Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Geographical variation in mitogenomes of the largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis: Challenges and perspectives for conservation efforts","authors":"Alan Érik S. Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Rafaela Maria S. Brito ,&nbsp;Patricia Charvet ,&nbsp;Vicente V. Faria ,&nbsp;Mariano Cabanillas-Torpoco ,&nbsp;Alexandre Aleixo ,&nbsp;Tibério César T. Burlamaqui ,&nbsp;Luis Fernando da S. Rodrigues-Filho ,&nbsp;Angelico Asenjo ,&nbsp;Raquel Siccha-Ramirez ,&nbsp;Jorge Luiz S. Nunes ,&nbsp;Hugo J. de Boer ,&nbsp;José Cerca ,&nbsp;Quentin Mauvisseau ,&nbsp;Jonathan S. Ready ,&nbsp;João Bráullio L. Sales","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sawfishes (Pristidae) have been severely impacted by coastal development and unregulated fisheries and are considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses have shown potential for monitoring elasmobranch species, with various studies focusing on using species-specific approaches to detect <em>Pristis</em> species. However positive detection using existing probes has not been confirmed in some geographic regions where they would be expected. Here, we aimed to verify the phylogenetic relationships within the Pristidae family, with a particular focus on <em>P. pristis</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) to test whether mutations at key sites have been detrimental to species-specific detection of <em>P. pristis</em> using the existing probe set. To test this hypothesis mitogenomes were assembled that were found to follow the typical pattern of vertebrate mitogenomic organization. Phylogenetic trees showed similar topologies and confirmed geographic mitochondrial variation in <em>P. pristis</em>. Mismatches for the published 12S species-specific probe set for <em>P. pristis</em> were identified that prevent amplification of positive control samples from Brazil. However, ddPCR detection of the positive control was possible using a newly designed species-specific probe set. This study highlights how geographical variation can severely impact the success of generally applying species-specific detection systems developed based on data from only one geographical region. The new mitogenomes and species-specific probe set developed here may also contribute to improving the potential to map and monitor these Critically Endangered species across the globe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03757"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704765","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":"Evaluating management effectiveness of marine protected areas in regulating fishing pressure on spotted seal (Phoca largha) habitats","authors":"Renli Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Wu ,&nbsp;Liangji Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine protected areas (MPAs) have become effective tools for biodiversity conservation and fishery management. They provide a safe environment for the breeding and development of fish populations and endangered species. Spotted seals (<em>Phoca largha</em>) are listed as first-class national protected species in China due to habitat loss and threats from human activities. Spotted seals inhabiting the Bohai and Yellow Seas represent a small population with independent genes and hold substantial ecological conservation value. Although designated MPAs have been established to mitigate disturbances caused by human activities, research on their effectiveness remains limited. This study assessed the management effectiveness of two reserves in the Bohai and Yellow Seas of China on spotted seal habitats in terms of fishing activities. The two reserves are the Dalian Spotted Seal National Nature Reserve and the Miaodao Archipelago Seal Provincial Nature Reserve. The assessment indicator of fishing activities was developed based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data of fishing vessels in 2018 and 2021. The spatio-temporal differences of fishing activities within and around the reserves were examined. The damage risk to fishery food resources within the reserves caused by fishing activities was evaluated using the risk source-acceptor-response framework. The results indicated that fishing activities within the spotted seal reserves were effectively regulated. However, fishing activities in the surrounding waters remained high. The protective effect in the Miaodao Archipelago Seal Nature Reserve was relatively weak, with fishing effort 2.90 times higher than that in the Dalian Spotted Seal Nature Reserve. Over 99 % of the sea areas within the reserves were at moderate or above damage risk to fishery resources. To address these issues, we propose delineating clear core protected zones, enhancing the protection level of the Miaodao Archipelago Seal Nature Reserve, moderately expanding MPA boundaries, and strengthening the regulation and monitoring of fishing activities within the spotted seal reserves. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing management strategies in spotted seal reserves and offer valuable insights for ecological conservation and policy guidance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03755"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704833","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":"Challenges and opportunities in the translocation of grassland-dwelling subterranean mammals: The case of blind mole rats","authors":"Orsolya Moldován ,&nbsp;Viktor Schneider ,&nbsp;Szabolcs Lengyel ,&nbsp;Dávid Czabán ,&nbsp;Gábor Csorba ,&nbsp;Attila Németh","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grasslands have been transformed into anthropogenic habitats worldwide and consequently have lost many species, including their ecosystem engineer species. European blind mole rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae) are an important biological component of grassland ecosystems, as their digging creates mounds of bare soil surfaces available for plant colonisation, they maintain soil structure, and provide a subterranean niche for other animals. Blind mole rats have long been persecuted, and many species are threatened by extinction as they only exist in a few small and isolated populations.