Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Behavioral response of Bornean ungulates, including bearded pigs and sambar deer, to anthropogenic disturbance in Sabah, Malaysia","authors":"Miyabi Nakabayashi ,&nbsp;Tomoko Kanamori ,&nbsp;Aoi Matsukawa ,&nbsp;Joseph Tangah ,&nbsp;Augustine Tuuga ,&nbsp;Titol Peter Malim ,&nbsp;Henry Bernard ,&nbsp;Abdul Hamid Ahmad ,&nbsp;Ikki Matsuda ,&nbsp;Goro Hanya","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding wildlife behavioral responses to anthropogenic disturbance is crucial for assessing its effects and managing protected areas. We used camera traps to investigate the behavioral responses of two of the most frequently hunted Bornean ungulate species, bearded pigs (<em>Sus barbatus</em>) and sambar deer (<em>Rusa unicolor</em>), to anthropogenic disturbance in three protected areas in Sabah, Malaysia, that have varying levels of human activity. We found that human activities generally influence the activity patterns of both ungulates, albeit with variations among the sites. Temporal activity levels of both species would be affected by anthropogenic disturbance; temporal activity levels of bearded pigs were generally low where poaching of this species is reported and both species reduced their activity during daytime, the period of highest probability of encountering humans. Bearded pigs approached plantations during times of low human activity, presumably to forage, indicating that they adjust their spatiotemporal activity patterns to minimize human contact. Conversely sambar deer approached plantations when humans were active during the daytime, suggesting acclimation to non-lethal human contact to maximize energy intake. We observed a reduction in active times for both species at sites of high anthropogenic disturbance. Despite these challenges, both species demonstrated behavioral adaptability to anthropogenic disturbance by utilizing artificial environments such as roads and oil palm plantations probably as foraging places, thereby potentially compensating for reduced active times especially for feedings. Our study underscores the negative impact of human activities on the activity patterns of these two ungulate species. Meanwhile, they showed behavioral plasticity to anthropogenic disturbance by utilizing food resources in artificial environments efficiently. Our findings highlight the need for additional research into the behavioral responses of ungulates in Southeast Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03580"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143833699","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":"Spatial clustering analysis combined with ensemble modeling identified potential coastal conservation hotspots of White-eyed gulls in the Red Sea","authors":"Mohanad Abdelgadir ,&nbsp;Monif AlRashidi ,&nbsp;Randa Alharbi ,&nbsp;Abdulaziz S. Alatawi","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The islands and coastal habitats of the Red Sea are home to diverse and endemic animal species. However, the current and future conservation status of these species remains unclear. One such species is the White-eyed gull (<em>Ichthyaetus leucophthalmus</em>), an endemic seabird of the Red Sea region that nests on the ground during the hottest months, from June to August. Despite the species' current state of knowledge, there is limited information about its biogeography and spatial distribution in response to ongoing climatic changes in the Red Sea region. In this study, we used a spatial clustering analysis combined with an ensemble modeling approach to predict the coastal distribution and identify potential hotspots for the White-eyed gull. We utilized two sets of current environmental variables and future climatic scenarios for the year 2050 derived from both marine and terrestrial domains. Our analysis identified 13 potential hotspots that are crucial for the conservation of the White-eyed gull. Our findings reveal that climate change is likely to significantly impact the spatial distribution of the White-eyed gull, potentially reducing its current suitable habitats and shifting its range further into the northern Red Sea and possibly to the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, our models, which integrate marine and terrestrial variables, predict the biogeography of the White-eyed gull with 88–95 % accuracy. Our spatial clustering analysis combined with an ensemble modeling approach can inform conservation and management strategies for coastal areas identified as suitable habitats for the White-eyed gull. Furthermore, it has the potential to be applied to other seabird species with similar habitat requirements in the Red Sea region and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03581"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821544","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 influence of climate change on the autumn migration timing of three common migratory raptors in East Asia","authors":"Lixia Chen ,&nbsp;Chen-Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Yachang Cheng ,&nbsp;Guoxiang Yu ,&nbsp;Ge Sun ,&nbsp;Lei Zhu ,&nbsp;Hongxing Jiang ,&nbsp;Yang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many bird species have shown temporal changes in their migration phenology due to global warming. The phenomenon of bird species advancing their spring phenology in response to warmer spring temperatures is well-documented and extensively studied. However, autumn phenology, a crucial component of the migrating birds’ annual cycle, has garnered less attention. In contrast to spring phenology, which often exhibits consistent timing changes across the majority of species, the timing of autumn migratory events is subject to