It is not only the climate that is changing. We are now also observing a global biological change. Here we revise the overwhelming evidence that these changes affect not only individual species but also simplify the structure of entire food webs, threatening long-term community persistence. We must take urgent action to protect the integrity of natural food webs, or we might rapidly push entire ecosystems outside their safe zones.

The Arion ater complex comprises two morphological forms: A. rufus and A. ater, and no consensus exists about their species status. Both forms belong to different phylogenetic clades, and we have investigated the correspondence to different species. To do it, we analysed three mitochondrial genes with two different genetic approaches (one classic, one cutting-edge). Results suggested that both clades, thus forms, are different species, and shed light on the taxonomic classification of the group.

Many practices have been proposed in conservation education to facilitate a re-connection between nature and young digitally dependent people in anthropized contexts. In this paper we suggest that, at least in some specific circumstances (urban and suburban areas), non-native invasive species may have a paradoxical and positive impact on conservation education strategies, playing a role as an experiential tool, which represents a cultural ecosystem service.

Pouteria splendens is an endemic endangered tree from central Chile. Natural regeneration in the species seems to be low and its distribution is restricted. We investigate seed dispersal and survival. Results indicated a low distance of seed dispersal, and the presence of leaf litter covering seeds increased survival. We suggest that future conservation programs should focus on protecting both adult plants and leaf litter under trees.

Artificial wetlands are becoming critical habitats as natural wetlands continue to be degraded and destroyed. I surveyed quarry wetlands to assess how they provide habitat for frogs and the factors driving patterns. Quarry wetlands consistently harboured more species and healthier individuals than reference wetlands. We need to encourage wildlife utilisation of quarry wetlands, and the methods outlined here provide a powerful, yet simple, tool to assess the overall health of artificial wetlands.

The Serra do Rola Moça State Park is located in Brazil and is home to Canga vegetation. The objective of the study was to conserve biodiversity. The species present mainly belong to the Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Myrtaceae, Velloziaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Orchidaceae families. Approximately 15 000 individuals of Canga species were translocated and planted. This study indicates the possibility of nursery breeding of some of the native species and their use in the recovery of areas in mining regions.

I use primary empirical data obtained through interviews in case studies around England to explore the neoliberal character of biodiversity offsetting, its interrelationship with governance rescaling, and the way the latter influences the distribution of offsetting’s costs and benefits. My results show that biodiversity offsetting in England has been a reactionary neoliberal policy characterized by important deficits from an environmental and socio-spatial justice perspective.

An unexpected high biodiversity can be found even in densely inhabited areas, possibly as a result of a tendency of human settlements to be located in sites particularly favourable also for other organisms. We studied the relationship between human density and tenebrionid beetle richness in Italian islands. Tenebrionid richness increased with human population density. This suggests that islands that are more hospitable to humans are also those that can be more favourable for tenebrionids.

Only little of current biodiversity knowledge reaches the young generation. We developed the educational software PRONAS to show how scientists handle questions about the impact of climate change on species' habitats. About fifty European species have been used to demonstrate habitat losses and shifts and the mismatch of habitat dynamics of interacting species. We found that “educational software” is a useful format for scientific outreach. PRONAS is freely accessible in German and English.

Arthropod monitoring in protected areas often requires non-destructive methods in order to avoid detrimental effects on natural communities. Video monitoring recorded the highest number of individuals followed by quadrat sampling and pitfall trapping. Quadrat sampling showed the highest diversity followed by video monitoring and pitfall trapping. Thus, video monitoring has a great potential as a supplementary method for biodiversity assessments especially at the level of parataxonomic units.