Endangered aquatic species face greater survival challenges than their terrestrial counterparts under increasing pressures from global climate change and human activities in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Accurate data on population size, density, distribution, and dynamics are critical for effective conservation, yet traditional field surveys suffer from limitations such as high labor demands, subjective biases, and low efficiency due to the rarity and cryptic nature of these species. Moreover, conventional methods often disturb both target organisms and their habitats. Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology addresses these challenges by detecting species-specific DNA fragments in water samples, enabling non-invasive monitoring of presence, distribution, and abundance. This review examines eDNA applications for tracking endangered aquatic species, including population distribution, abundance, biomass, and life-history traits, while outlining the technical workflow, key steps, and current limitations. The discussion aims to advance both methodological and theoretical frameworks for conserving these vulnerable or endangered species.

Aims: This study analyzes changes in species composition, stand structure, and diversity of Jiulianshan evergreen broad-leaved forests over 14 years following the 2008 southern snow disaster, revealing post-disaster community dynamics to inform forest restoration and sustainable management. 

Method: Based on two phytosociological surveys (2008 and 2022) in a 4 ha evergreen broad-leaved forest plot in Jiulianshan, Jiangxi Province. We classified trees into three growth stages (saplings: 1 cm≤DBH<5 cm; treelets: 5 cm≤DBH<10 cm; adults trees: DBH≥10 cm) to examine post-snow community dynamics. 

Results: The results revealed 13308 woody plants (47 families, 87 genera, 185 species) in 2008, which increased to 17116 individuals (41 families, 76 genera, 178 species) by 2022. From 2008 to 2022, increased by 39.4% for saplings, 9.7% for treelets, and 4.4% for adults trees, while basal area increased by 23.1%, 14.3%, and 3.7%, respectively. In 2022, overall species richness, as well as species richness and the Shannon-Wiener index at the sapling stage, were significantly higher than in 2008. In 2022, the number of rare species at the sapling stage decreased compared to 2008 (61 vs. 76 species), while common species increased (40 vs. 46 species). In 2022, the mean DBH at sapling stage significantly decreased compared to 2008, while mean tree height across all growth stages showed a significant increase. From 2008 to 2022, the importance values of pioneer species increased in sapling and treelet stages, while those of shade-tolerant species increased in the adult tree stage. 

Conclusion: From 2008 to 2022, the evergreen broad-leaved forest community exhibited a recovery trend after snow disaster disturbance, with a significant increase in sapling abundance and species richness serving as key drivers of regeneration. Despite increased overall diversity, the reduction in mean DBH indicates long-term impacts of the snow disaster. Following the snow disaster, the release of resources such as light and space increased pioneer species richness at the sapling stage, yet the community shifted toward greater dominance of shade-tolerant species.

Aims: To investigate the gut bacterial community structure and diversity of six economically important cyprinid species (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Parabramis pekinensis, Aristichthys nobilis, Culter alburnus, Carassius auratus, Megalobrama amlycephala) in the Nanhai Wetland of Baotou. Specifically, this study aimed to explore correlations between gut bacteria and host growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and dietary niche to provide a theoretical basis for healthy aquaculture and disease prevention. 

Methods: High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to systematically analyze the gut bacteria across six cyprinid fish species. Additionally, we investigated their correlations with host growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and dietary niche. Key methods included: alpha diversity analysis, beta diversity analysis, and community composition analysis. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was employed to identify significantly differential microbes across groups. Correlation analysis was conducted using redundancy analysis (RDA) and Spearman correlation heatmaps. 

Results: A total of 1,051,137 valid sequences were obtained, which were divided into 11,164 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units). Based on the minimum number of reads (45813) of all samples, 11108 OTUs were retained for subsequent statistical analysis, among which these OTUs belonged to 37 phyla and 1,005 genera. Microbial community composition analysis revealed that all six Cyprinidae fish species shared a core gut microbiota, with Pseudomonadota, Fusobacteriota, and Actinomycetota identified as the dominant phyla, while Cetobacterium and Rothia emerged as the dominant genera. The results suggest that Cyprinidae fish share a core gut microbiota, which is likely functionally conserved in processes such as short-chain fatty acid production, vitamin synthesis, and energy metabolism. Nevertheless, significant interspecific divergence was detected. There were significant differences among the gut bacterial structure of the six cyprinid fish species using the methods of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), indicating species-specific characteristics, meaning that the gut bacterial communities of different fish species possess unique compositional features. At the phylum level, LEfSe analysis identified significant enrichment of Cyanobacteriota in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, consistent with its filter-feeding ecological habit in the upper water layer, reflecting host adaptation to specific food sources. At the genus level, 20 significantly differential bacterial genera were identified, such as Methylobacterium_Methylorubrum, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and Cyanobium sp. PCC 6307 in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix; Plesiomonas in Aristichthys nobilis; and Candidatus_Competibacter in Carassius auratus, all of which are closely associated with host ecological habits. Moreover, the gut bacterial community structure was significantly correlated with host growth performance, antioxidant indicators, and dietary niche using correlation analysis. Specifically, growth-related parameters including condition factor (R^²=0.731, p=0.001), sex (R^²=0.595, p=0.002), age (R^²=0.530, p=0.003), and viscerosomatic index (R^²=0.453, p=0.013) sequentially exerted significant effects on gut bacterial structure, with four key bacterial genera (e.g., Sphingomonas, Algoriphagus, and Acinetobacter) identified as critical correlates. In terms of antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging activity (R^²=0.700, p=0.001) and H₂O₂ content (R^²=0.690, p=0.001) were the primary determinants of microbial community composition, linked to ten functional genera, including Vibrio, Aeromonas, and Plesiomonas. Meanwhile, six bacterial genera were identified as significantly associated with distinct feeding niches, including  Marivivens, Acinetobacter, and Candidatus_Competibacter, were also identified. 

