Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Exotic Laguncularia racemosa drives rapid shifts in pond-to-mangrove restoration communities","authors":"Lin Zhang ,&nbsp;Yamian Zhang ,&nbsp;Yijuan Deng ,&nbsp;Pingping Guo ,&nbsp;Wenqing Wang ,&nbsp;Mao Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid decline of mangrove ecosystems worldwide underscores the urgency of restoring these environments. In China and Southeast Asia, a recently popular method involves converting abandoned aquaculture ponds into secondary mangrove forests (i.e., pond-to-mangrove restoration), which reshapes the landscape to create suitable habitats for mangrove plants. However, an often overlooked issue is how these new habitats may facilitate the spread of exotic species. Our study examined plant communities in a pond-to-mangrove restoration area, comparing the plant community four and eight years after restoration began. We found that the exotic species <em>Laguncularia racemosa</em> expanded rapidly, significantly suppressing native mangrove species and altering the community structure. The relative abundance of <em>L. racemosa</em> increased from 8 % in the fourth year to 57 % by the eighth year, during which time three native species disappeared from the plot. By the eighth year, <em>L. racemosa</em> also dominated in terms of plant height. Given the rapid spread of invasive species and the high connectivity of wetlands, we recommend closely monitoring non-native plants during restoration projects like pond-to-mangrove restoration. Our study highlights the threat biological invasions pose to restoration efforts and the importance of managing ecological niches created by restoration processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03481"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143348632","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":"People’s knowledge, attitudes, and conflicts with carnivores in central hills, Sri Lanka","authors":"Ashan Thudugala ,&nbsp;Hem Bahadur Katuwal ,&nbsp;Nalindra Laxman ,&nbsp;Vishwa Dushmantha ,&nbsp;Ravindi Menikrama ,&nbsp;Harsha Dissanayake ,&nbsp;Chameera Dilshan ,&nbsp;Ru-Chuan He ,&nbsp;Rui-Chang Quan","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>People’s knowledge and attitudes toward carnivores are crucial for understanding the distribution, ecology, conflicts, interactions, and threats that these species face. Carnivores are found both within and outside protected areas, making them susceptible to human-carnivore conflicts. However, In Sri Lanka, human dimensions of carnivores remain relatively understudied, despite several reported conflicts. To address these gaps, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 303 households around Dhunumadalwa Forest Reserve, Kandy, Central Sri Lanka in 2023. Our goal was to explore people's knowledge—specifically their ability to identify carnivore species and understand environmental laws—alongside their attitudes and experiences with human-carnivore conflicts. We found that 99 % of the respondents identified at least one of the 12 carnivore species shown during the interview. However, only 2 % of respondents identified as many as nine species, indicating a generally low ability to identify carnivore species. The ability to identify carnivores was significantly influenced by distance to the forest, gender, and education level. Respondents demonstrated a strong understanding of environmental laws, including forest and wildlife regulations and the penalties associated with killing species. Forty-one percent of the respondents expressed a positive attitude toward one of the carnivores, particularly leopards and other cat species, while 74 % particularly showed a negative attitude toward the civet species. The attitude towards carnivores was significantly influenced only by urbanization and education level. Carnivore conflicts were reported by 33 % of respondents, primarily involving leopards and civets, causing disturbances and economic losses. Despite these challenges, 68 % of respondents believed conflicts had decreased over the last two decades. However, 73 % of respondents had no clear idea about conflict mitigation measures, while 17 % advocated relocating problematic animals as a primary solution for conflicts. Our study highlights the complex nature of human-carnivore interactions and emphasizes the need for educating people about carnivores. It also underscores the importance of improving protection measures for domestic animals and establishing compensation schemes and performance payments to enhance tolerance, coexistence, and foster positive attitudes toward these species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03476"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143350042","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":"Multi-primer-based environmental DNA survey for vertebrate biodiversity monitoring in protected island wetlands","authors":"Gawoo Kim ,&nbsp;Yujin Kang ,&nbsp;Youngkeun Song","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Considering the natural and anthropogenic threats to natural ecosystems, monitoring the biodiversity of the protected areas and their subzones is necessary. The Korea National Park Service conducted the Natural Resource Survey (NRS) to monitor biodiversity in Korea’s national parks; however, various species and the extensive survey regions, including inaccessible islands and mountains, hinder the consistent collection of data within limited resources. Environmental DNA (eDNA) might be a potential solution to provide non-invasive, standardized, and efficient biodiversity monitoring. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for monitoring vertebrate biodiversity in ecologically sensitive and inaccessible protected island wetlands. We detected 35 vertebrate species in Jangdo and Baenanggimill wetlands of the Heuksan Archipelago, South Korea, using three primer sets specific to birds, mammals, and fish. Combining eDNA with NRS data increased species richness by 35.3 % in Jangdo Wetland and 10.2 % in Baenanggimill Wetland, demonstrating the efficiency of multi-primer eDNA in rapidly detecting species with minimal intervention. Moreover, eDNA identified five species that are difficult to see due to their underwater habitat or morphological similarity before the second round of NRS. However, regarding bird species detection, aqueous eDNA had lower recall than NRS, demanding technological improvements to enhance its applicability. Our findings indicate that eDNA might complement traditional survey methods to enhance biodiversity monitoring in protected areas, particularly in challenging environments such as remote island wetlands. We hope this work contributes to improving the planning of conservation and restoration efforts for threatened ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03474"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387708","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":"Diet-microbiome covariation across three giraffe species in a close-contact zone","authors":"Elin Videvall ,&nbsp;Brian A. Gill ,&nbsp;Michael B. Brown ,&nbsp;Hannah K. Hoff ,&nbsp;Bethan L. Littleford-Colquhoun ,&nbsp;Peter Lokeny ,&nbsp;Paul M. Musili ,&nbsp;Tyler R. Kartzinel","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The biodiverse group of ruminant mammals are entirely dependent on their gut microbiota to extract energy and nutrients from their foods, making these symbionts vital to survival. Because variation in wildlife diets can select for distinct communities of gut bacteria, different foraging choices can have both nutritional effects and other microbially-mediated effects on animal well-being. Despite the proliferation of studies focusing on host-microbiome interactions in recent decades, few prior studies have quantified the level and extent of diet-microbiome linkages in wildlife. Therefore, we used DNA metabarcoding to compare the diets and gut microbiomes of giraffes, the world’s largest ruminant. We focused on three giraffe species—reticulated, northern, and Masai—that occur along a near-contact zone in equatorial Kenya. We found large differences in both the composition and diversity of diets and microbiomes within and among populations. However, contrary to expectations, we found very little evidence for links between the composition of individual diets and their corresponding microbiomes. Instead, geographic proximity strongly predicted diet similarity whereas host-species identity strongly predicted microbiome composition. The lack of diet-microbiome linkages across these giraffe populations—coupled with the evidence that species differed strongly in diet and microbiome compositions—highlights the possibility that their history of ecological and evolutionary divergence has generated unique, species-specific gut microbiomes. Moreover, striking levels of diet variation were revealed among neighboring populations of giraffe from the same species, and thus baseline knowledge of their resource-use diversity could support ongoing efforts to geographically tailor management strategies aimed at conserving local food staples under environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03480"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143278790","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":"Continuous Genetic Assessment of the Impact of Hatchery Releases on Larimichthys crocea Stocks in China","authors":"Lina Wu ,&nbsp;Lisheng Wu ,&nbsp;Hungdu Lin ,&nbsp;Min Liu ,&nbsp;Shaoxiong Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a cornerstone species in China's nearshore marine fisheries, <em>Larimichthys crocea</em> has experienced severe population declines due to the exploitation of its spawning and overwintering aggregations. In response, the Chinese government authorities have implemented extensive restocking programs over the past three decades, particularly in Fujian waters. However, the direct evidence of population recovery remains limited, and the genetic impact of large-scaled, hatchery-produced juvenile releases on wild stocks is unclear. In this study, we analyzed hatchery-released stocks (HRS), and wild-captured stocks in the semi-closed Sansha Bay (SBS, northern Fujian) and in the open waters of southern Fujian (SFS) over four consecutive years (2020–2023) using microsatellite markers. Our results reveal the significant genetic differentiation and distinct contribution rates between SBS and SFS, highlighting the region-specific impacts of restocking. The high genetic similarity between SBS and HRS suggests that the Bay may provide favorable conditions for the survival of released stocks compared to open waters. Seasonal genetic variation observed in SBS stocks before and after winter, along with interannual differences in contribution rates, underscoring the winter season is a critical survival bottleneck. The findings of this study indicate that HRS face greater challenges than wild stocks in completing overwinter migrations. These insights provide valuable guidance for the conservation and management of <em>L. crocea</em> stocks, and emphasize the importance of integrating ecological and environmental factors into restocking strategies for this and other marine species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03466"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351777","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":"Rhizosphere bacterial community structure and nutrient cycling genes jointly drive the soil multifunctionality of Phoebe bournei young plantations under potassium fertilizer","authors":"Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Xu Wang ,&nbsp;Gongxiu He ,&nbsp;Yuqing Geng ,&nbsp;Chuxiang Chen ,&nbsp;Jinjin Zhou ,&nbsp;Zehao Li ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Feng ,&nbsp;Yingying Diao ,&nbsp;Lili