</div><div>The translocation of individuals for reintroduction or establishment of new populations is a promising tool for the conservation of rare and endangered species. As data regarding the translocation of blind mole rats or other strictly subterranean mammals has not yet been published, here we discuss the proposed methods and evaluate the results of seven translocation projects in Hungary between 2013 and 2024. We found that these projects varied greatly in their efficacy, and that habitat quality, the number and sex ratio of translocated animals, as well as survival during the first winter, were the decisive factors for success and failure. Translocations require the strict application of a detailed protocol, which covers the thorough assessment of the soil and vegetation quality of the target habitats, careful selection of source populations and individuals, timing of the capture and release, and the regular monitoring of translocation success. We developed recommendations for future translocation projects of subterranean mammals, a guild which is present in all open grassland ecosystems and is often threatened globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03756"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144723839","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":"Carbon stock is an indicator of the regeneration potential of the umbrella species Lecythis pisonis in cocoa agroforestry","authors":"Jonatas Santos Santana ,&nbsp;Eduardo Mariano-Neto ,&nbsp;Ciro Tavares Florence ,&nbsp;Louis-Félix Bersier","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Southern Bahia, cocoa agroforestry systems (AFS), known as cabruca, are undergoing intensive management to increase production. This can disrupt the canopy and alter the carbon stock, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In this territory, monkey pots (<em>Lecythis pisonis</em>) are nowadays found mostly in agroforestry. This hardwood tree is an emblematic species of high ecological and cultural value, which mostly relies on bats for seed-dispersal. Above-ground carbon stocks (<em>C</em>_tree) is a proxy for ecological quality used for product certification and potentially for payments of ecosystem services. We investigated the relationship between <em>C</em>_tree and monkey pot regeneration (abundance of saplings and seedlings) in twelve AFS farms. Inside each farm, a one ha plot was chosen randomly with the constraint that it held at least one adult monkey pot tree; <em>C</em>_tree was estimated precisely with allometric equations specific to tree taxa. We found a strong relationship between <em>C</em>_tree and the number of monkey pot. Importantly, this relationship disappeared when we considered only the carbon stock contained in the monkey pot trees. Firstly, our results confirm the relevance of <em>C</em>_tree as an inclusive measure for ecosystem quality and functioning. Secondly, the conservation of monkey pot trees only is not sufficient, since the cortege of ancillary trees appears essential for monkey pot regeneration. A high regeneration potential of monkey pots is key for the long-term avoidance of defaunation, for the maintenance of the sink carbon, for the mitigation of climatic change, and ultimately for the social and financial security of stakeholders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03764"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687375","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":"Variation in seed germination and early seedling development of Zostera marina across source populations and environmental conditions","authors":"Fei Zhang ,&nbsp;Hyegwang Kim ,&nbsp;Zhaxi Suonan ,&nbsp;Seung Hyeon Kim ,&nbsp;Hae-Sik Jeong ,&nbsp;Kun-Seop Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03762","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrass (<em>Zostera marina</em>), a key provider of essential marine ecosystem services, is experiencing global decline. A deeper understanding of seed traits and the environmental factors influencing germination and early seedling development is critical for enhancing seed-based restoration efforts. In this study, we quantified the seed characteristics across five <em>Z. marina</em> populations along the Korean coastline. Field and controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the effects of seed source population, salinity (0, 15, 30 PSU), and temperature (5, 10, 20°C) on germination performance and seedling development. Seed size traits varied significantly among populations, even between annual and perennial populations within the same bay system. Seed source populations with different life history strategies and seed size had a pronounced influence on germination and early seedling development. Annual seeds exhibited superior germination performance, including higher maximum germination rate (MGR), shorter mean time to germination (MTG), and faster early seedling development compared to perennials. Post-seedling growth benefited from large seeds across all populations. Germination was generally inhibited by high temperature (20°C) and low salinity (0 and 15 PSU), resulting in lower MGR compared to seeds exposed to optimal conditions (10°C and 30 PSU). These findings provide crucial insights into the variability of germination performance and early seedling development among seed source populations and their responses to varying salinity and temperature conditions. This study offers