African drylands occupied 19.6 million km~2(46%of the total global area)and 525 million people.Soil erosion models are useful for assessing the impact of soil erosion in the dryland areas.This review provides an asses...African drylands occupied 19.6 million km~2(46%of the total global area)and 525 million people.Soil erosion models are useful for assessing the impact of soil erosion in the dryland areas.This review provides an assessment of soil erosion/deposition models and soil conservation practices,which are supportive for mitigating the impact of soil erosion and maintaining soil health and soil functional services for food security in African drylands.The theories of soil erosion models and soil conservation practices provide advanced ways to understand the detailed impact of soil erosion and management solutions.The paper reviews a set of useful soil erosion models and traditional conservation practices,which can control soil erosion and enhance dryland farming systems in Africa.Soil erosion models are classified into three categories:empirical,conceptual,and physical.Soil conservation practices include reduced tillage,advanced cover crops,mechanical structures(barriers made of stones/gravel/vegetation),advanced mechanical roller-crimper technique,mixed cropping,intercropping,crop rotation systems,terracing techniques,and land modification techniques.These conservation practices are effective in controlling soil erosion,reducing soil damage,improving soil health and quality,enhancing soil fertility,and ensuring food security.The existing assessment suggests that understanding the theories of soil erosion models and soil conservation practices is a first step towards addressing soil erosion problems in African drylands.展开更多
Successful ex situ conservation of plant populations requires a high degree of genetic representativeness.However,spatially biased sampling in ex situ conservation efforts may fail to capture all wild genetic clusters...Successful ex situ conservation of plant populations requires a high degree of genetic representativeness.However,spatially biased sampling in ex situ conservation efforts may fail to capture all wild genetic clusters for species with range-wide genetic structure.To investigate the extent of spatially biased sampling in living collections and the coverage of wild genetic clusters in plant populations under ex situ conservation worldwide,we combined a global synthesis of ex situ conservation efforts with a case study of an endangered riparian plant species,Myricaria laxiflora.Our analysis of ex situ conservation worldwide revealed that the majority(82.6%)of ex situ populations fail to cover all wild genetic clusters,largely due to spatially biased sampling with low geographic coverage.Our case study of M.laxiflora showed that genetic diversity differed between the ex situ and upstream populations,while it was comparable between ex situ populations and other wild populations.However,current ex situ populations did not cover all wild genetic clusters,as the upstream genetic cluster was previously uncollected.Our study suggests that the failure to cover all wild genetic clusters in ex situ populations is a widespread issue,and ex situ populations with high genetic diversity can also fail to cover all wild genetic clusters.In future ex situ conservation programs,both the importance of high genetic diversity and the high coverage of wild genetic clusters should be prioritized.展开更多
Dear Editor,Mountain systems have long been refuges for many species,often viewed as"islands"that promote speciation due to geographic isolation(Rahbek et al.,2019).Their high environmental heterogeneity fos...Dear Editor,Mountain systems have long been refuges for many species,often viewed as"islands"that promote speciation due to geographic isolation(Rahbek et al.,2019).Their high environmental heterogeneity fosters centers of endemism,and they harbor over 85%of global species diversity(Zhao et al.,2022).Consequently,mountains are key systems for exploring biodiversity patterns along elevational gradients,where species richness often follows four recognized models:monotonic decrease,unimodal pattern(forward and backward peak patterns),and low plateau followed by a decrease along the elevational gradient(McCain et al.,2010).展开更多
Reconciling biodiversity conservation with economic advancement represents a defining challenge of the Anthropocene epoch.Although ecotourism is widely promoted as a strategy capable of delivering both environmental a...Reconciling biodiversity conservation with economic advancement represents a defining challenge of the Anthropocene epoch.Although ecotourism is widely promoted as a strategy capable of delivering both environmental and developmental benefits,empirical evidence regarding its ecological and socioeconomic impacts remains limited.This study critically examined the Hide-in-Bird Pond(HIBP)model,a rapidly expanding,community-based avitourism framework in China that integrates targeted wildlife provisioning with concealed infrastructure for bird observation,simultaneously establishing a novel income source for economically marginalized rural regions through ecotourism.Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 98 HIBP operators,and thematic analysis was applied to evaluate current developmental patterns,spatial distribution,and conservation outcomes.A total of 251 HIBP sites were identified across China,predominantly located in biodiversity-rich but economically marginalized regions.These sites collectively supported 524 bird species—36%of China's avifauna—including 148 species classified as nationally protected or threatened(38%of nationally listed bird taxa).These findings suggest that HIBP can serve as an integrative socio-ecological platform that aligns conservation objectives with sustainable rural development.However,the absence of standardized governance frameworks and ecological safeguards poses significant risks to biodiversity an d long-term sustainability.Implementation of science-based adaptive management systems,incorporating systematic biodiversity monitoring,inclusive stakeholder coordination,and certified sustainable tourism protocols,is critical to ensure ecological integrity and sectoral resilience.These findings offer novel insights into aligning conservation objectives with economic development across regions characterized by high biodiversity and persistent economic disadvantage.展开更多
