Background & Aims：As a vital component of transportation networks, railways exert profound influences on biodiversity. Internationally, research on railway impacts and mitigation strategies has reached an advanced stage, supported by extensive field-tested solutions. In China, growing commitments to biodiversity conservation have heightened the tension between ecological conservation and railway infrastructure expansion. This paper aims to explore pathways for developing ecological railways grounded in practical frameworks for China’s railway sector. 

Methods & Results：Through a systematic literature review of 364 publications up to 2025, we examine the fundamental characteristics of railways, compare their ecological effects with those of roads, and categorize railway-related biodiversity impacts into five domains: (1) barrier effects; (2) habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation; (3) edge effects and biological invasion; (4) wildlife mortality; and (5) pollution and human disturbance. Importantly, railways and their adjoining green corridors can also serve as wildlife habitats, offering positive contributions to biodiversity through enhanced connectivity, habitat heterogeneity and distinctive ecological features. International ecological railway strategies are summarized into six dimensions: (1) increasing railway lateral connectivity via wildlife passages; (2) improving artificial facilities to reduce train wildlife collisions; (3) vegetation management along railways; (4) biodiversity compensation; (5) regular biodiversity surveys; and (6) financial and policy support. We also review progress in China’s research on railway biodiversity interactions and conservation measures. 

Conclusions: A biodiversity-centered conservation strategy for China’s ecological railway development is proposed, including: promoting systematic system-building, establishing an adaptive implementation framework, and strengthening scientific guidance.

Aims: The Zhongshan Partridge Duck is the only local duck breed in Guangdong Province and represents the most iconic rare genetic resource in Zhongshan City. However, current research lacks a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Zhongshan Partridge Duck, limiting protection and resource utilization.The primary objectives of this study are to systematically analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of the Zhongshan Partridge Duck using whole-genome resequencing technology, evaluate the conservation effectiveness of its captive breeding programs in maintaining genetic integrity, and propose scientifically informed strategies for the protection of this genetic resource. This work establishes a critical theoretical foundation and provides empirical evidence to advance the conservation of Zhongshan Partridge Duck germplasm resources. 

Methods: We collected 91 samples from seven duck populations in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces and obtained resequencing data for 388 samples from 19 additional populations through the NCBI public database, generating a combined dataset of 479 individuals representing 22 duck breeds. Population-level variant detection was conducted using the GenomicsDB method in GATK software. Genetic diversity parameters—including effective number of alleles (Ne), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), polymorphism information content (PIC), and nucleotide diversity (π)—were systematically calculated for all 22 populations using VCFtools. Population structure was evaluated through neighbor-joining (NJ) tree construction, principal component analysis (PCA), and Bayesian clustering analysis (STRUCTURE). Gene flow dynamics between the Zhongshan Partridge Duck and other breeds were subsequently investigated using Treemix analysis. 

Results: Genetic diversity assessments revealed that the Zhongshan Partridge Duck population exhibits relatively elevated genetic diversity among the 22 analyzed breeds (Ne = 3.8656, Ho = 0.3382, He = 0.3313). Notably, its observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranked highest across all breeds, while its expected heterozygosity (He) occupied the seventh position, still reflecting a substantial level of genetic variation. Population genetic structure analyses, including phylogenetic tree reconstruction and principal component analysis (PCA), demonstrated close clustering of the Zhongshan Partridge Duck with the Pekin Duck, Wenshi Partridge Duck, and Maple Leaf Duck. Admixture analysis identified the Zhongshan Partridge Duck as a distinct genetic cluster characterized by a single ancestral component at K=10. Treemix analysis with Zhongshan Partridge Duck designated as the outgroup failed to detect significant gene flow from other breeds into this population. Analyses utilizing the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) as the outgroup revealed only one migration event associated with the Zhongshan Partridge Duck, originating from the ancestral node of the Yulin Partridge Duck prior to its divergence. 

Conclusion: Population fluctuations constitute a critical determinant of genetic diversity in avian conservation genetics. Despite undergoing historical demographic bottlenecks characterized by severe population contractions, the Zhongshan Partridge Duck retains comparatively elevated genomic diversity, a conservation outcome attributable to coordinated ex situ management protocols implemented through the collaborative efforts of the Zhongshan Agricultural Technology Extension Center and South China Agricultural University. Population genomic structure analyses substantiate the conservation efficacy of the Wugui Mountain Conservation Farm, demonstrating successful maintenance of ancestral allelic variation. This investigation delineates the extant genetic architecture and population stratification patterns of the Zhongshan Partridge Duck, formulates empirically grounded strategies for conserving its evolutionary significant units (ESUs), and establishes a genomic-informed paradigm for safeguarding this agriculturally vital germplasm resource.