valuable information for <em>Z. marina</em> restoration efforts using the seed-based method, particularly concerning seed source selection and climate change-driven environmental shifts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03762"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679816","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 patterns and driving mechanisms of bacterial and fungal community assembly in rhizosphere soils of Stipa species across eastern Eurasian steppe","authors":"Xiaoru Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhi Lian ,&nbsp;Dongqing Yan ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Cao ,&nbsp;Wenjian Song ,&nbsp;Jianming Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03761","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil microbial biogeography aims to understand the spatial distribution and assembly mechanisms of microbial communities, yet knowledge integrating multiple spatial scales and varied factors remains poorly understood. As dominant species in the Eurasian steppes, <em>Stipa</em> exhibits distinct patterns of geographical substitution and ecological differentiation, providing key examples to reveal biogeographical patterns of microbial community assembly by exploring relationships among multi-<em>Stipa</em> species with multi-environmental factors at multi-spatial scales. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze rhizosphere soil samples of <em>S. baicalensis</em>, <em>S. grandis</em>, <em>S. krylovii</em>, <em>S. klemenzii</em>, and <em>S. glareosa</em> dominating in temperate steppe, and <em>S. bungeana</em> and <em>S. breviflora</em> in warm temperate steppe. Results indicated that temperature and precipitation determined zonal patterns of rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal communities associated with different <em>Stipa</em> species directly related to steppe vegetation types. Geographic isolation led to extra-zonal patterns among different populations (i.e., sites) of the same <em>Stipa</em> species, resulting in pronounced regional differentiation in bacterial and fungal communities. Changes in soil properties due to uneven resource distribution enhanced the spatial heterogeneity of microbial community structures at the local scale. Bacterial community assembly was governed by stochastic processes, resulting in higher abundance and diversity, which enabled functional stability under varying environmental pressures. In contrast, deterministic processes dominated fungal communities, which exhibited a strong dependence on environmental conditions, making fungi more sensitive to environmental changes and resulting in significant alterations in functional abundance. This study enhances our understanding of soil microbial biogeography, highlighting the influence of multiple environmental factors on the spatial distribution of <em>Stipa</em> rhizosphere microbial communities across different scales.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03761"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704764","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 impact of livestock guarding dogs on gazelles and jackals in the Golan Heights","authors":"Clotilde Gavagnach ,&nbsp;Tamar Dayan ,&nbsp;Dror Ben-Ami","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Golan Heights in the north of Israel is home to golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) and a resurgent wolf population (<em>Canis lupus</em>), along with intensive cattle ranching. Free-roaming livestock guarding dogs (LGDs; <em>Canis lupus familiaris</em>) are used in some ranches as a non-lethal measure to mitigate predation, which also causes concern about their negative impact on endangered mountain gazelles (<em>Gazella gazella</em>). This study assumed that in open pastures (without protective fences), LGDs could promote the persistence of gazelles by displacing jackals that prey on gazelle fawns. Camera traps were undertaken in the summer and autumn 2023 in 4 pastures with LGDs and 4 pastures without LGDs. Gazelles preferred LGD pastures, despite the increased presence of jackals and the presence of wolves. Within the LGD pastures, gazelles had a positive interaction with LGDs, and jackals had a negative interaction with LGDs and were more alert. Fawn:gazelle ratio was highest in the LGD pastures, and higher than in pastures with protective fences and other sites with lower jackal densities. The findings show that the presence of LGDs supports higher gazelle densities and recruitment, possibly creating a landscape of fear for the jackals that are either drawn to the gazelles or experiencing mesopredator release. We suggest further study of jackal and wolf movement in response to LGDs to assess the effect of humans on predator-prey interactions and its implications for both ranching and wildlife conservation in pastoral landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03754"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657234","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":"World's five worst invasive alien ant threats to biodiversity hotspots will not decrease significantly under future climatic conditions","authors":"Ming Li ,&nbsp;Haoxiang Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhenan Jin ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Xian ,&nbsp;Jianyang Guo ,&nbsp;Nianwan Yang ,&nbsp;Rui Wang ,&nbsp;Tao Jia ,&nbsp;Wanxue Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive alien ants have reduced the populations of native species and even caused species extinction through direct predation, competition for resources and disruption of ecological relationships, posing a significant threat to global biodiversity hotspots. Identifying the potential geographic distribution of invasive ants and their areas of harm is critical to controlling and managing