Gibbons are small,arboreal apes that play a critical role in tropical biodiversity and ecosystem ecology.However,nearly all species of gibbons are threatened by habitat loss,illegal trade,hunting,and other human activ...Gibbons are small,arboreal apes that play a critical role in tropical biodiversity and ecosystem ecology.However,nearly all species of gibbons are threatened by habitat loss,illegal trade,hunting,and other human activities.Long-term poor understanding of their genetics and evolution undermines effective conservation efforts.In this study,we analyse comparative population genomic data of four Nomascus species.Our results reveal strong genetic differentiation and gene flow among Nomascus species.Additionally,we identify genomic features that are potentially related to natural selection linked to vocalization,fructose metabolism,motor balance,and body size,consistent with the unique phenotype and adaptability of gibbons.Inbreeding,coupled with population declines due to climate change and historical human activities,leads to reduced genetic diversity and the accumulation of deleterious variations that likely affect cardiovascular disease and the reproductive potential of gibbons and further reduce their fitness,highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation strategies.展开更多
This paper presents a geometric perspective that connects reciprocal transformations with multidimensional integrable deformations.By interpreting conservation laws as closed 1-forms,we formalize reciprocal transforma...This paper presents a geometric perspective that connects reciprocal transformations with multidimensional integrable deformations.By interpreting conservation laws as closed 1-forms,we formalize reciprocal transformations as induced local diffeomorphisms on the jet bundle.This allows us to characterize higher-dimensional deformations as systematic fiber bundle extensions,where fiber coordinates are generated by potential functions of the conservation laws.This perspective provides an interpretation for the covariant lifting of Lax pairs to higher dimensions and reveals that auto-Backlund transformations are composite diffeomorphisms.These results are applied to several classical integrable models.展开更多
Plants constitute nearly 80%of the planet’s total biomass(Bar-On et al.,2018);however,this vital group is experiencing severe threats,and recent evaluations indicate that approximately 45%of the world's described...Plants constitute nearly 80%of the planet’s total biomass(Bar-On et al.,2018);however,this vital group is experiencing severe threats,and recent evaluations indicate that approximately 45%of the world's described plant species are at risk of extinction(Bachman et al.,2024).The number of plant extinctions has increased by 60%in the last 100 years(Di Marco et al.,2017).Over the past 250 years,571 plant species have gone extinct—more than twice the combined total of extinct birds,mammals,and amphibians(217 species)(Briggs,2019).展开更多
The promotion of rural revitalization within the ecological conservation areas(“ECAs”) requires a careful balance between ecological protection and economic development and should be guided by the principle of ecolo...The promotion of rural revitalization within the ecological conservation areas(“ECAs”) requires a careful balance between ecological protection and economic development and should be guided by the principle of ecological priority. The cultivation of rural “Local Specialty Products”(“LSPs”) under a green-development framework aligns with the functional positioning of these areas, drives the revitalization of rural industries, and constitutes a fundamental strategy for addressing the unique challenges they face. Although ECAs possess inherent advantages in terms of developing LSPs, they are also confronted by multiple constraints. Accordingly, we propose development objectives that emphasize(a) driving rural industrial prosperity,(b) enhancing the appeal of agricultural heritage, and(c) ensuring inclusive prosperity in the farming communities. In selecting pathways for growth, priority should be given to improving the quality of products, fostering distinctiveness of the technologies, nurturing cultural identities, and upholding the principle of common prosperity. From a policy standpoint, the development of rural LSPs should be recognized as a key lever for advancing the comprehensiveness of rural revitalization in the ECAs. We recommend a set of supportive measures—namely, reinforcing the guidance for spatial planning, integrating the consolidation of factor inputs, and ensuring the robustness of organizational guarantees—to facilitate the high-quality development of LSPs in these areas.展开更多
Addressing the widespread issues of internal fragmentation within protected areas and the neglect of surrounding critical habitat networks,this study aims to develop an assessment framework for the precise identificat...Addressing the widespread issues of internal fragmentation within protected areas and the neglect of surrounding critical habitat networks,this study aims to develop an assessment framework for the precise identification and remediation of regional conservation gaps.To this end,we introduce the Framework for Conservation Priority Identification(FCPI).The framework integrates Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis(MSPA),the Remote Sensing Ecological Index(RSEI),Circuit Theory,and the Minimum Cumulative Resistance(MCR)model to formulate a multidimensional conservation priority index.This index facilitates the identification of critical ecological network components and enables the dynamic prioritization of conservation efforts.A case study of Fuzhou City from 2014 to 2020 reveals that despite an overall improvement in regional environmental quality,the functionality of core ecological sources has markedly declined.Between 2014 and 2020,the number of ecological sources grew by 76.9%,yet their total area shrank by 13.9%.Concurrently,the number of ecological corridors rose from 27 to 53,extending their total length by 380.23 km,which indicates an intensifying trend of habitat fragmentation.Furthermore,a significant number of crucial ecological network nodes,particularly within Minhou County,lie explicitly outside the existing protected area system.This confirms the presence of conservation gaps and unveils the spatiotemporal dynamics of shifting conservation priorities.The research validates that the proposed FCPI can effectively diagnose the dynamic deficiencies within conservation systems.It offers scientific decisionsupport for local governments,facilitating a transition from isolated conservation efforts towards systematic and comprehensive ecological network governance.展开更多