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that Cyprinidae fish shared a core gut microbiota, which exhibited functional conservation in fundamental metabolic processes, while species-specific bacteria synergistically regulated host nutrient metabolism, oxidative stress responses, and growth-related physiological processes to enhance their adaptation to specific environmental conditions. These findings provide a scientific experimental basis for wetland fish resource management and precision fish farming.

Aims: In September 2025, the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO will take place in Hangzhou, China. The decadal Congress will establish a new global action plan for the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, namely “Hangzhou MAB Strategic Action Plan”, to re-anchor the mission of MAB in addressing global challenges in biodiversity and sustainable development, and to specify the roles of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). This article aims to provide insight on the relevance of MAB’s mission and offer suggestions for future actions, as complementary input toward the global preparation of this strategic MAB document. 

Methods: The priorities for action are identified on the author’s long-term involvement in MAB and WNBR since early 1990s, through direct experience in developing MAB research projects, thematic and regional biosphere networks and the formulation of global strategic plans in UNESCO. Consideration is given to the needs and challenges in established global biodiversity and sustainable development agreements where MAB and WNBR may make contribution. 

Results: The article outlines the current main difficulties encountered in global biodiversity and sustainability agenda, including the stagnation in many SDGs, and provides views on the main underlying causes. It recalls the initial mission setting of MAB and stresses the historical responsibility of MAB as a long-standing intergovernmental scientific programme to drive change and enable progress. MAB community must stand on the front to address global challenges and be scientifically inspiring and institutionally dynamic. Arrangements should be made to call and review, on a routine basis, the most pertinent scientific questions for MAB and WNBR, in order to build new consensus for cooperation. The article further suggests six areas for new MAB research and action: (1) biosphere integrity and resilience; (2) studies on interactions between biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and social sciences, building on UNESCO's parallel long-term scientific programs; (3) the components in biosphere so far less studied but may potentially be more significant especially in connection with climate change and social economic development; (4) ecosystem restoration, natural recovery and ecological reconstruction; (5) green economies and sustainable livelihoods for communities living within and around biosphere reserves; (6) the development of digital twin of biosphere as new platform for future scientific research, assessment, monitoring and for design and simulation of various management scenarios for WNBR sites. The needs for MAB Programme and WNBR to further enhance its partnership is discussed, particularly concerning the partnership with relevant international conventions and programmes, with the science programmes of UNESCO. It further calls for attention regarding partnership with local governance mechanisms where Biosphere Reserves are located, as such partnership is currently weak but critical for MAB and WNBR to become effectively connected to the diverse and real national and local development contexts. 

Conclusions: Amid growing global challenges, the MAB Programme plays a vital role in advancing sustainability. Despite progress in research and actions, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change remain critical. The WNBR provides model sites for learning and testing sustainable development strategies and should be considered as a global infrastructure for sustainability. Future priorities for MAB and WNBR include enhancing interdisciplinary research on biosphere integrity and resilience, Earth system interactions, ecological restoration, green economy, and digital biosphere technologies. Strengthening partnerships with multilateral environmental agreements and UNESCO’s science programs is essential. A much-improved engagement with local governments through structured dialogue mechanisms can support place-based conservation and development. At this pivotal moment of history, MAB must mobilize global scientific capacities and policy networks to harmonize the relations of humans and the biosphere.

Aims: To systematically examine soil viral community composition and assess their carbon metabolic functional potential across urban wetland ecosystems. 

Methods: Taking the five types of sample plots, including trees, shrubs and grasslands, shrub grassland, reed marsh, shoals and ponds distributed widely in Xixi National Wetland in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province as the research objects. This study investigates soil viral diversity patterns and carbon metabolic gene composition across these five habitats using virus metagenomic sequencing coupled with bioinformatics analysis. 