Aims: Climatic change and anthropogenic activities have become the principal threats to global biodiversity. Genetic diversity, a fundamental component of biodiversity, is integral to species' adaptation to environmental changes. Amphibians and mammals have distinct differences in evolutionary history, physiological functions, and ecological behaviors. Notably, their contrasting thermoregulatory capacities and mobility render amphibians may be more susceptible to climate change and human activities than mammals. However, it remains uncertain whether these differences result in divergent patterns of genetic diversity. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity are the critical metrics in assessing genetic diversity, yet their respective responses to climatic and anthropogenic influences need to be further investigated. 

Methods: This study concentrates on amphibians and mammals, employing the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment to investigate the impacts of climatic factors and human activities on haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of these two vertebrate groups. 

Results: We found a substantial difference in overall nucleotide diversity (D=0.230, P < 0.01) and haplotype diversity (D=0.211, P < 0.05) between amphibians and mammals. Distinct patterns were record on that how climatic and anthropogenic factors influenced nucleotide and haplotype diversity between the two groups. For amphibians, haplotype diversity was positively correlated with precipitation seasonality range (SPR; β=0.467, P < 0.05), while it was negatively correlated with the annual temperature range (ATR; β=−0.223, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the Human Influence Index (HII) showed a positive correlation with amphibian nucleotide diversity (HII; β=0.035, P < 0.05). Conversely, in mammals, HII was negatively correlated with haplotype diversity (HII; β=-0.018, P < 0.05), whereas the annual temperature exhibited a positive correlation with nucleotide diversity (AT; β=0.002, P < 0.05). 

Conclusion: Our results underscore the complexity of genetic diversity responses to climatic and anthropogenic influences. We advocate for the integration of multiple metrics to investigate the distribution patterns of genetic diversity and their driving factors. Future research should further explore the mechanisms through which human activities and climatic factors impact genetic diversity across various animal groups, aiming to develop more targeted biodiversity conservation strategies.

Aims: Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose serious threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. Hainan Island, as one of China’s most biodiverse regions, confronts mounting risks of invasion by alien plant species. This study targeted 33 invasive species identified in the newly released Key Management List of Invasive Alien Species (issued jointly by six ministries and commissions, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), aiming to evaluate their potential suitable habitats and invasion risks on Hainan Island. 

Method: We first aggregated occurrence records and environmental variables from multiple databases for the 33 listed invasive plant species. Using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model in conjunction with Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, we modeled each species’ potential spatial distribution under current climatic conditions. Subsequently, we overlaid species-specific distribution maps to identify invasion hotspots and assessed the relative importance of environmental factors contributing to habitat suitability. 

Results: Among the 33 investigated species, 25 were predicted to possess suitable habitats on Hainan Island, which varied in geographical extent. Notably, four species—Sorghum halepense, Chromolaena odorata, Amaranthus spinosus, and Lantana camara—exhibited high-risk distributions covering more than 50% of the island’s total land area. Invasion hotspots were concentrated primarily in low-elevation plains in the northeastern region and several coastal zones. Key environmental drivers included human activity intensity, temperature seasonality, mean diurnal temperature range, and precipitation of the warmest quarter. These findings reflect the urgent need for comprehensive prevention and control measures, particularly in vulnerable areas. 

Conclusion: Our results underscore the importance of prioritizing high-risk species and high-risk regions for targeted monitoring and integrated management on Hainan Island. Effective strategies should include not only conventional control approaches but also incorporate socio-environmental factors and biotic interaction mechanisms in subsequent research. By enhancing early warning systems and applying science-based interventions, stakeholders can better curb the spread of invasive alien plants and safeguard the island’s rich biodiversity.

Aims: This study aims to systematically compile the inventory of terrestrial mammals in Hainan Province, clarify the taxonomic status of certain species, and provide scientific references for the conservation and management of biodiversity in Hainan. 

Methods: We systematically collected literature data on the classification and distribution of terrestrial mammals in Hainan Province over the past few decades. The study integrates field survey data, infrared camera monitoring data, and refers to the most recent references, including the Catalogue of mammals in China (2024) and Diversity of China’s Mammals Inventory, Distribution and Conservation. 