Biodiversity constitutes the fundamental cornerstone of ecosystem stability and resilience,furnishing indispensable services that encompass food production,the provision of clean water,climate regulation and the contr...Biodiversity constitutes the fundamental cornerstone of ecosystem stability and resilience,furnishing indispensable services that encompass food production,the provision of clean water,climate regulation and the control of disease.Nonetheless,the planet is currently experiencing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis.展开更多
In the hilly regions of Oudomxay Province,Laos,rows of deep blue photovoltaic panels are converting the scorching sunlight into clean electricity.They are part of the first phase of the Northern Laos Interconnected Cl...In the hilly regions of Oudomxay Province,Laos,rows of deep blue photovoltaic panels are converting the scorching sunlight into clean electricity.They are part of the first phase of the Northern Laos Interconnected Clean Energy Base,which was developed by China General Nuclear Power Group and became operational at the end of 2025.展开更多
Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluatin...Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluating YRB wetland conservation importance using waterbirds as indicators and applying Ramsar,Important Bird Areas(IBA),and East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)criteria.We integrated coordinated surveys with citizen science data,creating a framework that tackles data deficiencies along the under-monitored Central Asian Flyway(CAF).Our analysis identified 75 priority wetlands,supporting 15 threatened species and 49 exceeding global/flyway 1%thresholds,highlighting the basin's biodiversity.We observed strong seasonal habitat use,with high-altitude wetlands vital for breeding and migration,and the Yellow River Delta providing year-round refuge.This research also provided data to refine Baer's Pochard population estimates.Alarmingly,one-third of the identified priority areas,primarily rivers and lakes,remain unprotected.To address this,we recommend systematic surveys,enhanced protected areas,OECMs,and targeted wetland restoration.This study underscores the YRB's role in regional conservation and provides essential data for adaptive management,particularly emphasizing the CAF's importance.展开更多
Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In th...Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In the project,we evaluated novel approaches integrating adaptive management,technological innovations,and community-based action towards more efficient sustainable conservation results and ecosystem resilience.The multi-site experimental design was based on comparison between conventional reserve management and novel integrative models implemented in diverse ecological zones.Data were collected over a period of three years employing remote sensing technologies,in situ biodiversity assessments,and large socioeconomic surveys.These instruments enabled a robust and multi-dimensional measurement of variables such as species diversity,ecological resilience,community engagement,and stakeholder engagement.The results indicate that adaptive strategies significantly enhance real-time decision-making abilities and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience.Further,technology-driven monitoring greatly enhances data accuracy,responsiveness,and early warning capabilities.Besides that,community-based conservation initiatives were found to be pivotal in facilitating local stewardship,enhancing participatory governance,and enabling more adaptive and adaptive policy systems.This research rejects mainstream conservation paradigms by placing importance on flexibility,interdisciplinarity,and inclusivity of governance systems in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity.Our findings offer strong evidence that emerging paradigms of conservation can provide greater ecological and social sustainability than traditional methods.These results support the need for a paradigm shift towards conservation strategies that are dynamic,collaborative,and technologically integrated,with significant implications for policy formulation as well as operational environmental management.展开更多
Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Au...Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.展开更多
The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is c...The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is crucial for its conservation.This study was conducted in the Langtang National Park(LNP),Nepal using the route census method during both winter(November/December 2022)and summer(June 2023)seasons to examine the seasonal variation in HM’s elevational distribution and habitat preference.Further,we assessed their conservation threats by conducting a semi-structured questionnaire survey with the local residents.During the winter period,the HMs preferred grassland habitats,while in the summer,their preference shifted to shrubland and barren area.HM abundance was negatively associated with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the shortest distance from the survey trails in the winter.The HMs actively avoided areas with high anthropogenic pressure.In the summer,they showed a wider elevational range up to 4400 m above sea level(a.s.l.),with a higher sighting frequency between 3600 and 3900 m a.s.l.The questionnaire survey of the local residents revealed that anthropogenic pressure such as poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing are the major threats to the species in the study area.This study provides valuable insight into the complex habitat preferences and critical threats faced by the HMs in LNP and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation action.展开更多
