We studied the current and future distribution of four potentially invasive crab species in Europe using species distribution models. The models showed that potential distributions for all species are larger than currently known. Conditions for three species will improve in most of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the Adriatic and Aegean seas. These seas are highly suitable and will become more favourable, highlighting the need for monitoring these species.

Since 1850, glaciers have retreated in the Alps, providing ground for vegetation succession. Such systems were studied intensively in other parts of the Alps, but excluding the Northern Limestone Alps. Hence, we initiated a long-term research programme, which we introduce here. Initial findings show an increase in plant species richness and cover with age since deglaciation. This is, however, by far slower than observed elsewhere in the Alps, likely due to the specific geology and geomorphology.

It is well known that the spatial distribution of micro-organisms is heterogeneous. Taking spatiality into account allows for better modelling of the environmental parameters that drive the distribution of living organisms. We show that geographically weighted models perform much better in reconstructing water table depth in peatlands based on testate amoeba communities. The method (R package) can be used for any application of a regression model in the case of heterogeneous spatial distribution.

Our study analyzed the distribution of 356 hedgehog and 918 badger sightings from 2012 to 2023 in Vienna, Austria. Both species were reported in areas with a mix of built-up spaces and green areas but not arable land, which can have ecological and methodological reasons. Moreover, hedgehogs and badgers were mostly reported from different areas. Our findings suggest that citizen science can be a good data source to analyze urban human–wildlife interactions.

Horizon scanning (HS) applied to invasion processes plays a crucial role in the early identification of new pests and serves as a valuable complement to monitoring efforts. Here, an analysis of the HS activity during the last 7 years is conducted. The data obtained reflect patterns about the monitoring phases, their outcomes, and the way such outputs are communicated. These results show how effective the methodology has been in detecting not-listed pests as emerging pests over the period.

Citizen science involves people from outside of academia in data collection and research, for example, taking photographs of insects or birds that are then shared with other users and used for biodiversity and conservation purposes. However, these apps require large servers to function, which can be very costly. In this paper, we present serverless peer-to-peer alternatives and suggest best practices for user interface design so that these apps remain easy to adopt.

We report the first visual observation of putative mating behavior in blue sharks off the Basque coast in northern Spain, where a mature male displayed courtship behavior toward a younger female. In addition, we found bite marks on multiple female sharks across 4 years, supporting ongoing mating activity in the region. These findings suggest that this area may be important for blue shark reproduction and highlight the need for more research on their life cycle and habitat use.