Results: The main results are as follows: (1) A total of 97 species of terrestrial mammals in Hainan Province, belonging to 9 orders, 26 families, and 61 genera. Chiroptera species dominate, followed by Rodentia. (2) Among the 97 species, 6 are first-class nationally protected rare wild mammals, and 11 are second-class national protection. Additionally, 7 species are endemic to Hainan Province. According to the IUCN Red List (2021), 2 species are Critically Endangered (CR), 3 are Endangered (EN), 5 are Vulnerable (VU), and 6 are Near Threatened (NT), totaling 10 threatened species, which represents 11.3% of the total species. (3) From the perspective of faunal regions, 85 species belong to the Oriental realm, 9 species belong to the Palearctic realm, and 3 species are widely distributed. The Oriental realm accounts for 88% of the terrestrial mammal species in Hainan, showing absolute dominance. (4) A comparison with the 2009 Catalogue of Hainan Island's Mammals reveals 22 newly added species, including Chiromyscus langbians, Chiropodomys gliroides, Rattus andamanensis, Rattus exulans, Crocidura rapax, Eonycteris spelaea, Lyroderma lyra, Hipposideros pomona, Hipposideros pratti, Rhinolophus shortridgei, Miniopterus fuliginosus, Kerivoula furva, Harpiocephalus harpia, Murina aurata, Murina eleryi, Murina harrisoni, Myotis chinensis, Myotis davidii, Myotis horsfieldii, Myotis siligorensis, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Pipistrellus tenuis, while 75 species from the previous catalog remain. 

Conclusion: This study through the compilation and updating of the terrestrial mammal species inventory of Hainan Province, provides foundational support for regional wildlife conservation and management efforts.

Aims: Local key protected wildlife lists from the foundation for provincial-level authorities to implement scientific conservation and effective management of wild animals. These lists include species protected at provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal level, excluding those under national key protection. The List of Local Key Protected Wild Animals of Hunan Province, published in 2002, has remained unchanged for over two decades. Following the release of the updated National List of Key Protected Wild Animals and the List of Terrestrial Wildlife with Important Ecological, Scientific and Social Values by the State Council, it is crucial to adjust and revise the provincial-level lists to reflect new conservation priorities and ecological conditions. To improve the scientific rigor and rationality of such updates, a quantitative, systematic method for prioritizing species is urgently needed. 

Methods: This study first compiled, organized, and classified terrestrial wildlife survey data from Hunan Province. A species prioritization evaluation system was then constructed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), based on 12 indicators: Population size, population trend, distribution range, provincial threat status, national threat status, international threat status, public attention, taxonomic similarity, habitat condition, ecological value, and scientific research value. Each indicator was assigned a score, generating a preliminary list of priority species for protection. Expert evaluations were subsequently conducted to review and refine the list. Based on expert consultations, review feedback, and public input, minor adjustments were made to finalize the new List of Local Key Protected Wild Animals of Human Province, official released in August 2023. 

Results: The preliminary terrestrial vertebrate list generated through this method included 265 species across 4 classes, 24 orders, and 77 families, comprising 23 newly added species, 78 species removed, and 247 retained. The officially published version included 270 species in 79 families and 24 orders. Differences between the two lists were minimal: 9 reptile and 4 amphibian species were excluded, while 14 bird species, 2 snake species, and 2 frog species were added. 

Perspective: This study represents a shift from traditional expert-based species selection toward a scientific, quantitative evaluation approach, supplemented by expert review and public consultation. The method enhances the objectivity, accuracy, and taxonomic balance of local key protected wildlife lists. It is practical and applicable for similar revisions in other provincial-level regions.

Aims: Biodiversity serves as a critical foundation for the formation and maintenance of ecosystem functions. Its influence on ecosystem functioning changes dynamically during forest succession. However, the relative contributions of multi-dimensional biodiversity (species, traits, phylogeny) and their variations across forest successional stages remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the impacts of multi-dimensional biodiversity on forest productivity and their variations across forest succession. 