Water scarcity poses a significant challenge globally,with South Africa exemplifying the severe socio-economic and environmental impacts of limited water access.Despite advances in modern water management systems,the ...Water scarcity poses a significant challenge globally,with South Africa exemplifying the severe socio-economic and environmental impacts of limited water access.Despite advances in modern water management systems,the integration of indigenous knowledge(IK)into formal frameworks remains underutilized.This study systematically reviews the role of indigenous water conservation practices in South Africa,analyzing over 50 high-quality sources using the PRISMA methodology.The findings highlight the effectiveness of IK in addressing water scarcity through techniques such as rainwater harvesting,terracing,and wetland management,which are low-cost,environmentally sustainable,and deeply rooted in cultural practices.Indigenous methods also enhance climate resilience by enabling communities to adapt to droughts and floods through practices such as weather prediction and adaptive farming techniques.Furthermore,these practices foster social inclusivity and community empowerment,ensuring equitable water access and intergenerational knowledge transfer.The study underscores the potential of integrating IK with modern water technologies to create holistic solutions that are scalable,sustainable,and aligned with South Africa’s goal of achieving water security by 2030.Policy recommendations emphasize the need for institutional support,data collection,and financial incentives to sustain and mainstream indigenous approaches.By bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary systems,this research provides a roadmap for leveraging diverse knowledge systems to address water scarcity and build resilient communities.展开更多
The method of integrating factors is used to study the conservation laws of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian systems in this paper.Firstly,the definition of the integrating factors of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian system...The method of integrating factors is used to study the conservation laws of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian systems in this paper.Firstly,the definition of the integrating factors of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian systems is given.Secondly,the relationship between the integrating factors and conservation laws is studied,and the conservation theorems of Herglotz type Birkhoff's equations and their inverse theorems are established.Thirdly,two types of generalized Killing equations for calculating integrating factors are given.Finally,as an example,a linear damped oscillator is taken.This example can be transformed into a Herglotz type Birkhoffian system.The resulting conservation theorems are used to find the conserved quantities for this example.展开更多
The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainabl...The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainable development.While effectively enhancing WC necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its driving factors and corresponding intervention strategies,existing studies have largely neglected the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of both natural and socio-economic drivers.Therefore,this study explored the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of WC drivers in YRS using multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)models from an eco-hydrological perspective.We discovered that downstream regions,which are more developed,achieved significantly better WC than upstream regions.The results also demonstrated that the influence of temperature and wind speed is consistently dominant and temporally stable due to climate stability,while the influence of vegetation shifted from negative to positive around 2010,likely indicating greater benefits from understory vegetation.Economic growth positively impacted WC in upstream regions but had a negative effect in the more developed downstream regions.These findings highlight the importance of targeted water conservation strategies,including locally appropriate revegetation,optimization of agricultural and economic structures,and the establishment of eco-compensation mechanisms for ecological conservation and sustainable development.展开更多
1.Need for coordinated flyways conservation Flyways are migratory routes that encompass breeding,stopover,and non-breeding habitats essential for the annual life cycles of migratory birds(Bamford et al.,2008;Newton,20...1.Need for coordinated flyways conservation Flyways are migratory routes that encompass breeding,stopover,and non-breeding habitats essential for the annual life cycles of migratory birds(Bamford et al.,2008;Newton,2023).These routes are critical for maintaining global biodiversity by supporting seasonal movements across continents(Hua et al.,2015;Runge et al.,2015).Effective conservation of flyways,such as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)and Central Asian Flyway(CAF),requires international cooperation to protect key stopover sites(Yong et al.,2015;Kumar 2019;Schmaljohann et al.,2022).展开更多
1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation ...1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation com-prises adaptive management practices aimed at bolstering the resilience of ecosystems and species amid climate variability(Birchall et al.,2021;Gabriel-Campos et al.,2021).展开更多
基金part of the project on soil and water management approved and supported by the Department of Agronomy,Nasarawa State University,Keffi(NSUK),Nigeria。
文摘African drylands occupied 19.6 million km~2(46%of the total global area)and 525 million people.Soil erosion models are useful for assessing the impact of soil erosion in the dryland areas.This review provides an assessment of soil erosion/deposition models and soil conservation practices,which are supportive for mitigating the impact of soil erosion and maintaining soil health and soil functional services for food security in African drylands.The theories of soil erosion models and soil conservation practices provide advanced ways to understand the detailed impact of soil erosion and management solutions.The paper reviews a set of useful soil erosion models and traditional conservation practices,which can control soil erosion and enhance dryland farming systems in Africa.Soil erosion models are classified into three categories:empirical,conceptual,and physical.Soil conservation practices include reduced tillage,advanced cover crops,mechanical structures(barriers made of stones/gravel/vegetation),advanced mechanical roller-crimper technique,mixed cropping,intercropping,crop rotation systems,terracing techniques,and land modification techniques.These conservation practices are effective in controlling soil erosion,reducing soil damage,improving soil health and quality,enhancing soil fertility,and ensuring food security.The existing assessment suggests that understanding the theories of soil erosion models and soil conservation practices is a first step towards addressing soil erosion problems in African drylands.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1307400)Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation and Three Gorges Innovation Development Joint Fund(Grant No.2023AFD195)China Three Gorges Corporation(NBZZ202300130).