greater variability. In this research, we explored the trends in autumn migration and the impact of climate change on these patterns. Our analysis was grounded in a 39-year dataset of bird-banding records from the Changdao Raptor Migration Observatory in China, a key migration bottleneck for East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The dataset encompassed three prevalent migratory raptors: the Oriental Scops Owl (<em>Otus sunia</em>), the Japanese Sparrowhawk (<em>Tachyspiza gularis</em>), and the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (<em>Accipiter nisus</em>). Our analysis showed that the autumn migration timing for these three prevalent raptors has been significantly influenced by climatic changes occurring at both the breeding and stopover sites. The median passage dates for the Oriental Scops Owls and Japanese Sparrowhawks advanced significantly, whereas the Eurasian Sparrowhawks delayed their passage date significantly. The Eastern Atlantic/Western Russia Index, the North Atlantic Oscillation, and the local weather dynamics along the migration route played pivotal roles in shaping the autumn migration timings of the three common raptors. In summary, our findings, based on extensive long-term ringing data, reveal distinct temporal trends in the autumn migration patterns of three small raptors in Asia, highlighting the pivotal climate indices linked to these trends.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03578"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821552","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 urban environmental quality and citizen science data quality: Identifying indicator bird species in cities of China","authors":"Sidan Lin ,&nbsp;Wei Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioindicators are frequently employed for rapid, large-scale assessments of biodiversity and environmental quality. An ideal indicator species should be easy to recognize and have a wide distribution, making them suitable for long-term monitoring of urban ecosystem changes through citizen science projects. To date, bird species or groups of birds proposed as bioindicators in urban areas across China is still missing, and reliability of the data from China’s citizen science bird projects (China Bird Report, CBR) have not been accessed. In this study, we conducted standardized bird surveys in the provincial capitals of 34 administrative regions in China. By considering bird species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, functional diversity, environmental heterogeneity, and urban built-up area, areas with high environmental quality (HEQ) and their indicator bird species were identified by the indicator value (IndVal). Our results showed that the Spotted Dove (<em>Spilopelia chinensis</em>), Chinese Blackbird (<em>Turdus mandarinus</em>), Light-vented Bulbul (<em>Pycnonotus sinensis</em>), Azure-winged Magpie (<em>Cyanopica cyanus</em>), and Barn Swallow (<em>Hirundo rustica</em>) were identified as important indicator species for urban ecosystems in China. The present study also highlights that the quality of the data generated from CBR should be improved. Specifically, there is a need for improved data quality control in the early stages of reporting and enhanced data filtering and analysis methods in the later stages to mitigate sampling biases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03575"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816186","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":"Human activity positively associated with the risk of spread of the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) recently reported in central and northern China","authors":"Mengxi Tan,&nbsp;Sanchun He,&nbsp;Wenqi Shang,&nbsp;Buwei Zhang,&nbsp;Mengjia Yang,&nbsp;Yimin Huang,&nbsp;Wen Xiong,&nbsp;Kun Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The highly invasive giant African snail (<em>Lissachatina fulica</em>), one of the most damaging mollusk species in the world, damages over 500 plants and threatens conservation of endemic snails. It widely spreads in southern and southeastern China after a century of invasion. Existing niche-based species distribution models predict that this mollusk species is unlikely to distribute in central and northern China. However, recent reports identify its occurrence in 10 populated cities within central and northern China likely due to human-mediated processes, though the associated risk of spread remains undetermined. To test if human activity is a key factor for the risk of spread of the giant African snail in these cities, we compiled 247 occurrence records of the giant African snail in the Eurasia biogeographic region, and built zero-inflated Poisson, random forest, and k-nearest neighbor models with habitat condition and human activity as explanatory variables. We used the fitted models to predict the present and project the risk of spread under four climate change scenarios in the 2030 s and the 2050 s. The results show that human population density is positively associated with the risk which also varies by the types of land use. Difference in precipitation between the wettest and the driest months and elevation are negatively associated with the risk. However, there is no projected increase in the risk of spread under any climate change scenario. This study suggests that the risk of spread of the giant African snail in populated cities within central and northern China could be higher than previously expected without considering human activity. Timely effort in identification and eradication of this invasive species to prevent its spread in populated cities out of its existing distribution is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03579"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143800689","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":"Use of burn scars by threatened marsupials in an environment free of introduced predators","authors":"Cheryl A. Lohr","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large wildfires are increasing in severity and frequency globally, and common in the spinifex grasslands (<em>Triodia sp.