Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

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

{"title":"Impact of large herbivore rewilding on acorn dispersal dynamics","authors":"Mariana Rossa ,&nbsp;Pedro Leite ,&nbsp;Paloma Linck ,&nbsp;Gabriel Moreira ,&nbsp;Nanäa Mausberg ,&nbsp;Joana Fernandes ,&nbsp;Pedro Severino ,&nbsp;João Duarte ,&nbsp;Paula Maia ,&nbsp;Rita Tinoco Torres ,&nbsp;João Carvalho ,&nbsp;Ramón Perea","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large herbivores drive ecosystem functions and processes through their direct or indirect impact on different habitats and wildlife communities. Some studies have assessed the impact of large herbivores on the small mammal diversity and abundance, but fewer have assessed how rewilding with large herbivores impact seed dispersal by rodents. Here, we assessed the impact of “Maronesa” cows, a cattle breed closely related to the extinct aurochs (<em>Bos primigenius</em>), on acorn removal and dispersal dynamics in a typical Mediterranean habitat. This study was conducted in the Faia Brava Reserve located in the Greater Côa Valley (North-Eastern Portugal) as part of the Rewilding Europe program, where it was possible to distinguish three areas: 1) current “Maronesa” herbivory (since 2012), 2) historical herbivory (2012–2022), and 3) control area (<em>i.e</em>., without any records of large herbivores). Our results showed that acorn removal rates were significantly higher in areas with large ungulate herbivory (historical and current) than in the control area. Acorn removal in historical herbivory was caused only by scatter-hoarding rodents, whereas in current herbivory it was mainly caused by large herbivores that act as acorn predators. Interestingly, dispersal distances were greater in the historical herbivory compared to the current herbivory. Microsites of seed deposition also varied with large herbivore rewilding, as rodents dispersed the seeds to open microsites when large herbivores were present, whereas without herbivory, seeds were mostly deposited and predated under plant cover. These findings highlight the potential consequences of large herbivore rewilding on the regeneration of oak-dominated Mediterranean ecosystems through cascading effects on the seed dispersal process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03655"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144229697","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":"Convergence of plant-leafminer associations on two continents","authors":"Xiaona Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaohua Dai ,&nbsp;Qingyun Guo ,&nbsp;Charles S. Eiseman","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-herbivore interactions are known to play a pivotal role in shaping global biodiversity and maintaining biosphere stability, with leafminers being recognized as a unique and specialized ecological group within these networks. Despite their ecological significance, plant-leafminer interaction networks have remained understudied, particularly at regional scales. Using up-to-date datasets from Europe and North America, the convergence and divergence of plant-leafminer associations across these continents were examined. Contrary to the hypothesis that significant incongruence would arise due to contrasting biogeographical histories, it was found that plant-leafminer network structures were relatively similar, potentially driven by shared backbone partners or lower taxonomic resolutions. While overall network structures exhibited relative convergence, taxon-specific metrics revealed both similarities and divergences, highlighting the complexity of these interactions. Angiosperms were identified as the dominant host plant phylum, and Lepidoptera emerged as the most prevalent leafminer order. Many leafminers were observed to exhibit narrow host ranges, with plants typically associated with between one and five leafminer genera. However, shared generalist leafminers and host plants, which interact with a wide range of partners, were also present across the two continents. Significant phylogenetic signals were detected on both continents, particularly within subclades such as Spermatophyta, Eudicots + Nymphaeaceae, and Monocots + Eudicots, indicating that closely related plants tend to host similar leafminer communities. This study represents the first systematic comparison of plant-leafminer network structures at the continental scale, providing novel insights into insect-host interaction networks under diverse evolutionary and biogeographic contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03656"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144194733","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":"Forty years of dynamics: Population trends and habitat changes of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in China","authors":"Aiping Jiang ,&nbsp;Tiantian Jin ,&nbsp;Di Zhang ,&nbsp;Qianwen Li ,&nbsp;Boran Zhu ,&nbsp;Qidong Peng ,&nbsp;Junqiang Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over 95 % of Black-necked Cranes (<em>Grus nigricollis</em>) are found on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Due to effective conservation efforts, the population of the Black-necked Crane has experienced significant growth. However, a comprehensive review of their breeding and wintering habitats remains lacking, and the relationship between population dynamics and habitat changes is not yet fully understood. This study, therefore, analyzes population trends and habitat alterations across 13 key nature reserves in China. It explores the underlying factors contributing to the species' remarkable population recovery, summarizes current conservation strategies, identifies major threats, and provides recommendations for future conservation efforts. The results revealed the following: (1) The population of Black-necked Cranes increased from approximately 5600–6000 individuals in the early 1990s to 17,389–17,610 individuals in 2022, with 92 % of the reserves exhibiting positive population growth. (2) Breeding habitats were primarily composed of grasslands, wetlands, and water bodies, with a notable shift from wetland degradation to recovery. The combination of habitat type and habitat change significantly affected the population in breeding areas, with grasslands being the most significant habitat type influencing population changes (p = 0.03). Wintering habitats were mainly croplands, grasslands, and water bodies, with a significant decline in cropland availability. While habitat type and habitat change did not significantly affect population changes in wintering areas (p = 0.70), the increase in population is largely attributed to effective human conservation measures. (3) Despite conservation successes, the Black-necked Crane remains threatened by climate change and human activities. Economic development and reserve management must fully consider these impacts to ensure the species' long-term survival. This study provides a scientific basis for the conservation of Black-necked Cranes and recommends the establishment of a coordinated protection mechanism to address future challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03651"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

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

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

{"title":"Variation in the potential impacts of climate change on the baobab in Sub-Saharan Africa: A continental analysis across major climate zones","authors":"Mariette Agbohessou ,&nbsp;Kolawolé Valère Salako ,&nbsp;Gafarou Agounde ,&nbsp;Sylvanus Mensah ,&nbsp;Ablaye Ngom ,&nbsp;Kandioura Noba ,&nbsp;Romain Glèlè Kakaï ,&nbsp;Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Baobab, <em>Adansonia digitata</em> L. is a widespread multipurpose savannah tree in Africa. Although previous studies highlighted the potential impacts of climate on the species, we still lack sufficient understanding of how regional variation in ecological tolerance might influence its future resilience across the continent. This study used ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) to forecast suitable habitats for <em>A. digitata</em> under two climate scenarios (SSP 245 and SSP 585) for 2050 and 2070, across four climate zones: humid, subhumid, semi-arid, and arid. We built both whole-species and climate-zone-specific models to assess the role of niche differentiation on projected habitat suitability. Isothermality (36.75 %) was the most influential variable in the whole-species model, while soil properties (26.41 %) constrained habitat suitability. In zone-specific models, key drivers changed with the zone: precipitation of the driest month and soil properties dominated in the subhumid zone; annual precipitation and soil properties in the semi-arid; maximum temperature and annual precipitation in the humid; and mean diurnal temperature range in the arid. Niche overlap between zones was low (Schoener’s D = 0.06 – 0.13), suggesting a broad climate tolerance. Whole-species models predicted slight habitat loss (0.5 – 1.12 %) by 2070, especially under SSP 585, whereas zone-specific models showed increases (1.48 – 3.13 %), irrespective of the scenarios and horizons, particularly in the humid zone. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for regional variation in SDMs for widespread species. Baobab’s broad climatic tolerance may support resilience to climate change, though reciprocal transplant experiments are needed to disentangle the role of local adaptation from plasticity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article e03628"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144179463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

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

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

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