such species and reducing or avoiding damage to biodiversity. Here, ensemble models were used to predict the potential geographical distribution of the five most serious invasive alien ants and identify their areas of occupations and degrees of overlap with biodiversity hotspots under climate change. Furthermore, ecological niche differences and similarities among these ants were analyzed based on the niche hypervolume concept. Results indicate that the potential geographic distribution of five invasive ants overlap with biodiversity hotspots across the globe, including in Southern Asia, Southern Oceania, the Mediterranean region of Europe, Southern Africa, Southern North America, and South America. At least one ant was predicted to occur in 70 % of the total biodiversity hotspot area, and this trend will not significantly decrease under future climatic conditions. The higher the ecological niche similarity between these ants, the greater the overlapping area. Temperature and precipitation are the most important factors influencing their distribution. Countries worldwide should strengthen control and management of these five species in biodiversity hotspots, with the aim of reducing biodiversity loss.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03759"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679817","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":"Timing of cambial phenology of rainforest trees as indicator of climate sensitivity of the Congo Basin biome","authors":"Basile Luse Belanganayi ,&nbsp;Christophe Mbungu Phaka ,&nbsp;Brice Yannick Djiofack ,&nbsp;Félix Laurent ,&nbsp;Kévin Liévens ,&nbsp;Nestor K. Luambua ,&nbsp;Trésor Bolaya ,&nbsp;Nils Bourland ,&nbsp;Wannes Hubau ,&nbsp;Hans Beeckman ,&nbsp;Tom De Mil","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tropical forests of the Congo Basin biome are particularly diverse. The question arises whether the cambial activity of the multitude of tree species shows a periodic signal. Given the anticipated increases in temperature and changes in precipitation patterns, these forests may face significant threats impacting tree growth and carbon sequestration, highlighting the need for studies on cambial dynamics and their resistance adaptability to climate change. This study examines cambial phenology in two semi-deciduous rainforests in the Democratic Republic of Congo, each with a different precipitation pattern. The research focused on the temporal dynamics of cambial cell production and maturation in relation to tree morphological traits, leaf phenology, reproductive traits, and climatic variables. Biweekly microcores were taken from 30 trees across 10 species, and radius dendrometer data from 59 trees in 20 species complemented the study. Microsections were analyzed to identify cambial activity, supported by measured stem diameter variations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>revealed complex cambial dynamics without patterns of low cambial activity across or within species. Some species showed irregular cycles of activity, while others were continuously active, suggesting high resilience. Trees from the site with a defined dry season (Luki) were more responsive to temperature and precipitation, potentially increasing their vulnerability to climate change. In contrast, tree growth from the less seasonal site of Yangambi is strongly driven by internal dynamics, influenced by morphological and reproductive traits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03740"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704766","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-rural distribution patterns and environmental adaptation strategies of herbaceous plants in a karst city of China","authors":"Xinhai Lin ,&nbsp;Weize Wang ,&nbsp;Chunhua Cen ,&nbsp;Mengping Jian ,&nbsp;Jingyi Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying herbaceous plants across urban-to-rural gradients is key for urban biodiversity conservation because they exhibit high sensitivity to human disturbances. Our research focused on the karst landscapes of Guiyang where we studied the herbaceous species in both urban and rural zones comprising forested and wasteland areas. We evaluated species richness, abundance, functional traits, niche width and CSR (Competitive, Stress-tolerant, Ruderal) strategies. We found that alien plant diversity peaked in urban wastelands, while the diversity of native species was higher in forests. Urban plants generally had broader niche widths compared to their rural counterparts. In urban settings, alien species were taller, whereas native forest dwelling species exhibited larger leaves and had shorter statures. Urban specialists displayed larger specific leaf areas (SLA) with reduced dry matter content, indicating lower S-selection and higher R-selection. Further analysis disclosed significant intraspecies adaptive variations along the gradient. For instance, the native <em>Achyranthes aspera</em> exhibited larger leaf areas and reduced stress tolerance in rural forests, while the alien <em>Erigeron canadensis</em> showed smaller leaves and enhanced plant height in urban settings. These adaptations suggest that in urban areas, harsh and unpredictable environments lead plants to adopt strategies like increased niche width and SLA while decreasing dry matter content to enhance survival. However, in more stable rural contexts, species tend to develop lower SLA and higher dry matter content, optimizing resource use and achieving competitive dominance. These findings provide valuable insights for sustainable urban planning and biodiversity conservation, contributing to the establishment of greener urban environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article e03758"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657235","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}