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
Background:We present a case of two major complications following insertion of a nephrostomy managed in a minimally invasive way.Our case is the first in the literature to describe this minimally invasive treatment te...Background:We present a case of two major complications following insertion of a nephrostomy managed in a minimally invasive way.Our case is the first in the literature to describe this minimally invasive treatment technique for colon perforation in a completely asymptomatic patient.Case Description:A 75-year-old female patient with a history of bilateral obstructive uropathy secondary to bilateral radiation-induced ureteric strictures attended for bilateral nephrostomy placement.The patient had a history of endometrial cancer,treated previously by total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and brachytherapy.Her recovery had been further complicated by the development of radiation cystitis,small bowel resection,and short gut syndrome.The strictures had previously been managed with bilateral double J stents,which have now failed.A left-sided nephrostomy insertion was performed.ACT-scan prompted by a repeat deterioration in renal function revealed a right-sided hydronephrosis and suggested transcolic passage of the previously placed leftsided nephrostomy.She had remained clinically well and apyretic.A right-sided nephrostomy was inserted,and the left re-sited following a colonoscopy-guided nephrostomy removal and clip occlusion of the nephrostomy tract.The patient then developed a pseudoaneurysm,which was managed with embolization.The patient was able to return home with corrected kidney function.The three-monthly checks for changes in nephrostomy catheters did not reveal any complications.Conclusions:The patient therefore presented with two major complications of nephrostomy placement:colonic perforation and pseudoaneurysm,classified as Clavien IIIb and IIIa,respectively.Multidisciplinary management,including urologists,gastroenterologists,general surgeons,and radiologists,enabled a minimally invasive management.Minimally invasive management with endoscopic clip placement appears to be a safe alternative to directed fistula of colonic perforation.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
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
Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges...Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).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
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
With their intricate vectorial structures in space,optical skyrmions have significantly expanded the landscape of topological optics and light-matter interactions.We theoretically investigate high harmonic generation ...With their intricate vectorial structures in space,optical skyrmions have significantly expanded the landscape of topological optics and light-matter interactions.We theoretically investigate high harmonic generation in crystals driven by optical skyrmions.We find that although the skyrmion number is not conserved,the resulting high-order harmonics can exhibit a distinctive multi-vortex structure,whose features are shaped by both the topology of the optical skyrmions and the rotational symmetry of the crystal.The position of the vortex centers can be effectively tuned by employing different types of optical skyrmions.To elucidate the underlying physics,we develop a multi-absorption channel model based on the conservation laws of spin and orbital angular momentum.Our work explores the role of optical topology in extreme nonlinear light-matter interactions,offering new opportunities for the formation and manipulation of optical vortices and novel structured light fields in the visible and ultraviolet regimes.展开更多
In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs ...In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs to be introduced for ethical reasons and to ensure a more effective species protection.This discussion frequently involves cases when hunters break the law,illustrated by photographs published on social media,documenting culling of legally protected species.In response hunters mention the need to verify the sources and the context for published materials.展开更多
The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been doc...The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been documented.This study aims to answer the following questions:Will the typical soums in the SRB become more overgrazed in the future?What optimal strategy should be implemented?Multisource data were integrated and utilized to model the pastoral system of typical soums using a system dynamics approach.Future scenarios under three SSP-RCPs were projected using the model.The conclusions are as follows:(1)From upstream to downstream,rational scenarios for pastoral system transferred from SSP1-RCP2.6 to SSP2-RCP4.5,which reflect improved productivity at the expense of ecosystem stability.(2)Compared with that during the historical period of 2000-2020,the projected carrying capacity of the soums decreases by 15.2%-37.3%,whereas the number of livestock continues to increase.Consequently,the stocking rate is expected to increase from 0.32-1.16 during 2000-2020 to 1.26-2.02 during 2021-2050,indicating that rangeland will become more overloaded.(3)A livestock reduction strategy based on future livestock stock and grassland carrying capacity scenarios was proposed to maintain a dynamic forage-livestock equilibrium.It is suggested that reducing livestock is a practical option for harmonizing grassland conservation with livestock husbandry development.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
The collection and annotation of lar ge-scale bird datasets are resource-intensive and time-consuming processes that significantly limit the scalability and accuracy of biodiversity monitoring systems.While self-super...The collection and annotation of lar ge-scale bird datasets are resource-intensive and time-consuming processes that significantly limit the scalability and accuracy of biodiversity monitoring systems.While self-supervised learning(SSL)has emerged as a promising approach for leveraging unannotated data,current SSL methods face two critical challenges in bird species recognition:(1)long-tailed data distributions that result in poor performance on underrepresented species;and(2)domain shift issues caused by data augmentation strategies designed to mitigate class imbalance.Here we present SDNet,a novel SSL-based bird recognition framework that integrates diffusion models with large language models(LLMs)to overcome these limitations.SDNet employs LLMs to generate semantically rich textual descriptions for tail-class species by prompting the models with species taxonomy,morphological attributes,and habitat information,producing detailed natural