Results：There were significant differences in virus richness and diversity among the five habitat types (P<0.05), with hierarchical rankings as follows: shrub grassland> trees, shrubs and grasslands> reed marsh >shoals>ponds; The structural equation modeling analysis showed that this spatial pattern was predominantly mainly driven by soil physico-chemical properties, with the order of effect value was pH>soil moisture>SOC≈TN>soil temperature. The contribution of comprehensive effect value of virus host and virus diversity was in the order of TN>SOC>soil temperature, and the direct effect of virus host on virus diversity was the strongest (effect value=0.87); A total of 158 unique carbohydrate transport and metabolism (G) genes were identified, including 13 distinct carbohydrate active enzyme (CAZyme) families. Among these glycosyltransferases accounted for the highest proportion (65.8%), indicating that soil viruses may play an important role in wetland carbon cycling through glycosylation-mediated processes. 

Conclusion: The diversity of soil viruses in Xixi Wetland exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. This distribution pattern is closely linked to variations in soil physical and chemical properties (especially the key factors such as SOC, TN and soil water content). A total of 158 distinct functional genes associated with carbohydrate transport and metabolism (G) were identified across sampled regions, including approximately 13 CAZyme genes. These genes contribute to wetland carbon cycling processes through regulating the metabolic pathways of host microorganisms.

Background & Aims: This paper provides a detailed theoretical basis for changing the disciplinary name of “Ethnobotany” in Chinese from “民族植物学(Minzu Zhiwuxue)” to “人文植物学(Renwen Zhiwuxue).” From 1980s, Ethnobotany, translated as “民族植物学(Minzu Zhiwuxue)” in China, has undergone significant development and has made important contributions in the fields such as conservation of biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge, traditional medicine, plant taxonomy, economic botany and plant resource development and utilization, as well as sustainable agriculture. However, as the discipline gains increasing impacts in China, widespread confusion and misconceptions about its Chinese name have hindered the development of the discipline and the dissemination of knowledge on biocultural diversity. Especially in the context of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, cultural and national identity have become increasingly important. The term labeled with “民族(ethno-)” exacerbate cultural division and limit its scope. 

Perspective: A retrospective analysis of ethnobotanical evolution reveals that the discipline, both globally and in China, has consistently transcended specific ethnic confines, moving beyond ethnic limitations to propel traditional botanical knowledge from localized cultural practices toward a shared ecological wisdom of humanity. Therefore, we propose “人文植物学(Renwen Zhiwuxue)” as the official Chinese rendering of “Ethnobotany” to enhance its humanistic universality, bridge academic and public understanding, and better reflect cultural integrity and shared ecological responsibility. Thereby it will contribute to the conservation and utilization of plant diversity in China, as well as exploration and dissemination of China’s rich and profound plant culture. 

Future prospects: To explore plant culture, study traditional knowledge associated with plant diversity, and reveal the relationship between humans and plants, we have to rely on ethnobotany. The proposal of “人文植物学(Renwen Zhiwxue)” as a renewed and appropriate translation for the discipline not only addresses the limitations of the previous term “民族植物学(Minzu Zhiwuxue)”. It will also reflect contemporary demands for interdisciplinary research, scientific communication, and cultural identity. To select exemplary cases of Chinese plant culture and constructing a discourse system for Ethnobotany in China, it will provide strong scientific support for China’s implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The modern history of Chinese botany takes 1950 as a crucial turning point, marking the reorganization of previous research institutions under the newly established Chinese Academy of Sciences and the advent of a new era in botanical science. This article chronicles the developments before 1950, beginning with the establishment of the first biology department at a national university by Chi Ping and Hsen-Hsu Hu in 1921. Subsequently, several research institutes were founded, primarily dedicated to the collection and taxonomic study of Chinese flora. These efforts laid the foundation for the compilation of the Flora of China. This historical overview illustrates how Chinese botany, under the leadership of prominent figures, evolved from its inception to a period of flourishing development, and then declined under the impact of war.

The Jilong Valley in Tibet harbors rich biodiversity, with pollination networks primarily mediated by pollinators playing a crucial role in maintaining the stability of local ecosystems. To more efficiently monitor the composition and dynamics of pollination networks in this region, as well as the dietary composition of key pollinator species, this study aims to construct a chloroplast genome database of flowering plants in Jilong Valley for molecular identification of pollen plant species. First, based on data from the Chinese Virtual Herbarium, we compiled a checklist of flowering plant species in Jilong Town during the blooming season from June to November. Chloroplast genome sequences for species on this checklist were retrieved from the NCBI public database when available, and de novo assembly and annotation were performed for nine additional plant species using high-throughput sequencing data. Among these, three species are endemic to Tibet, including Thalictrum reniforme, Caragana sukiensis, Roscoea auriculata (Near Threatened). Subsequently, 64 protein-coding genes (PCGs) from each species were extracted and concatenated to serve as reference sequences for the database. The preliminary chloroplast genome database for flowering plants comprises 419 species. The establishment of this database will provide crucial reference data to support molecular identification of the dietary diversity and pollination preferences of pollinating insects in Jilong Valley.