Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Leveraging landscape genomics to predict genomic offset and inform conservation of Tetraena mongolica in a changing climate","authors":"Yan-Ci Yang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Dan Chen ,&nbsp;Li-Pan Zhou ,&nbsp;Zeng-Qiang Qian ,&nbsp;Li Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthropogenic climate change poses a substantial threat to global biodiversity, expediting the rate of decline and elevating the risk of extinction for species across the world. Understanding the climate vulnerability and genomic diversity across landscapes undergoing rapid climate change, is therefore crucial for preserving biodiversity and informing conservation interventions. In this study, we attempted to characterize the patterns of genetic variation, and evaluate the range dynamics and genomic offset to anticipated climate change for <em>Tetraena mongolica</em>, an endangered species endemic to China based on 1113 genomic-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from reduced-representation genome sequencing in 48 individuals. We further dissected the key environmental variables associated with genetic variation and predicted its range dynamics and genomic offset to future climate scenarios. Our results indicated that this species showed limited genetic divergence and weak population structure. Temperature- and solar radiation-related variables were pivotal in shaping the genomic variation of <em>T. mongolica</em> across its range. Moreover, the species' current range is likely to be at high risk of maladaptation to forthcoming climate changes. Our findings have implications for understanding the evolutionary trajectories of endangered species with limited ranges, and the strong signals of genomic offset presented to projected climate change could guide proactive managements and conservative decision-makings for this endangered species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04133"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388023","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":"Female demographic advantages drive sustainable growth and reintroduction capacity in captive giant panda populations","authors":"Xiao Zhou ,&nbsp;Zongzhi Li ,&nbsp;Bo Luo ,&nbsp;Guiquan Zhang ,&nbsp;Rongping Wei ,&nbsp;Desheng Li ,&nbsp;Mingchun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Captive breeding is a vital ex situ conservation strategy, particularly for giant pandas, yet the demographic impacts of documented sex ratio bias remain unclear. This study integrates pedigree analysis and population viability analysis (PVA) to reveal that while captive giant panda births show balanced sex ratios (1:1), progressive female bias emerges with age due to females' survival advantages: lower mortality rates (31.68% vs 41.89% in cubs) and extended longevity. The population demonstrates strong self-sustainability under current management, with female prevalence accelerating growth. Results identify catastrophe probability reduction and cub mortality control as primary growth drivers, whereas carrying capacity changes exert minimal influence. Reintroduction simulations validate that annually releases of 5–10 individuals sustain source population viability while achieving rewilding targets. Key implications include: 1) Demographic stability accommodates planned reintroductions; 2) Female survival compensates male mortality without genetic compromise; 3) Disaster mitigation and neonatal care surpass enclosure expansion in efficacy. The framework establishes that managing sex-specific mortality and environmental risks concurrently ensures both population resilience and reintroduction success, providing actionable strategies for optimizing ex situ conservation in this flagship species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04150"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388032","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":"Using eDNA metabarcoding to assess the distribution and ecological drivers of protist communities in subtropical estuaries: insights into environmental filtering and cross-trophic links","authors":"Chen Gong ,&nbsp;Junjie Wang ,&nbsp;Lihong Gan ,&nbsp;Yusen Li ,&nbsp;Wenjian Chen ,&nbsp;Yuqi Zhao ,&nbsp;Shilei Sang ,&nbsp;Chuanbo Guo ,&nbsp;Lei Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estuarine ecosystems are increasingly threatened by intensifying anthropogenic stressors, including nutrient enrichment and heavy metal pollution, which alter biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning. Protists, as key drivers of primary production, nutrient cycling, and trophic transfer, exhibit rapid and sensitive responses to environmental change, making them promising bioindicators for estuarine condition assessment. Here, we integrated multi-marker environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with environmental measurements to characterize protist communities (18S rDNA) and their cross-trophic associations with bacteria (16S rDNA), metazoans (18S rDNA), and fish (12S rDNA) across 30 subtropical estuaries in South China. Protist assemblages were dominated by Gyrista and Ciliophora, with phototrophs forming the major functional group, followed by consumers and parasites. Pronounced spatial variation in α-diversity and community structure reflected strong ecological filtering along gradients of salinity, temperature, and heavy metal concentrations during the dry season. Null model and neutral model analyses consistently indicated that deterministic