language priors that capture fine-grained visual characteristics(e.g.,plumage patterns,body proportions,and distinctive markings).These textual descriptions are subsequently used by a conditional diffusion model to synthesize new bird image samples through cross-attention mechanisms that fuse textual embeddings with intermediate visual feature representations during the denoising process,ensuring generated images preserve species-specific morphological details while maintaining photorealistic quality.Additionally,we incorporate a Swin Transformer as the feature extraction backbone whose hierarchical window-based attention mechanism and shifted windowing scheme enable multi-scale local feature extraction that proves particularly effective at capturing finegrained discriminative patterns(such as beak shape and feather texture)while mitigating domain shift between synthetic and original images through consistent feature representations across both data sources.SDNet is validated on both a self-constructed dataset(Bird_BXS)an d a publicly available benchmark(Birds_25),demonstrating substantial improvements over conventional SSL approaches.Our results indicate that the synergistic integration of LLMs,diffusion models,and the Swin Transformer architecture contributes significantly to recognition accuracy,particularly for rare and morphologically similar species.These findings highlight the potential of SDNet for addressing fundamental limitations of existing SSL methods in avian recognition tasks and establishing a new paradigm for efficient self-supervised learning in large-scale ornithological vision applications.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
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
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
In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to...In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to reduce heat loss in buildings.Vacuum insulation panels(VIPs),a type of high-performance insulation material,have been increasingly utilised in the construction industry and have played an increa-singly important role as their performance and manufacturing processes continue to improve.This paper provides a review of the factors affecting the thermal conductivity of VIPs and presents a detailed overview of the research progress on core materials,barrier films,and getters.The current research status of VIPs is summarised,including their thermal conductivity,service life,and thermal bridging effects,as well as their applications in the field of architecture.This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for relevant practitioners on the factors influencing the thermal conductivity of VIPs,and based on which,measures can be taken to produce VIPs with lower thermal conductivity and longer service life.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
Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distri...Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.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
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.
文摘Background:We present a case of two major complications following insertion of a nephrostomy managed in a minimally invasive way.Our case is the first in the literature to describe this minimally invasive treatment technique for colon perforation in a completely asymptomatic patient.Case Description:A 75-year-old female patient with a history of bilateral obstructive uropathy secondary to bilateral radiation-induced ureteric strictures attended for bilateral nephrostomy placement.The patient had a history of endometrial cancer,treated previously by total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and brachytherapy.Her recovery had been further complicated by the development of radiation cystitis,small bowel resection,and short gut syndrome.The strictures had previously been managed with bilateral double J stents,which have now failed.A left-sided nephrostomy insertion was performed.ACT-scan prompted by a repeat deterioration in renal function revealed a right-sided hydronephrosis and suggested transcolic passage of the previously placed leftsided nephrostomy.She had remained clinically well and apyretic.A right-sided nephrostomy was inserted,and the left re-sited following a colonoscopy-guided nephrostomy removal and clip occlusion of the nephrostomy tract.The patient then developed a pseudoaneurysm,which was managed with embolization.The patient was able to return home with corrected kidney function.The three-monthly checks for changes in nephrostomy catheters did not reveal any complications.Conclusions:The patient therefore presented with two major complications of nephrostomy placement:colonic perforation and pseudoaneurysm,classified as Clavien IIIb and IIIa,respectively.Multidisciplinary management,including urologists,gastroenterologists,general surgeons,and radiologists,enabled a minimally invasive management.Minimally invasive management with endoscopic clip placement appears to be a safe alternative to directed fistula of colonic perforation.
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the Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia(RCEECA),the construction and joint research for the China-Tajikistan“Belt and Road”Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use(2024YFE0214200)the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Partnership and International Technology Cooperation Plan of Science and Technology Projects(2023E01018,2025E01056)the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)(2024VBC0006).
文摘Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).
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 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12234002, 92250303, 12474486, 12504301, and 12504396)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2024YFA1612101)。
文摘With their intricate vectorial structures in space,optical skyrmions have significantly expanded the landscape of topological optics and light-matter interactions.We theoretically investigate high harmonic generation in crystals driven by optical skyrmions.We find that although the skyrmion number is not conserved,the resulting high-order harmonics can exhibit a distinctive multi-vortex structure,whose features are shaped by both the topology of the optical skyrmions and the rotational symmetry of the crystal.The position of the vortex centers can be effectively tuned by employing different types of optical skyrmions.To elucidate the underlying physics,we develop a multi-absorption channel model based on the conservation laws of spin and orbital angular momentum.Our work explores the role of optical topology in extreme nonlinear light-matter interactions,offering new opportunities for the formation and manipulation of optical vortices and novel structured light fields in the visible and ultraviolet regimes.
