wang ,&nbsp;Nuoyan Huang ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Liu ,&nbsp;Yifei Liu ,&nbsp;Nan Wang ,&nbsp;Yuping Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding habitat use patterns and assessing diffusion status are essential for effective conservation of cetaceans, particularly the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (<em>Sousa chinensis</em>) in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), where habitat decline is contributing to demographic decline. This study provides a seasonal evaluation of habitat suitability and distribution for PRE humpback dolphins using five years of boat-based field survey data from 2019 to 2023. Our results indicate significant seasonal variations in dolphin habitat. The core habitat in eastern PRE increased from 738 km² in the dry season to 822 km² in the wet season, while the middle PRE core habitat decreased from 408 km² to 213 km². During the dry season, dolphin habitats are more dispersed and closer to the estuary's interior, whereas they become more concentrated in the wet season. This dynamic spatial redistribution reflects responses to seasonal changes in water quality and prey availability. Key environmental factors influencing habitat distribution include salinity, chlorophyll a concentration, water depth, and dissolved oxygen, with varying impacts across seasons. Additionally, precipitation and monsoons play significant roles in predicting dolphin habitats throughout the year. We recommend establishing dynamic protection zones in areas with seasonal changes in dolphin presence to enable adaptive management strategies. This study underscores the need for ongoing research and monitoring to clarify the interactions between climatic variables and the ecological integrity of marine habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144134329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the impact of climate change on habitat shifts of typical endemic relict trees in China","authors":"Ming Li ,&nbsp;Junbang Wang ,&nbsp;Xiujuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yongsheng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extensive evidence supports that global climate change influences shifts in species habitats due to alterations in hydrothermal conditions; however, neglecting dispersal capacities and limits significantly heightens uncertainties regarding spatial distribution patterns among different organisms. This study presents novel insights into how climate change, land use practices, and ecological interactions drive changes in habitats occupied by Chinese Endemic Relict Trees (CERT) (<em>Pseudotaxus chienii</em>, <em>Pseudolarix amabilis</em>, <em>Metasequoia glyptostroboides</em>, <em>Glyptostrobus pensilis</em>, <em>Ginkgo biloba</em>, and <em>Cathaya argyrophylla</em>), using current (2000–2020) occurrence data and specific environmental variables for each individual tree. The optimized MaxEnt and MigClim models enabled us to forecast potential colonizable habitats under the paleoclimatic condition and future two emission scenarios (SSP126 and SSP585), assess alterations across the aggregation area of six trees over periods, and identify focal points for future efforts aimed at conserving biocultural diversity. Our findings showed that: (1) Temperature-precipitation-related factors predominantly drove expansion or contraction trends within habitats occupied by CERT, and land use has occupied many more habitats; although prospects appear promising under the SSP126 scenario, it also entailed substantial losses of <em>G. pensilis</em>. (2) Habitat decline and fragmentation are particularly pronounced in the two provinces, Hunan and Jiangxi, with limited spread observed in Yunnan Province. The diminishing range of <em>M. glyptostroboides</em> and <em>G. pensilis</em> notable in northern Guangdong as well as northeastern Guangxi Province. (3). By the end of this century, the southeast coast and central China are expected to experience greater long-term stability. In conclusion, this research minimizes uncertainties associated with projecting species distributions within changing climates while offering theoretical backing for safeguarding biocultural diversity in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03643"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the potential of eDNA/eRNA approaches for monitoring the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise","authors":"Juan Tan ,&nbsp;Yili Qi ,&nbsp;Qing Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaowu Chen ,&nbsp;Chenhong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing the population distribution and dynamics of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (<em>Neophocaena asiaeorientalis</em>) is essential for informing conservation strategies. Traditional monitoring techniques, while valuable, are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Environmental nucleic acids (eNAs) offer a non-invasive alternative, yet prior research has predominantly relied on single-locus eDNA analysis, limiting resolution. Here, we developed a dual-marker eDNA/eRNA approach targeting mitochondrial <em>COX3</em> (Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit 3) and <em>CYTB</em> (Cytochrome B) genes, coupled with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) quantification, to enhance detection sensitivity and reliability. Serial dilution experiments established stringent detection limits (LOD: 0.076 copies/μL; LOQ: 0.35 copies/μL), while degradation trials at the Tongling <em>ex situ</em> conservation site revealed eDNA persistence for 65.24 (<em>COX3</em>) and 50.13 (<em>CYTB</em>) hours, compared to rapid eRNA degradation (∼30 hours). Field surveys across 20 Yangtze River Estuary locations detected porpoise eDNA at 13 sites and eRNA at 11 sites, with 5 sites showing concurrent detection via both markers—predominantly near the Dongfeng Xisha Reservoir. Detection zones overlapped significantly with passive acoustic monitoring records, yet eNAs revealed broader spatial coverage. Our findings demonstrate that multi-locus eNA analysis provides a sensitive, scalable tool for monitoring critically endangered aquatic species, offering actionable insights to optimize conservation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03645"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144107817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biocrust recovery improves soil fertility after 10-year sand-fixation using reed checkerboard barriers on reshaped dunes in an arid sandy desert in central Asia","authors":"Yue Zhang ,&nbsp;Qi-Wei Li ,&nbsp;Wei-Wei Zhuang ,&nbsp;Ye Tao ,&nbsp;Xiao-Bing Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuan-Ming Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03634","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03634","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological soil crusts (BSCs; biocrusts) are well developed in