Methods: This study explored the biodiversity and productivity relationships of forests at different successional stages in Changbai Mountains, based on the observations from three 5.2-ha forest dynamics plots in secondary poplar-birch forest (early succession stage), secondary conifer-broadleaf mixed forest (middle succession stage), and primary Korean pine-broadleaf forest (late succession stage). Vegetation survey data were used to calculate species diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity. Aboveground biomass and forest productivity were employed as ecosystem function indicators. Structural equation modeling was applied to disentangle the impacts of multi-dimensional biodiversity on ecosystem functions and their variations across successional stages. 

Results: (1) With forest succession, aboveground biomass increased continuously while productivity decreased. (2) The relationship between biodiversity and biomass and productivity changes with forest succession, generally showing a weakening trend across stages. (3) Compared with functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity, species diversity does not significantly affect ecosystem functions. (4) Abiotic factors dynamically regulated resources during succession and productivity. 

Conclusion: This study enhances the understanding of dynamic patterns and ecological mechanisms underlying multi-dimensional biodiversity and ecosystem function relationships during forest succession, providing scientific insights for the ecological restoration and sustainable management of secondary forests in northeastern China.

Aims: Understanding the link between genetic diversity and species distribution is crucial for biodiversity conservation. Genetic diversity facilitates species' adaptation to climate change, whereas species distribution area results from the combined effects of climate change and species' adaptive capacity. Under this context, climate factors can be considered a pivotal link between genetic diversity and species distribution area, exerting a regulatory influence on their relationship. 

Methods: To assess the above hypothesis, the current study examines the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment in avian species, exploring the influence of 8 climate factors (Annual temperature, Annual temperature range, Annual precipitation, Annual precipitation range, Precipitation seasonality, Precipitation seasonality range, Temperature seasonality, Temperature seasonality range) on the relationships between haplotype diversity and species distribution area, as well as nucleotide diversity and species distribution area. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity are utilized as principal indicators of genetic diversity in this analysis. 

Results: Results show that indicate that the overall nucleotide diversity of birds is 0.008 ± 0.001(MeanSE), and the haplotype diversity is 0.699 ± 0.011. Additionally, the results reveal that climate factor differentially affect the relationship between genetic diversity and species distribution area. Notably, climate factor predominantly influence the relationship between haplotype diversity and species distribution area indirectly by altering the species' distribution area (df = 6, X² = 10.77, AIC = 2231.8, BIC = 2270.5). In contrast, for nucleotide diversity, the climate factor exert a dual impact, affecting both the species distribution area and nucleotide diversity, thereby mediating the relationship between nucleotide diversity and species distribution area in a more complex manner (df = 0,X² = 0, AIC = 2155.0, BIC = 2219.6). 

Conclusion: Our results recommend that multiple genetic diversity indices should be considered when examining the effects of climate change on genetic diversity. Additionally, more targeted biodiversity conservation strategies should be developed to effectively address the challenges posed by future climate change.

Background & Aims: Coevolution is widely recognized as a fundamental driver of Earth’s biodiversity. Understanding coevolutionary processes is crucial for deciphering the evolutionary dynamics of species interactions and community assembly. Cophylogenetic analysis is a key tool for inferring the outcomes of coevolutionary processes in interspecies interactions and interaction networks. This review aims to systematically summarize methods and recent advances in cophylogenetic analysis and to provide insights into their applications for studying coevolutionary processes. 

Progress: We first introduce the conceptual foundations of coevolution and its significance in biodiversity research. We then present a detailed overview of cophylogenetic analysis methods. For pairwise interactions, we describe and compare global-fit and event-based methods, highlighting their principles, strengths, limitations, and applications. For complex multi-species interactions, we discuss phylogenetic cascade approaches and network-based approaches. We then review key applications of cophylogenetic analysis in studying antagonistic, competitive, and mutualistic interactions. Finally, we outline how cophylogenetic analysis has been used to investigate community assembly processes. 

Perspectives: Advancing cophylogenetic methods is crucial for improving our understanding of coevolutionary patterns. Key challenges include the lack of direct links between phylogenetic congruence and true coevolutionary processes, as well as limitations in accuracy assessment. Recent frameworks, such as cophylospace, enhance explanatory power by incorporating interaction network structures. Simulation tools, combined with machine learning approaches, show promise for evaluating and improving accuracy assessments. Future research should integrate reticulate phylogenies, phylogenetic dating, and quantitative measures of interaction into cophylogenetic inference. Furthermore, a more universal and adaptable framework could be developed through integration with multidisciplinary technologies such as artificial intelligence. These advancements will deepen our understanding of coevolutionary processes across ecological scales and contexts.