</em>) of central arid Australia. Fire may exacerbate the impacts of introduced predators, including red foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) and feral cats (<em>Felis catus</em>) on their native prey. The interaction between medium-sized marsupials, and fire is difficult to study because many species have severely declined and are threatened or extinct on mainland Australia. Introduced predator-free enclosures provide an opportunity to study responses of threatened fauna to fire without predation effects in a relatively intact ecosystem. The 1100 ha fenced enclosure on the Matuwa Kurrara Kurrara National Park is actively managed with prescribed fire to reduce the risk of wildfire damaging threatened fauna populations and infrastructure. We used ten pairs of wildlife cameras, at 10 separate burn scars, with one camera from each pair inside the burn scar and the second camera in adjacent intact bushland, to monitor the activity of three threatened marsupials, boodies (<em>Bettongia lesueur</em>), golden bandicoots (<em>Isoodon auratus barrowensis</em>), mala (<em>Lagorchestes hirsutus ‘Central Australian’</em>) and brushtail possums (<em>Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus</em>) in the enclosure. Cameras were set within 24 hours of burning and remained in place for 56 days. The activity of golden bandicoots was 120 % higher in burnt patches compared to unburnt patches, whereas the level of activity by the other three species did not change significantly. Introduced predators can be attracted to recently burned landscapes in Australia. If both introduced predators and native fauna increase their activity in burnt sites, then native fauna may benefit from implementing management actions for introduced predators immediately post-fire, assuming the action does not negatively impact native fauna directly.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03576"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816107","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":"Cross-ecosystem effects of light pollution and invasive signal crayfish on riparian spiders","authors":"Alessandro Manfrin ,&nbsp;Jens Schirmel ,&nbsp;Marina Arias ,&nbsp;Martin H. Entling ,&nbsp;Julian Hoffmann ,&nbsp;Maike Huszarik ,&nbsp;Sebastian Kolb ,&nbsp;Anne Schrimpf ,&nbsp;Thomas Schmidt ,&nbsp;Mirco Bundschuh ,&nbsp;Ralf Schulz","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystems face multiple abiotic and biotic stressors that interact and extend beyond ecosystem boundaries. Both artificial light at night (ALAN) and invasive species are major threats to freshwater biodiversity in Europe. We used a riparian stream mesocosm facility, with 16 replicated units each containing an artificial flume and adjacent terrestrial habitat, to investigate the effects of ALAN, the invasive signal crayfish <em>Pacifastacus leniusculus</em> and their interaction. We specifically addressed their impact on aquatic insect emergence and the potential bottom-up control of riparian spiders. As expected, crayfish reduced insect emergence by 35 % after one-week, while ALAN had no significant effect. Moreover, spider numbers, particularly of riparian Tetragnathidae <em>Pachygnatha degeeri</em> and <em>Tetragnatha extensa</em>, correlated positively with insect emergence, indicating indirect negative effects of the crayfish. During the first week of our experiment, spider numbers increased by 22 % in pitfall traps exposed to ALAN, but decreased by 25 % in suction samples. This difference is likely driven by differences in species composition between the two sampling methods. All in all, the direction and strength of crayfish and ALAN effects were taxon- and time-dependent. This study provides evidence that the impact of signal crayfish can extend beyond aquatic systems and suggests that the effects of crayfish invasion and ALAN are largely independent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"60 ","pages":"Article e03577"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143844948","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":"Habitat island biogeography of mountaintop plant and soil microbiomes: Similar patterns driven by different mechanisms","authors":"Wen-Hui Lian ,&nbsp;Wen-Sheng Zhao ,&nbsp;Pan-Deng Wang ,&nbsp;Jia-Rui Han ,&nbsp;Chun-Yan Lu ,&nbsp;Chao-Jian Hu ,&nbsp;Guo-Yuan Shi ,&nbsp;Fang Chen ,&nbsp;Lei Dong ,&nbsp;Ting Zhou ,&nbsp;Wen-Jun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03574","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landscape succession, driven by natural factors and human activities, leads to dynamic changes in habitat structure and quality. While the effects of these changes on biodiversity are widely recognized, the specific responses of plants and microorganisms to habitat changes during landscape succession remain unclear. This study focuses on fragmented mountaintop ecosystems formed during landscape succession, exploring how habitat loss influences plant and soil microorganism diversity, particularly through species-area relationship (SAR) patterns. We investigated the SAR patterns across mountaintops of varying sizes by assessing γ-diversity (total diversity at the mountaintop level), α-diversity (diversity within individual habitats), and β-diversity (community dissimilarity among