文摘In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs to be introduced for ethical reasons and to ensure a more effective species protection.This discussion frequently involves cases when hunters break the law,illustrated by photographs published on social media,documenting culling of legally protected species.In response hunters mention the need to verify the sources and the context for published materials.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32161143025,No.42371283,No.W2412155National Key R&D Program of China,No.2022YFE0119200。
文摘The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been documented.This study aims to answer the following questions:Will the typical soums in the SRB become more overgrazed in the future?What optimal strategy should be implemented?Multisource data were integrated and utilized to model the pastoral system of typical soums using a system dynamics approach.Future scenarios under three SSP-RCPs were projected using the model.The conclusions are as follows:(1)From upstream to downstream,rational scenarios for pastoral system transferred from SSP1-RCP2.6 to SSP2-RCP4.5,which reflect improved productivity at the expense of ecosystem stability.(2)Compared with that during the historical period of 2000-2020,the projected carrying capacity of the soums decreases by 15.2%-37.3%,whereas the number of livestock continues to increase.Consequently,the stocking rate is expected to increase from 0.32-1.16 during 2000-2020 to 1.26-2.02 during 2021-2050,indicating that rangeland will become more overloaded.(3)A livestock reduction strategy based on future livestock stock and grassland carrying capacity scenarios was proposed to maintain a dynamic forage-livestock equilibrium.It is suggested that reducing livestock is a practical option for harmonizing grassland conservation with livestock husbandry development.
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 National Natural Science Foundation of China(32471964)。
文摘The collection and annotation of lar ge-scale bird datasets are resource-intensive and time-consuming processes that significantly limit the scalability and accuracy of biodiversity monitoring systems.While self-supervised learning(SSL)has emerged as a promising approach for leveraging unannotated data,current SSL methods face two critical challenges in bird species recognition:(1)long-tailed data distributions that result in poor performance on underrepresented species;and(2)domain shift issues caused by data augmentation strategies designed to mitigate class imbalance.Here we present SDNet,a novel SSL-based bird recognition framework that integrates diffusion models with large language models(LLMs)to overcome these limitations.SDNet employs LLMs to generate semantically rich textual descriptions for tail-class species by prompting the models with species taxonomy,morphological attributes,and habitat information,producing detailed natural language priors that capture fine-grained visual characteristics(e.g.,plumage patterns,body proportions,and distinctive markings).These textual descriptions are subsequently used by a conditional diffusion model to synthesize new bird image samples through cross-attention mechanisms that fuse textual embeddings with intermediate visual feature representations during the denoising process,ensuring generated images preserve species-specific morphological details while maintaining photorealistic quality.Additionally,we incorporate a Swin Transformer as the feature extraction backbone whose hierarchical window-based attention mechanism and shifted windowing scheme enable multi-scale local feature extraction that proves particularly effective at capturing finegrained discriminative patterns(such as beak shape and feather texture)while mitigating domain shift between synthetic and original images through consistent feature representations across both data sources.SDNet is validated on both a self-constructed dataset(Bird_BXS)an d a publicly available benchmark(Birds_25),demonstrating substantial improvements over conventional SSL approaches.Our results indicate that the synergistic integration of LLMs,diffusion models,and the Swin Transformer architecture contributes significantly to recognition accuracy,particularly for rare and morphologically similar species.These findings highlight the potential of SDNet for addressing fundamental limitations of existing SSL methods in avian recognition tasks and establishing a new paradigm for efficient self-supervised learning in large-scale ornithological vision applications.
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.
文摘In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to reduce heat loss in buildings.Vacuum insulation panels(VIPs),a type of high-performance insulation material,have been increasingly utilised in the construction industry and have played an increa-singly important role as their performance and manufacturing processes continue to improve.This paper provides a review of the factors affecting the thermal conductivity of VIPs and presents a detailed overview of the research progress on core materials,barrier films,and getters.The current research status of VIPs is summarised,including their thermal conductivity,service life,and thermal bridging effects,as well as their applications in the field of architecture.This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for relevant practitioners on the factors influencing the thermal conductivity of VIPs,and based on which,measures can be taken to produce VIPs with lower thermal conductivity and longer service life.
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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32371745)the Transboundary Cooperation on Biodiversity Research and Conservation in Gaoligong Mountains(E1ZK251)+3 种基金the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E3ZKFF7B,E3ZKFF9B)the Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program“Innovation Team”Project(202405AS350019)Yunnan International Joint Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Timber Tree Species(202403AP140004)the Postdoctoral Fellowship of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,CAS。
文摘Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.
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.