Aims: Understanding the fundamental processes that underlie biogeographic patterns of biodiversity has long been a central issue in biogeography and ecology. It is widely accepted that niche processes and neutral processes work together to regulate the plant β-diversity. However, the relative influence of different ecological processes on plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic β-diversity in China’s Black Gobi desert remains poorly understood. This lack of understanding hinders our comprehension of the assembly processes and the maintenance of plant diversity in Gobi deserts. 

Methods: We selected 67 sites within the typical distribution area of China’s Black Gobi desert region. Through systematic field surveys and laboratory analyses, we collected data on plant species abundance, six key leaf and root functional traits, and molecular phylogeny. 

Results: Plant taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic β-diversity exhibited significant distance-decay patterns, with functional β-diversity showing the strongest relationship with geographic distance. Null model analysis indicated that the taxonomic β-diversity of China’s Black Gobi desert plant community displayed a random distribution pattern, suggesting that it is primarily regulated by neutral processes. In contrast, functional and phylogenetic β-diversity exhibited non-random distribution patterns, indicating that niche processes dominate plant functional and phylogenetic assembly. Notably, phylogenetic and functional β-diversity were decoupled in China’s Black Gobi desert. None of the six functional traits exhibited significant phylogenetic signals, suggesting that the functional traits of Gobi plants have not been conserved through evolutionary processes. Furthermore, variance partitioning analysis indicated that both soil and climatic factors jointly determine plant community β-diversity, with annual precipitation and solar radiation exerting a stronger influence. 

Conclusions: Our results indicated that the relative roles of niche processes and neutral processes in shaping the patterns of plant β-diversity in China’s Black Gobi desert vary among different dimensions. In addition to water-energy factors such as annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, solar radiation also emerges as an important driver for the plant β-diversity. Taken together, our findings highlight that the ecological drivers of plant diversity may differ among various dimensions and that solar radiation plays a key role in shaping plant diversity in the extremely harsh Gobi desert environments.

Aims: Integrative taxonomy, which combines multiple lines of evidence, offers an effective approach for resolving species boundaries. The cannabina Clade of the genus Urtica is widely distributed across the “Third Pole”, a region characterized by exceptional biodiversity and distinctive ecological environments. Despite their wide distribution, species boundaries within this clade have been challenging due to complex morphological traits and complicated evolutionary history. In this study, we conducted an integrative taxonomic assessment of four species of cannabina Clade (Urtica cannabina; U. triangularis; U. dioica; U. hyperborea) from the Third Pole by integrating genomic data with analyses of geographic distribution and morphological traits, using U. mairei, U. membranifolia and several related genera as outgroups. 

Methods: Geographic boundaries were delineated using ArcGIS based on occurrence records from GBIF, PPBC, NPSRC, iNaturalist, and records collected from the field. Morphological traits differentiation was assessed via Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) of 16 morphological traits. Phylogenetic relationships and population genetic structure were reconstructed based on plastid genome data and the Angiosperms353 nuclear gene set from 50 individuals of the cannabina Clade. 

Results: Our analyses revealed the following key findings: (1)Urtica hyperborea is a well-supported monophyletic clade, exhibiting distinct morphological and geographic range. Although it overlaps in distribution with U. dioica in the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains, they typically occupy different altitudinal gradients; (2)Urtica dioica subsp. afghanica and U. dioica subsp. gansuensis display significant divergence in distribution, morphology, and genomic from U. dioica subsp. dioica, suggesting the possible presence of cryptic species. However, their taxonomic status requires further investigation; (3) Urtica triangularis, U. cannabina, and U. dioica show geographical overlapping and little clustering difference in both morphological and genetic data. The observed cyto-nuclear discordance indicates potential genetic introgression among these taxa. Morphological convergence among species in high-altitude environments might contribute to the difficulty in distinguishing between them based on their traits. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the integration of plastome data with the Angiosperm353 nuclear gene dataset shows great promise in delimiting closely related species. 

Conclusion: Through the integration of multiple lines of evidences, this study comprehensively delineates species boundaries within the cannabina Clade and offers new insights into plant evolutionary processes in the Third Pole. These findings not only enhance our understanding of interspecific relationships and distribution patterns within the genus Urtica, but also offer a robust methodological framework for exploring the integrated taxonomy in other plant groups across the Third Pole region.