habitats) for both plants and microorganisms. To uncover the drivers of observed diversity patterns, we analyzed the direct and indirect impacts of biotic (plant and microorganisms), spatial, and environmental factors on the SAR pattern. Our results showed that γ-diversity for all groups increased with mountaintop areas. For plants and bacteria, this was primarily driven by a larger species pool, indicative of a sampling effect. For fungi, the increase in γ-diversity was associated with greater habitat heterogeneity, resulting in higher β-diversity. For protists, the primary driver was higher α-diversity within samples, suggesting improved habitat quality. Notably, there was no significant correlation between above-ground plant diversity and the diversity of below-ground microorganisms, while strong correlations existed among the diversity of bacteria, fungi, and protists, particularly between bacteria and protists. This study highlights the complex interplay between habitat quality, heterogeneity, and biotic interactions, offering a comprehensive perspective on biodiversity dynamics in response to landscape succession, which is crucial for predicting biodiversity loss and informing conservation strategies during landscape succession.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03574"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143783976","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":"Genetic variation and structure shaped by recent population fragmentation in the boreal conifer Thuja koraiensis: Conservation perspectives","authors":"Eun-Kyeong Han ,&nbsp;Ichiro Tamaki ,&nbsp;Tae-Im Heo ,&nbsp;Jun-Gi Byeon ,&nbsp;Amarsanaa Gantsetseg ,&nbsp;Young-Jong Jang ,&nbsp;Jong-Soo Park ,&nbsp;Jung-Hyun Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A plant species has historically experienced repeated cycles of habitat connectivity and isolation, which have played a crucial role in increasing genetic diversity and promoting long-term survival. Therefore, understanding these dynamics is essential for developing effective conservation strategies. <em>Thuja koraiensis</em> is an endangered coniferous shrub inhabiting the mountain summits of the Baekdudaegan, a critical ecological axis in northeastern Asia. We used a genome dataset (242 SNPs) generated by the MIG-seq (Multiplexed ISSR Genotyping by Sequencing) method to evaluate the genetic diversity and structure of <em>T. koraiensis</em> populations across their entire distribution range. <em>T. koraiensis</em> exhibited a population history, with range expansion during glacial periods and contraction during interglacial periods. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), genetic connectivity among populations was high, but post-LGM habitat fragmentation led to increasing isolation. This shift resulted in a rapid decline in effective population size and severe bottlenecks across all populations. Consequently, the genetic variation in current populations exhibits a geographically random pattern. Nevertheless, no signs of inbreeding or significant imbalances in genetic diversity were detected among populations. Therefore, we propose that conservation strategies should not solely focus on increasing genetic diversity or enhancing gene flow among populations but rather reflect the species’ historical demographic dynamics and aim to conserve the unique genetic characteristics of each population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03573"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776825","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":"Multidirectional hybridization challenges the species barriers in North American Arbutus (Ericaceae)","authors":"Lluvia Flores-Renteria ,&nbsp;Alexandra McElwee-Adame ,&nbsp;Niveditha Ramadoss ,&nbsp;Martha Gonzalez-Elizondo ,&nbsp;Richard Sniezko ,&nbsp;M. Socorro Gonzalez-Elizondo","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Multispecies networks or syngameons engage in multidirectional hybridization and are more prevalent than previously thought. They are part of the evolutionary dynamics playing a major role in speciation events. However, allopatric or sympatric species distribution as well as reproductive isolating mechanisms largely impact the syngameonic structure and dynamics. We addressed how species maintain intraspecific cohesiveness in the presence of extensive interspecific hybridization in the genus <em>Arbutus</em>, which has been suggested to have widespread hybridization in North America based on morphological studies. Our study aimed to 1) determine if distribution patterns (allopatric vs sympatric) influence levels of interspecific gene flow and elucidate species boundaries, 2) identify the structure of the syngameon, and 3) determine whether pre- or post- zygotic reproductive isolating mechanisms are present that may deter advanced hybrid generations in the genus <em>Arbutus</em>. Our genomic data confirmed widespread hybridization in sympatric species within mainland Mexico, with multidirectional gene flow and at least eight species combinations were determined at the genetic level. Based on flowering times and hybridization analyses, we found that there was a lack of or weak pre and post-zygotic reproductive isolating mechanisms among sympatric species. Our study is the first of its kind to apply a genomic approach to addressing both the species boundaries and syngameon structure in <em>Arbutus</em>. These findings are relevant as habitat destruction and severe droughts are impacting <em>Arbutus</em> within mainland Mexico.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"59 ","pages":"Article e03572"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816106","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}