文摘Successful ex situ conservation of plant populations requires a high degree of genetic representativeness.However,spatially biased sampling in ex situ conservation efforts may fail to capture all wild genetic clusters for species with range-wide genetic structure.To investigate the extent of spatially biased sampling in living collections and the coverage of wild genetic clusters in plant populations under ex situ conservation worldwide,we combined a global synthesis of ex situ conservation efforts with a case study of an endangered riparian plant species,Myricaria laxiflora.Our analysis of ex situ conservation worldwide revealed that the majority(82.6%)of ex situ populations fail to cover all wild genetic clusters,largely due to spatially biased sampling with low geographic coverage.Our case study of M.laxiflora showed that genetic diversity differed between the ex situ and upstream populations,while it was comparable between ex situ populations and other wild populations.However,current ex situ populations did not cover all wild genetic clusters,as the upstream genetic cluster was previously uncollected.Our study suggests that the failure to cover all wild genetic clusters in ex situ populations is a widespread issue,and ex situ populations with high genetic diversity can also fail to cover all wild genetic clusters.In future ex situ conservation programs,both the importance of high genetic diversity and the high coverage of wild genetic clusters should be prioritized.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32360333)the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Projects(Grant Nos.ZK[2022]540 and[2023]099)+1 种基金the Survey of Amphibian and Reptile Resources in Leigongshan National Nature Reserve and Literature Publishing Services(P5226002023000019)the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team Construction Project 2024[Qian Ke He Talent CXTD(2025)053].
文摘Dear Editor,Mountain systems have long been refuges for many species,often viewed as"islands"that promote speciation due to geographic isolation(Rahbek et al.,2019).Their high environmental heterogeneity fosters centers of endemism,and they harbor over 85%of global species diversity(Zhao et al.,2022).Consequently,mountains are key systems for exploring biodiversity patterns along elevational gradients,where species richness often follows four recognized models:monotonic decrease,unimodal pattern(forward and backward peak patterns),and low plateau followed by a decrease along the elevational gradient(McCain et al.,2010).
基金supported by the Gaoligong Mountain Ecological Function Enhancement and Sustainable Development Technology Research(202303AC1000120303)Gaoligong Mountain Ecological Function Enhancement and Invasive Plant Species Prevention and Control Technology Project(2022YFF130240304)National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFC2602500)。
文摘Reconciling biodiversity conservation with economic advancement represents a defining challenge of the Anthropocene epoch.Although ecotourism is widely promoted as a strategy capable of delivering both environmental and developmental benefits,empirical evidence regarding its ecological and socioeconomic impacts remains limited.This study critically examined the Hide-in-Bird Pond(HIBP)model,a rapidly expanding,community-based avitourism framework in China that integrates targeted wildlife provisioning with concealed infrastructure for bird observation,simultaneously establishing a novel income source for economically marginalized rural regions through ecotourism.Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 98 HIBP operators,and thematic analysis was applied to evaluate current developmental patterns,spatial distribution,and conservation outcomes.A total of 251 HIBP sites were identified across China,predominantly located in biodiversity-rich but economically marginalized regions.These sites collectively supported 524 bird species—36%of China's avifauna—including 148 species classified as nationally protected or threatened(38%of nationally listed bird taxa).These findings suggest that HIBP can serve as an integrative socio-ecological platform that aligns conservation objectives with sustainable rural development.However,the absence of standardized governance frameworks and ecological safeguards poses significant risks to biodiversity an d long-term sustainability.Implementation of science-based adaptive management systems,incorporating systematic biodiversity monitoring,inclusive stakeholder coordination,and certified sustainable tourism protocols,is critical to ensure ecological integrity and sectoral resilience.These findings offer novel insights into aligning conservation objectives with economic development across regions characterized by high biodiversity and persistent economic disadvantage.