Yang ,&nbsp;Zhixia Hou ,&nbsp;Xie Zhang ,&nbsp;Honggang Sun ,&nbsp;Li Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Potassium (K) plays a pivotal role in influencing the structure and function of soil microbial communities, thereby influencing soil multifunctionality. Researches on various fertilization practices for <em>Phoebe bournei</em> has primarily focused on microbial communities. However, the mechanism of functional potential of microbe in mediating the influence of K on soil multifunctionality remains insufficiently elucidated. Here, the experiment included five K additions (CK, 0 g; K1, 60 g; K2, 120 g; K3, 180 g; and K4, 240 g per plant) in <em>P. bournei</em> young plantations via 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative microbial element cycling (QMEC) smart chip technology to investigate the impacts of K additions on rhizosphere soil bacterial community attributes, nutrient cycling genes (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus), and soil multifunctionality. K additions decreased bacterial diversity, while enhancing the abundance of genes involved in C degradation, including those related to labile and recalcitrant C, as well as N cycling, P cycling, and soil multifunctionality. Comparatively, K1 and K2 additions had slight effects on soil multifunctionality, bacterial communities and the abundance of C, N and P cycling genes. PLS-PM results demonstrated that K additions improve soil multifunctionality indirectly by altering bacterial community structure and network complexity, as well as the functional potential linked to N and P cycling. Additionally, soil abiotic factors are the was the core predictor for maintaining soil multifunctionality. All in all, soil properties and bacterial functional attributes together drive soil multifunctionality in response to K additions. These findings highlight that adequate K fertilizer may maintain soil multifunctionality, and regulate nutrient cycling and bacterial functions in <em>P. bournei</em> young plantations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03473"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387712","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":"Genomic signatures of habitat isolation and paleo-climate unveil the “island-like” pattern in the glasshouse plant Rheum nobile","authors":"Hum Kala Rana ,&nbsp;Santosh Kumar Rana ,&nbsp;Hang Sun ,&nbsp;Dong Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains, known for their ‘Sky Islands’ ecosystems, offer a unique opportunity to study genomic differentiation of endemic plants. While there is growing research on the genetic mechanisms underlying the distinctiveness of species in these regions, gaps remain in understanding the specific genomic processes shaping the “island-like” genetic structure of <em>Rheum nobile</em>. This study investigates <em>R. nobile</em>, a distinctive glasshouse plant native to the alpine-subnival belt, to uncover the genetic dynamics contributing to its “island-like” structure and genetic diversity in these unique ecosystems. We analyzed plastome and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences from 104 <em>R. nobile</em> samples, revealing significant genetic structure with significant unique alleles across populations. Three phylogroups were identified, corresponding to the floristic regionalization of the Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains. The three main lineages diverged allopatrically around 7.38–4.19 million years ago (Mya). Notably, a significant population bottleneck occurred between 0.18–0.016 Mya (plastome) and 0.38–0.031 Mya (ITS). There was no correlation between genetic patterns and geographic or environmental distances. Gene flow was limited across three phylogroups. Ensemble Species Distribution Modelling suggested multiple refugia during or even before the Last Glacial Maximum, indicating a complex historical distribution. The “island-like” genetic patterns of <em>Rheum nobile</em> results from fragmented habitats and prolonged isolation during the Quaternary glaciation. This study highlights the species’ evolutionary trajectory shaped by ecological adaptation, and climatic fluctuations, providing valuable insights for future conservation and management efforts in its native environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03471"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143278792","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":"Age and moisture affect the relationship between competition and tree growth","authors":"Xinyu Han ,&nbsp;Lushuang Gao ,&nbsp;Mingqian Liu ,&nbsp;Yihong Zhu ,&nbsp;Keda Cui ,&nbsp;Xinyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiuhai Zhao ,&nbsp;Ruibo Zhang ,&nbsp;Klaus von Gadow ,&nbsp;Yiyu Tian ,&nbsp;Kangchen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03464","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03464","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The frequent and intensifying droughts caused by climate warming are leading to widespread declines in tree growth and increased mortality, posing a significant threat to the health and vitality of forest ecosystems. While competition among trees is recognized as a critical factor influencing their growth, the precise mechanism underlying its impact remains unclear. Here, we investigate the role of crown size in the process of competition affecting tree growth across varying gradients of age and moisture conditions. Our analysis is based on comprehensive data collected from natural forests of Xing'an larch (<em>Larix gmelinii</em>) located in the northeastern region of China. We observed that competition indirectly impacts tree growth by diminishing crown size, and this influence is modulated by both tree age and environmental moisture conditions. Specifically, mature trees are better able to withstand competition pressure than young trees. The stimulatory