processes, rather than stochastic dynamics, primarily governed protist assembly. Furthermore, co-occurrence patterns revealed significant cross-trophic associations, particularly with bacterial communities, suggesting potential co-variation under environmental stress. Collectively, our findings identify protists as sensitive indicators of both abiotic filtering and biotic interactions in estuarine ecosystems. The multi-trophic eDNA framework applied here provides an efficient and scalable approach for biodiversity surveillance, offering valuable implications for early environmental warning and sustainable estuarine management under ongoing global change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04146"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147387678","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":"Zoning effects on the community structure of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates in a Mediterranean National Park (Central Apennine)","authors":"Chiara Giusto ,&nbsp;Adriana Bellati ,&nbsp;Francesco Cerini ,&nbsp;Bruno Bellisario ,&nbsp;Daniele Canestrelli","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater macroinvertebrates are a fundamental component of the world's biodiversity, which is globally declining, yet they remain largely overlooked in area-based conservation and restoration efforts. Notably, the effectiveness of zoning within protected areas, a prominent tool for balancing nature protection and human activities, is still substantially unexplored in the context of freshwater biodiversity conservation. In this study, we assessed for the first time the influence of zonation on water chemistry, environmental variables, and patterns of freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity across a long-established protected area in Central Italy. We observed no significant differences among zones in terms of water parameters and canopy cover, and no spatial correspondence between areas with higher biodiversity levels and integral protection zones (IRs). However, the IR has a positive effect in restoring macroinvertebrate diversity downstream of human disturbance. Indeed, taxonomic richness decreased (⁓41 %) downstream of human settlements, then increased (⁓46 %) downstream of the IR located just beyond the urban areas. Our research emphasizes that current zoning schemes within protected areas might completely overlook spatial patterns of variation in freshwater biodiversity. Yet, importantly, they also suggest that zoning schemes in terrestrial protected areas should adopt a strategic IR design, integrating species and habitat conservation targets with the exploitation of river autodepuration processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04128"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388026","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":"Organic agricultural landscapes promote the conservation and diversity of cavity-nesting solitary bees","authors":"Tina Betty Schultz ,&nbsp;Sara Olberz ,&nbsp;Hannah Burger ,&nbsp;Manfred Ayasse ,&nbsp;Samuel Boff","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solitary bees are important pollinators and maintain biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, yet their populations are declining due to habitat loss, intensive farming and pesticide use. Organic farming offers a sustainable alternative to conventional systems, benefiting pollinators through reduced chemical inputs and greater habitat diversity. While effects on social bees such as honeybees and bumblebees are well documented, little is known about how farming practices and landscapes influence communities of cavity-nesting solitary bees. We investigated these effects across 17 sites in Germany using standardized cavity nests (“bee hotels”). This approach enabled us to assess number of brood cells, species diversity, the abundance of females and males and the proportion of undeveloped bees, revealing how solitary bee populations respond to different farming systems and landscape features. Landscape composition was analyzed within a 500 m radius to quantify the extent of organic farming and forest cover within the bees’ foraging range. We found that organic farming had a beneficial effect on solitary bee brood cells and female production. Organic landscapes were positively correlated with increase in bee abundance, species richness, and diversity, while forest cover had no strong effects. Still at the landscape level, the abundance of both females and males increased with the extent of organic farming, while at the local scale, the abundance of both sexes was higher in organic farms than in conventional sites. The findings highlight the potential ecological benefit of organic farming in supporting cavity nesting solitary bee populations and underscore its potential to mitigate biodiversity loss in agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04126"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388027","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":"Ecological function of the Ariake Bay as a scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) nursery in the northwestern Pacific","authors":"Atsuko Yamaguchi ,&nbsp;Yoshimi Ogino ,&nbsp;Kojiro Hara ,&nbsp;Masayuki Nakamura ,&nbsp;Mao Watanabe ,&nbsp;Keisuke Furumitsu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04127","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04127","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The scalloped hammerhead (<em>Sphyrna lewini</em>), a cosmopolitan shark