drylands, which are crucial to the stability and resilience of dryland ecosystems. In the southeastern Gurbantunggut Desert, a typical sandy desert in the middle part of central Asia, engineering development has an increasing negative impact on ecosystems. Fortunately, ecological restoration measures are being implemented, but the exact effect on soil quality is still unclear. In artificial sand-fixing sites on reshaped dunes along the west-east desert road, a total of 80 quadrats (1 m × 1 m) of reed checkerboards after the implementation of sand-fixing measures for 10 years were investigated to determine the BSC development status and soil properties. The algal and lichen crusts accounted for 48.75 % and 26.25 % of the total quadrat number, respectively, indicating an obvious recovery effect of BSC (only 25 % for bare sand). The developmental level of BSC gradually increased from the top to the bottom of the dunes (Li 0 → Li 6),which was consistent with the distribution pattern of BSCs on natural dunes. Compared with bare sand, the soil organic carbon (13.85 % and 23.07 % increases), total nitrogen (12.55 % and 23.95 % increases), total potassium (9.30 % and 8.24 % increases), and available nitrogen (23.97 % and 61.41 % increases) contents of algal and lichen crusts were significantly increased, and lichen crusts had markedly higher increase effect than algal crusts. The BSC development markedly reduced soil pH (0.49 % and 0.50 % decreased) and increased electrical conductivity(11.99 % and 10.68 % increases), resulting in improved soil microenvironment. Soil properties showed significant linear relationships with BSC development level, and an optimal fitting (<em>R</em>² = 0.770 or 0.780) was detected for the soil fertility index. Based on the soil property matrix, the bare sands, algal, and lichen crusts were markedly separated along the first axis in the PCA biplot, which once again confirmed the significant positive effect of BSC recovery on soil fertility improvement. Consequently, in the early stage of sand-fixation (e.g., &lt; = 10 years) by reed checkerboards on the damaged desert surface, BSC recovery can well promote and predict soil fertility in this area. The results provide a reliable theoretical basis for the restoration technology and scientific management of degraded sandy desert ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03634"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying non-breeding habitat conservation gaps of the critically threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) using species distribution model","authors":"Yifei Jia ,&nbsp;Lili Sun ,&nbsp;Jia Guo ,&nbsp;Sicheng Ren ,&nbsp;Hongyan Yang ,&nbsp;Geng Huang ,&nbsp;Li Wen ,&nbsp;Neil Saintilan ,&nbsp;Qing Chen ,&nbsp;Yuyu Wang ,&nbsp;Guangchun Lei","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03640","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03640","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (<em>Calidris pygmaea</em>) is one of the world's most critically endangered migratory shorebirds, facing severe threats along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). In recent years, many observations of this species were reported in new areas of southeast coasts in Asia, suggesting that there is large uncertainty in the current estimation of its nonbreeding habitats (i.e., staging and wintering grounds), presenting a knowledge gap for effective conservation. Using historical sightings collated from multiple sources, this study aimed to better understand the distribution of the shorebird’s suitable habitats by creating a random forest species distribution model utilizing landcover and topographic predictors. The predictions were then overlain with the current protection area network to identify gaps in conservation planning. Our results show that only 59 % of the suitable non-breeding habitats for Spoon-billed Sandpiper EAAF are located in the intertidal zone. Only 15 % of the predicted nonbreeding habitats are located within the current protection network. Moreover, we found that human disturbance pressure was high at both the protected and unprotected habitats. For suitable habitats outside protection areas, Thailand, Republic of Korea, and Bangladesh had highest human disturbance pressure. For suitable habitats within the current protection network, Democratic people’s Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, and China had highest human disturbance pressure. Our results suggest that the staging sites along the Yellow Sea coasts and wintering grounds in the Thailand and Myanmar are the conservation priority areas, and management actions such as reducing human footprints in both protected and none-protected habitats, controlling the expansion of the invasive <em>Spartina alterniflora</em>, and maintaining tidal flats facing inundation by sea level rise are essential to sustain the population of this critically threatened shorebird.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03640"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban landscape thresholds for bird diversity in China’s major cities","authors":"Yueteng Chi,&nbsp;Zhenhuan Liu,&nbsp;Yi Zhou,&nbsp;Fan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cities face significant biodiversity loss, but the thresholds of urban landscape alterations causing this loss remain unclear. Bird diversity serves as a key indicator, yet its large-scale response to landscape changes requires further exploration. Bird diversity is affected by multi-dimensional landscape and environmental factors; however, it is still unclear which variables play a major role and under what threshold conditions different variables increase or decrease bird diversity. This study used public datasets and citizen science bird records to quantify bird diversity and landscape patterns across China’s 43 major cities. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were employed to analyze bird diversity responses to landscape metrics and identify landscape thresholds. Our findings show that high bird diversity is predominantly observed in low-latitude and eastern coastal cities, and 42 cities hosting threatened species. Urban bird diversity distribution is non-linearly influenced by landscape patterns, and the main driving factors are the aggregation and coverage of forests and water bodies. We identified nine landscape thresholds conducive to maintaining urban bird diversity, recommending the preservation of 6.4–17.9 % of forest cover and more than 10.9 % of water bodies in cities, alongside strategies to optimize the connectivity of both green and blue spaces. While the thresholds linking bird diversity indicators to urban landscape metrics are not fully generalizable, certain robust thresholds offer valuable insights for landscape management, presenting a novel approach to bird conservation amidst urbanization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03641"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}