effect of crown size on tree growth enhances in young tress, but diminishes in mature trees. Additionally, the negative impact of competition on tree crown size is more pronounced in high moisture regions, and larches experiencing crown reduction under intense competition exhibit a heightened sensitivity to water availability. Our findings provide robust evidence that competition indirectly influences tree growth by modifying their phenotypic traits. Notably, the crown, serving as a crucial organ for nutrient acquisition in trees, was a mediating factor between competition and growth. This result holds significant implications for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the face of a warming climate in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03464"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147913","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":"Passive acoustic monitoring of an elusive rail, the corncrake (Crex crex): Calling patterns, detectability and monitoring recommendations","authors":"Andrea Parisi ,&nbsp;Marie Greaney ,&nbsp;John Carey ,&nbsp;James Moran ,&nbsp;Joanne O’Brien","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03470","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03470","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to their elusive nature, some species are hard to survey. This can present challenges for conserving rare and vulnerable species. However, conservation projects need reliable population data to understand the species status and prioritise strategies. We acoustically monitored the corncrake (<em>Crex crex</em>), a nationally endangered ground-nesting bird in Ireland. Little is known about the calling pattern of this species, and consequently, survey efforts may not be efficiently allocated. Twelve long-term acoustic deployments were manually scanned to extract the male broadcast calls. The calling activity was modelled as a response variable predicted by weather, lunar and temporal variables. Additionally, detectability according to weather variables and lunar fraction was assessed using a single-species occupancy model. We found marked vocal diel (hour, P &lt; 0.001) and seasonal (date, P &lt; 0.001) patterns. The calling activity was also negatively affected by temperature (P &lt; 0.001) and wind speed (P &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, a significant interaction (P = 0.023) existed between cloud cover and lunar illumination. The detectability analysis highlighted a 64 % probability of detecting a corncrake at an occupied site during a night visit. Wind speed and cloud cover negatively affected the likelihood of detection, while lunar fraction had a positive influence. We concluded that corncrake surveys should continue to focus the effort between 23:00 and 03:00, considering that calling peak activity occurred between 01:00–02:00 in May and June. Cool nights with clear sky, high lunar illumination and wind speed below 20 km/h are recommended to improve detections. By planning surveys on these conditions, conservation projects may enhance species detection and save resources required for field efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03470"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147358","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":"Precipitation changes alter the structure, species composition and interspecific relationships of desert steppe plant communities","authors":"Kechen Song ,&nbsp;Hao Zhang ,&nbsp;Haiying Hu ,&nbsp;Yingzhong Xie ,&nbsp;Xiaona Zhao ,&nbsp;Yiyin Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiayi Yong ,&nbsp;Wenhui Deng ,&nbsp;Siyu Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Precipitation (P) is the sole water source supporting plant growth in the desert steppe, governing the structure and function of plant communities. Nevertheless, how changes in precipitation alter species composition and affect interspecific relationships within plant communities remains unclear. To address this, we simulated five precipitation gradients, ranging from 50 % (P_−50 %), 70 % (P_−30 %), 100 % (P_CK), 130 % (P_+30 %), to 150 % (P_+50 %) relative to ambient precipitation. We assessed the effects of precipitation treatments and seasonality on plant community structure and species composition in late spring, mid-summer, and late summer. Results showed that (1) The desert grassland plant community exhibited an asymmetric response to precipitation amount and seasonal variatt steppe ecosystems, interspecific connectivity reflecion, where the impact of late-spring precipitation on the quantitative traits, importance values (<em>IV</em>), and mean niche overlap of communities was greater than that of mid-summer and late-summer precipitation, and the effects of decreased precipitation were more significant than those of increased precipitation. (2) The niche of perennial plants did not change with the season, while the <em>IV</em> and ecological niche width (<em>B</em>) of annual plants increased as the seasons passed. (3) Decreased precipitation reduced the mean niche overlap of all species, the <em>B</em> of Leguminosae plants, and the <em>IV</em> of all species except for <em>Stipa breviflora</em> and <em>Convolvulus ammannii</em>. (4) The overall association index indicated a positive correlation among communities, showing significant correlations in P_+50 %, P_−30 %, and P_−50 %. The association index between populations gradually shifted from negative to positive with decreasing precipitation. Therefore, we suggest that both drought and wetness tend to intensify interspecific interactions within the community. More importantly, drought transformed the population relationships from competition to mutualistic symbiosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article e03460"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351778","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}