inhabiting temperate and tropical waters, is highly vulnerable to fisheries owing to late maturity and low reproductive output. Although nurseries have been identified in the Americas and Australia, ecological knowledge of individuals in the northwestern Pacific remains limited. We analyzed 1167 individuals collected as bycatch across 4 regions of southwestern Japan, with a focus on the Ariake Bay. Size- and season-specific occurrence patterns, umbilical scar condition, and vertebral age estimation revealed that the shallow inner Ariake Bay functions as a nursery—the first one to be documented in the northwestern Pacific. Age-0 individuals, born May–June, comprised 88 % of the inner bay population and stayed 3 months to 2 years before dispersing. Larger mature individuals &gt; 10 years were concentrated at the bay mouth, with intermediate sizes and ages largely absent. Age-0 individuals occurred in environments with water temperatures of 18.6–27.3 °C and salinities of 25.9–32.8. Condition factor and hepatosomatic index analyses suggested that this nursery, characterized by turbid and moderately saline waters, provides favorable nutritional conditions in addition to predator protection. Substantial annual bycatch resulting from the eagle ray control program highlights strong fishing pressure on juveniles. Overall, we identified the Ariake Bay as a highly productive nursery of global significance, thereby advancing current understanding of <em>S. lewini</em> habitat use in the northwestern Pacific. Protecting this habitat is essential for sustaining regional populations and informing conservation strategies for this critically endangered species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04127"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388028","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":"A functional trait-based indicator value index for rapid bioassessment using benthic macroinvertebrate families","authors":"Yajing He ,&nbsp;Junyan Wu ,&nbsp;Yan Li ,&nbsp;Yongjing Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Jin ,&nbsp;Kun Yin ,&nbsp;Yuxin Hu ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongzhu Wang ,&nbsp;Yongde Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional indicator species approaches are widely used in freshwater bioassessment due to their simplicity, low cost, and operational efficiency. This study develops a Functional Trait-Based Indicator Value Index (FIVI) by integrating functional traits with the indicator species framework for benthic macroinvertebrates in the Yangtze River Basin. FIVI links functional trait-based indicator values of families to biological integrity gradients derived from the integration of total family richness and functional richness across diverse waterbody types (mainstem, primary and secondary tributaries, streams, river-isolated lakes, and river-connected lakes), thereby enhancing ecological interpretability and operational applicability. We classified 182 families into ten functional groups and quantified their indicator values across five biological integrity grades using specificity and fidelity metrics. These values were further translated into indicator grades and combined with dominance information to construct FIVI. Comparative validation of five configurations identified the top three dominant families as the optimal formulation. Across six waterbody types, FIVI showed more even grade distributions and stronger responses to anthropogenic disturbance gradients than the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and the Family Biotic Index (FBI). Multi-dimensional evaluations demonstrated that FIVI achieved superior discriminatory power, higher precision, stronger responsiveness, lower misclassification rates, and greater relevancy to anthropogenic disturbance gradients. By linking functional traits with biological integrity gradients, FIVI provides an ecologically interpretable and operationally simple tool for rapid bioassessment across diverse freshwater ecosystems. The functional group classification and corresponding indicator value lookup tables enable efficient field application, supporting large-scale freshwater ecosystem monitoring and management decisions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04152"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388035","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":"Priority effects outweigh nitrogen deposition in shaping C3–C4 grass competition in desert steppe ecosystems","authors":"Kun Zhao ,&nbsp;Fen Wang ,&nbsp;Qian Liu ,&nbsp;Haina Hu ,&nbsp;Shenyi Jiang ,&nbsp;Hui Gao ,&nbsp;Chunxue Han ,&nbsp;Mengli Zhao ,&nbsp;Guodong Han ,&nbsp;Haigang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nitrogen (N) deposition and altered sowing patterns are key drivers of grassland community dynamics, influencing species interactions, resource allocation, and ecosystem functioning. However, the mechanisms through which N availability and sowing order shape competitive outcomes among co-occurring species remain poorly understood. Two dominant desert steppe grasses, <em>Stipa breviflora</em> (C₃ grass) and <em>Cleistogenes songorica</em> (C₄ grass) were sowed under three sowing treatments—mixed-sowing, <em>S. breviflora</em>-first sowing, and <em>C. songorica</em>-first sowing—combined with two N addition levels (0 and 20 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). We found that N addition significantly increased plant height, tiller number, biomass, and N uptake in both species, but the magnitude of response varied with sowing