基金supported by Science and Technology Program from the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province(2024KJQT0012)the Guangdong Provincial Key R&D Program(2022B1111040001)+2 种基金the National Forestry Administration rare and endangered species field rescue and breeding project(Gui lin hu yu O10)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32200337)a fellowship from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M712003).
文摘Gibbons are small,arboreal apes that play a critical role in tropical biodiversity and ecosystem ecology.However,nearly all species of gibbons are threatened by habitat loss,illegal trade,hunting,and other human activities.Long-term poor understanding of their genetics and evolution undermines effective conservation efforts.In this study,we analyse comparative population genomic data of four Nomascus species.Our results reveal strong genetic differentiation and gene flow among Nomascus species.Additionally,we identify genomic features that are potentially related to natural selection linked to vocalization,fructose metabolism,motor balance,and body size,consistent with the unique phenotype and adaptability of gibbons.Inbreeding,coupled with population declines due to climate change and historical human activities,leads to reduced genetic diversity and the accumulation of deleterious variations that likely affect cardiovascular disease and the reproductive potential of gibbons and further reduce their fitness,highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation strategies.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12235007,11975131)。
文摘This paper presents a geometric perspective that connects reciprocal transformations with multidimensional integrable deformations.By interpreting conservation laws as closed 1-forms,we formalize reciprocal transformations as induced local diffeomorphisms on the jet bundle.This allows us to characterize higher-dimensional deformations as systematic fiber bundle extensions,where fiber coordinates are generated by potential functions of the conservation laws.This perspective provides an interpretation for the covariant lifting of Lax pairs to higher dimensions and reveals that auto-Backlund transformations are composite diffeomorphisms.These results are applied to several classical integrable models.
基金support of the ORG.one project of Oxford Nanopore Technologies(ONT),the Rufford Grants(45249-1)the Idea Wild Grants(Project ID-KJOSINDI0125-00)the Mohamed Bin Zyed Species Conservation(MBZ)(GEF Grant no-240535253)Funds in our efforts to conserve threatened trees in the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot Forest regions.
文摘Plants constitute nearly 80%of the planet’s total biomass(Bar-On et al.,2018);however,this vital group is experiencing severe threats,and recent evaluations indicate that approximately 45%of the world's described plant species are at risk of extinction(Bachman et al.,2024).The number of plant extinctions has increased by 60%in the last 100 years(Di Marco et al.,2017).Over the past 250 years,571 plant species have gone extinct—more than twice the combined total of extinct birds,mammals,and amphibians(217 species)(Briggs,2019).
基金a phased research outcome report of the Major Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,“Research on Major Issues in Improving the Mechanisms and Institutions for Integrated Urban-Rural Development”(Project No. 2024YZD008)。
文摘The promotion of rural revitalization within the ecological conservation areas(“ECAs”) requires a careful balance between ecological protection and economic development and should be guided by the principle of ecological priority. The cultivation of rural “Local Specialty Products”(“LSPs”) under a green-development framework aligns with the functional positioning of these areas, drives the revitalization of rural industries, and constitutes a fundamental strategy for addressing the unique challenges they face. Although ECAs possess inherent advantages in terms of developing LSPs, they are also confronted by multiple constraints. Accordingly, we propose development objectives that emphasize(a) driving rural industrial prosperity,(b) enhancing the appeal of agricultural heritage, and(c) ensuring inclusive prosperity in the farming communities. In selecting pathways for growth, priority should be given to improving the quality of products, fostering distinctiveness of the technologies, nurturing cultural identities, and upholding the principle of common prosperity. From a policy standpoint, the development of rural LSPs should be recognized as a key lever for advancing the comprehensiveness of rural revitalization in the ECAs. We recommend a set of supportive measures—namely, reinforcing the guidance for spatial planning, integrating the consolidation of factor inputs, and ensuring the robustness of organizational guarantees—to facilitate the high-quality development of LSPs in these areas.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2023J01434)the Science and Technology Innovation Special Fund Project of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University(KFb22028XA)。
文摘Addressing the widespread issues of internal fragmentation within protected areas and the neglect of surrounding critical habitat networks,this study aims to develop an assessment framework for the precise identification and remediation of regional conservation gaps.To this end,we introduce the Framework for Conservation Priority Identification(FCPI).The framework integrates Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis(MSPA),the Remote Sensing Ecological Index(RSEI),Circuit Theory,and the Minimum Cumulative Resistance(MCR)model to formulate a multidimensional conservation priority index.This index facilitates the identification of critical ecological network components and enables the dynamic prioritization of conservation efforts.A case study of Fuzhou City from 2014 to 2020 reveals that despite an overall improvement in regional environmental quality,the functionality of core ecological sources has markedly declined.Between 2014 and 2020,the number of ecological sources grew by 76.9%,yet their total area shrank by 13.9%.Concurrently,the number of ecological corridors rose from 27 to 53,extending their total length by 380.23 km,which indicates an intensifying trend of habitat fragmentation.Furthermore,a significant number of crucial ecological network nodes,particularly within Minhou County,lie explicitly outside the existing protected area system.This confirms the presence of conservation gaps and unveils the spatiotemporal dynamics of shifting conservation priorities.The research validates that the proposed FCPI can effectively diagnose the dynamic deficiencies within conservation systems.It offers scientific decisionsupport for local governments,facilitating a transition from isolated conservation efforts towards systematic and comprehensive ecological network governance.
