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.

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.

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.

Climate change may reduce available habitat for native species, while simultaneously increasing suitable habitat for invasive species.To identify climate refugia that are both suitable for native species and unsuitable for invasive species, we propose a refugia habitat identification metric based on ecological niche modelling. We demonstrate the utility of the metric via a case study of a freshwater crayfish which is threatened by both climate change and the invasive brown bullhead catfish.

Not all nutrients (C, N, P) are processed in the same way: some nutrient forms hold power dynamics over others for efficient assimilation in biological systems. Rings of Power connect the ecology and metabolism of aquatic ecosystems, providing means to control nutrient cycles in waters through higher trophic levels (aquatic consumers).

Fungal ecology is often studied using short fragments of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These DNA fragments can approximate fungal species using different computational methods but the best choice is not clear. We analysed large, simulated fungal communities to overcome the limitations of experimental work and compare different analysis workflows. Our results identify the analysis choices which give the closest match to reality. This should help guide study design in fungal ecology.

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.

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.

How do soil nematodes survive in Earth's harshest places? We synthesized global research from polar, alpine, and arid regions. We found they share common survival strategies, like suspending their metabolism, and rely on simple microbe-based food webs. Our review concludes that climate change impacts them mostly indirectly, by altering permafrost or vegetation. Understanding these sensitive organisms is vital for predicting the stability of nutrient cycling in Earth's most vulnerable ecosystems.

Hedgerows are a threatened component of agricultural landscapes that illustrate the relationships between biodiversity and farmland management. This study explores the effect of both the distance and management of hedgerows on ant communities, using taxonomic and functional diversities. We observed various links that allowed us to highlight the influence of hedgerows on ant communities and the agroecological services and disservices they could promote in farmlands.

Bird richness in rain-fed rice fields of Guinea-Bissau was influenced by field management and landscape structure. Tree cover and field width enhanced richness, but landscape composition and edge complexity had stronger effects. The findings highlight the importance of landscape-level planning alongside local habitat measures to support biodiversity and potentially ecosystem services in smallholder rice systems.

Urban soil bacteria are important for human health, plants, and the environment. We studied bacterial communities under city trees and found that, like in non-urban soils, bacterial diversity is affected by soil pH and water availability. However, bacterial communities in cities can show quite a lot of variation between locations, and we suspect that they are therefore far more affected by historic construction. Our findings highlight the importance of paying attention to soil bacteria for city planning.

In studies of the germination of species with indehiscent fruits containing a single seed, it is often assumed that all ripe fruits contain a seed capable of germinating. This is not always the case, and through experiments with Salvia rosmarinus, we demonstrate that using data from seeded fruits allows for more robust and reliable conclusions to be drawn about the factors affecting reproduction or germination than when data from all fruits are used.

Flower morphology, playing a key role in determining which visitors are pollinators, is known to vary among species and cultivars within species. Blueberry flowers have morphology that limits access to rewards, constraining pollination to specific species. We identified the main pollinators of several blueberry cultivars, along with related visitors and visit rates to flower morphology. Our results indicate that cultivar flower morphology and pollinator proboscis size are important in blueberry pollination.

Nearby plants are often genetically related, which can influence their reproductive success. We studied how neighbourhood affects reproduction in Moricandia moricandioides by measuring floral traits, and male and female reproductive success. Neighbouring plants influenced both female and male fitness components, although the direction and magnitude of these effects varied depending on floral display traits. These results reveal that genetic neighbourhoods can shape plant reproduction.

In Nanhua Temple’s sacred forest, we found a critically declining Glyptostrobus pensilis population. Surveys reveal only nine ancient trees, several dying, with zero natural regeneration. This highlights that cultural protection alone is insufficient. Without active intervention, these heritage trees will vanish. We urge immediate monitoring, habitat restoration, and emergency conservation to save this remnant cluster.

Frugivorous bats of the Vampyrodes genus are essential seed dispersers in tropical forests but face growing threats from deforestation and climate change. Using ecological niche modeling, this study demonstrates that V. major may maintain stable habitat conditions in the future, whereas V. caraccioli could lose up to half of its suitable areas. Our results underscore the need for targeted conservation measures, such as establishing forest corridors and protecting habitats, to ensure their survival.

Reproductive phenology is an essential component of forest ecology and a valuable metric for assessing the impacts of climate change. We present 15 years of flowering and fruiting observations for Australian tropical rainforest tree species and analyse how reproductive phenology patterns change through time at both the species and community level. We find that reproductive phenology is influenced by plant functional traits, including seed dispersal syndrome.

We studied bats on Flores Island to understand which species are present and how they use the landscape. Using sound recordings and genetic analysis, we confirmed two species, including the first record of the Azorean bat on the island. One species was widespread and abundant, while the other was rare. These findings improve knowledge of island biodiversity and support the need for continued monitoring and conservation of small, isolated bat populations.