pattern. C₄ grass generally maintained stronger competitiveness and gained relative advantage under mixed sowing with N addition. N addition enhanced the competitive advantage of C₄ grass in mixed-sowing treatment. However, priority effects resulting from sowing order dominated the competition between C₃ and C₄ grasses rather than N deposition and species-specific biological characteristics. δ¹⁵N analysis revealed that interspecific differences in N uptake were most pronounced at short competitive distances, with N addition amplifying dominance of C₄ grass. These findings demonstrate that both resource availability and initial establishment order shape the trajectory of interspecific competition in grassland systems. This work provides new insights into grassland management under scenarios of increasing atmospheric N inputs and altered disturbance regimes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388053","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 timing of extreme drought events drives functional trait shifts and plasticity in dominant Inner Mongolian steppe grasses","authors":"Yiru Han ,&nbsp;Sibo Liu ,&nbsp;Hong Chang,&nbsp;Lei Shi,&nbsp;Pujin Zhang,&nbsp;Chao Wen,&nbsp;Xinchao Liu,&nbsp;Xinyou Wang,&nbsp;Yang Chen,&nbsp;Shanshan Yang,&nbsp;Haojie Nde,&nbsp;Guomei Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extreme droughts are intensifying, and their seasonal timing plays an important role in shaping plant functional traits in semi-arid grasslands. This study experimentally imposed extreme drought in spring, summer, or autumn on three dominant steppe grasses (<em>Leymus chinensis</em>, <em>Stipa krylovii</em>, and <em>Cleistogenes squarrosa</em>) in a temperate steppe of Inner Mongolia, measuring 12 functional traits and soil moisture at four depths. Linear mixed-effects models and response coefficients (RC; trait deviation relative to control) indicated that summer drought induced the strongest trait shifts, against a background of consistently reduced surface soil moisture across all seasonal drought treatments. Leaf-size traits (leaf area, width) were the most responsive across species, accompanied by consistent increases in leaf nitrogen concentration and declines in leaf C:N ratio under summer drought. Species-specific trait-based response strategies emerged: <em>S. krylovii</em> showed early-season biomass and cover gains followed by later reductions in height and leaf size; <em>C. squarrosa</em> exhibited predominantly negative trait responses under mid- to late-season drought; and <em>L. chinensis</em> showed minimal changes, with slight increases in acquisitive leaf traits during summer and small structural declines outside the peak season. These findings highlight that drought timing governs functional reconfiguration, and that complementary species strategies, together with leaf-size and LNC indicators, provide season-aware metrics for assessing steppe resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04121"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147387675","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":"Uncovering cryptic coral species in Japan’s precious coral fishery: Conservation and sustainable management implications","authors":"Kenji Takata ,&nbsp;Takeshi Hayashibara ,&nbsp;Masanori Nonaka ,&nbsp;Bertalan Lendvay ,&nbsp;Tzu-Hsuan Tu ,&nbsp;Federica Costantini ,&nbsp;Holly Bolick ,&nbsp;Hiroshi Namikawa ,&nbsp;Naoko Ishikawa ,&nbsp;Yoshihisa Suyama ,&nbsp;Taisei Kikuchi ,&nbsp;Akira Iguchi ,&nbsp;Nina Yasuda","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate estimates of catch and trade volumes for target species are essential for effective resource management. In the precious coral fishery, lesser-known species may be unintentionally harvested in addition to major targets, due to identification based solely on color, ignoring biological species boundaries that are critical for sustainable use. In this study, we identified an unknown coral species, <em>Pleurocorallium</em> sp. 1, that was collected together with three major species commonly harvested in Japan (<em>Corallium japonicum</em>, <em>P. konojoi</em>, and <em>P. elatius</em>). Phylogenetic analysis based on three mitochondrial regions showed that <em>P.</em> sp. 1 forms a monophyletic group with <em>P. secundum</em>, which is primarily distributed in Hawaii. In contrast, a phylogenetic tree based on 4,077 SNPs from Multiplexed ISSR Genotyping by sequencing revealed that <em>P.</em> sp. 1 forms a clade distinct from <em>P. secundum</em>, suggesting that it may represent an undescribed species. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal that genetically distinct species beyond the three major ones are being harvested in Japan’s precious coral fishery. Surprisingly, our analysis also uncovered a novel cryptic lineage among samples identified using gross morphology, as <em>P. konojoi</em> called <em>Pleurocorallium</em> sp. 2. These findings highlight the need for genomic identification of harvested precious corals to ensure sustainable use and proper resource management. Future work should clarify the taxonomic status of <em>P.</em> sp. 1 and <em>P.</em> sp. 2 through detailed morphological assessments. It should also investigate their geographic distributions and abundance, and assess the extent to which these undescribed species have been harvested in commercial fisheries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article e04125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388031","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}