基金supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation-Special Program on Biodiversity(2023B0303050001).
文摘Biodiversity constitutes the fundamental cornerstone of ecosystem stability and resilience,furnishing indispensable services that encompass food production,the provision of clean water,climate regulation and the control of disease.Nonetheless,the planet is currently experiencing an unprecedented biodiversity crisis.
基金findings from the Research on the Innovative Mechanism for Coordinated Development of Ecological Security between China’s Yunnan Province and the Vietnam-LaosMyanmar Region,a general project of Yunnan Provincial Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning。
文摘In the hilly regions of Oudomxay Province,Laos,rows of deep blue photovoltaic panels are converting the scorching sunlight into clean electricity.They are part of the first phase of the Northern Laos Interconnected Clean Energy Base,which was developed by China General Nuclear Power Group and became operational at the end of 2025.
基金The Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Project,No.2021FY101002Wetland Protection and Restoration in China Funded by the Palson Institute and Laoniu Foundation,UNDP-GEF Flyway Project,No.PIMS ID:6110。
文摘Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluating YRB wetland conservation importance using waterbirds as indicators and applying Ramsar,Important Bird Areas(IBA),and East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)criteria.We integrated coordinated surveys with citizen science data,creating a framework that tackles data deficiencies along the under-monitored Central Asian Flyway(CAF).Our analysis identified 75 priority wetlands,supporting 15 threatened species and 49 exceeding global/flyway 1%thresholds,highlighting the basin's biodiversity.We observed strong seasonal habitat use,with high-altitude wetlands vital for breeding and migration,and the Yellow River Delta providing year-round refuge.This research also provided data to refine Baer's Pochard population estimates.Alarmingly,one-third of the identified priority areas,primarily rivers and lakes,remain unprotected.To address this,we recommend systematic surveys,enhanced protected areas,OECMs,and targeted wetland restoration.This study underscores the YRB's role in regional conservation and provides essential data for adaptive management,particularly emphasizing the CAF's importance.
基金supported by the Lebanese International University(LIU)with a funding amount of$500.
文摘Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In the project,we evaluated novel approaches integrating adaptive management,technological innovations,and community-based action towards more efficient sustainable conservation results and ecosystem resilience.The multi-site experimental design was based on comparison between conventional reserve management and novel integrative models implemented in diverse ecological zones.Data were collected over a period of three years employing remote sensing technologies,in situ biodiversity assessments,and large socioeconomic surveys.These instruments enabled a robust and multi-dimensional measurement of variables such as species diversity,ecological resilience,community engagement,and stakeholder engagement.The results indicate that adaptive strategies significantly enhance real-time decision-making abilities and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience.Further,technology-driven monitoring greatly enhances data accuracy,responsiveness,and early warning capabilities.Besides that,community-based conservation initiatives were found to be pivotal in facilitating local stewardship,enhancing participatory governance,and enabling more adaptive and adaptive policy systems.This research rejects mainstream conservation paradigms by placing importance on flexibility,interdisciplinarity,and inclusivity of governance systems in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity.Our findings offer strong evidence that emerging paradigms of conservation can provide greater ecological and social sustainability than traditional methods.These results support the need for a paradigm shift towards conservation strategies that are dynamic,collaborative,and technologically integrated,with significant implications for policy formulation as well as operational environmental management.
文摘Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.
基金an MSc thesis research grant from the Zoological Society of London(ZSL)Nepal.RCK’s effort was supported in part by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs(ORIP)of the National Institutes of Health through grant number P51OD010425 to the Washington National Primate Research Center,USA。
文摘The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is crucial for its conservation.This study was conducted in the Langtang National Park(LNP),Nepal using the route census method during both winter(November/December 2022)and summer(June 2023)seasons to examine the seasonal variation in HM’s elevational distribution and habitat preference.Further,we assessed their conservation threats by conducting a semi-structured questionnaire survey with the local residents.During the winter period,the HMs preferred grassland habitats,while in the summer,their preference shifted to shrubland and barren area.HM abundance was negatively associated with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the shortest distance from the survey trails in the winter.The HMs actively avoided areas with high anthropogenic pressure.In the summer,they showed a wider elevational range up to 4400 m above sea level(a.s.l.),with a higher sighting frequency between 3600 and 3900 m a.s.l.The questionnaire survey of the local residents revealed that anthropogenic pressure such as poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing are the major threats to the species in the study area.This study provides valuable insight into the complex habitat preferences and critical threats faced by the HMs in LNP and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation action.
文摘Water scarcity poses a significant challenge globally,with South Africa exemplifying the severe socio-economic and environmental impacts of limited water access.Despite advances in modern water management systems,the integration of indigenous knowledge(IK)into formal frameworks remains underutilized.This study systematically reviews the role of indigenous water conservation practices in South Africa,analyzing over 50 high-quality sources using the PRISMA methodology.The findings highlight the effectiveness of IK in addressing water scarcity through techniques such as rainwater harvesting,terracing,and wetland management,which are low-cost,environmentally sustainable,and deeply rooted in cultural practices.Indigenous methods also enhance climate resilience by enabling communities to adapt to droughts and floods through practices such as weather prediction and adaptive farming techniques.Furthermore,these practices foster social inclusivity and community empowerment,ensuring equitable water access and intergenerational knowledge transfer.The study underscores the potential of integrating IK with modern water technologies to create holistic solutions that are scalable,sustainable,and aligned with South Africa’s goal of achieving water security by 2030.Policy recommendations emphasize the need for institutional support,data collection,and financial incentives to sustain and mainstream indigenous approaches.By bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary systems,this research provides a roadmap for leveraging diverse knowledge systems to address water scarcity and build resilient communities.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12272248)。
文摘The method of integrating factors is used to study the conservation laws of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian systems in this paper.Firstly,the definition of the integrating factors of the Herglotz type Birkhoffian systems is given.Secondly,the relationship between the integrating factors and conservation laws is studied,and the conservation theorems of Herglotz type Birkhoff's equations and their inverse theorems are established.Thirdly,two types of generalized Killing equations for calculating integrating factors are given.Finally,as an example,a linear damped oscillator is taken.This example can be transformed into a Herglotz type Birkhoffian system.The resulting conservation theorems are used to find the conserved quantities for this example.
基金supported by the funding provided by the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering(SKHL2210)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42171304)+1 种基金the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2023YFS0380)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(BK20242018)。
文摘The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainable development.While effectively enhancing WC necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its driving factors and corresponding intervention strategies,existing studies have largely neglected the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of both natural and socio-economic drivers.Therefore,this study explored the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of WC drivers in YRS using multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)models from an eco-hydrological perspective.We discovered that downstream regions,which are more developed,achieved significantly better WC than upstream regions.The results also demonstrated that the influence of temperature and wind speed is consistently dominant and temporally stable due to climate stability,while the influence of vegetation shifted from negative to positive around 2010,likely indicating greater benefits from understory vegetation.Economic growth positively impacted WC in upstream regions but had a negative effect in the more developed downstream regions.These findings highlight the importance of targeted water conservation strategies,including locally appropriate revegetation,optimization of agricultural and economic structures,and the establishment of eco-compensation mechanisms for ecological conservation and sustainable development.
基金supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Education(RS-2021-NR060142)HSF's GMACC Project。
文摘1.Need for coordinated flyways conservation Flyways are migratory routes that encompass breeding,stopover,and non-breeding habitats essential for the annual life cycles of migratory birds(Bamford et al.,2008;Newton,2023).These routes are critical for maintaining global biodiversity by supporting seasonal movements across continents(Hua et al.,2015;Runge et al.,2015).Effective conservation of flyways,such as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)and Central Asian Flyway(CAF),requires international cooperation to protect key stopover sites(Yong et al.,2015;Kumar 2019;Schmaljohann et al.,2022).
文摘1.Introduction As global temperatures increase and weather patterns grow more er-ratic,the urgency of adopting climate-smart conservation strategies has intensified(Manyakaidze et al.,2024).Climate-smart conservation com-prises adaptive management practices aimed at bolstering the resilience of ecosystems and species amid climate variability(Birchall et al.,2021;Gabriel-Campos et al.,2021).
