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        <title>Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-10T21:55:49.615+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800428</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800428</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Taxonomy as an indicator of trophic diversity in microbial eukaryotic plankton in an Arctic outflow gateway]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Aurélie Labarre</author><author>Sara Harðardóttir</author><author>Connie Lovejoy</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionMarine microbial eukaryotes are major contributors to oceanic biodiversity and biogeochemical cycling in both surface and deep waters, yet their functional diversity and distribution remain incompletely understood. The Arctic Ocean, with strong environmental gradients, long-term basin isolation, and pronounced water mass stratification, provides a model system to test how environmental filtering and evolutionary history might add to current understanding. We examined microbial eukaryote assemblages in the Arctic from Nares Strait into Baffin Bay, testing the hypothesis that dominant trophic strategies are associated with water mass origin.MethodsUsing high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene across two size fractions (0.22–3 and 3–50 μm), we characterized communities associated with distinct Arctic water masses during summer. We then used the data set to ascertain the characteristics and possible origins of rare taxa.ResultsAssemblages in the four vertically stacked water masses were dominated by dinoflagellates and heterotrophic lineages. Mixotrophic and phototrophic lineages were mostly confined to the upper two water masses, with some phototrophic linages found in deeper waters. DiscussionOur approach, which was limited to DNA as a template, captured putative functional and historic distributions of ASVs  within water masses including multiple uncultivated groups.  The deeper water communities occasionally included phototrophic lineages that would have originated in the surface or potentially been uplifted from the sediment, which was consistent with the persistence of DNA from dead organisms The distribution of core dinoflagellates and parasitic Syndinales indicated a potential reservoir of Syndinales in deep Atlantic waters, suggesting new avenues of research.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1828114</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1828114</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Spatio-temporal variation and driving mechanism of ecological resilience of blue-green infrastructure in “pattern-process-function” watershed: a case study of Dawen River Basin]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xinhan Zhang</author><author>Lei Shi</author><author>Feng Song</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Under the background of rapid urbanization and frequent global climate extreme events, giving full play to the ecological services and functions of blue-green infrastructure has become an important way to ensure regional sustainable development. However, current studies on blue-green infrastructure resilience are mostly limited to single-dimension assessments, overlooking the systematic disclosure of the evolution and driving mechanism of comprehensive ecological resilience under challenges like flood risk, fragile ecosystems, and biodiversity decline, causing fragmented cognition. Taking the Dawen River Basin as an example, this study innovatively integrated the “pattern - process - function” cascading coupling framework of resilience, combined with Fragstats 4.2, InVEST and other models, analyzed the spatial and temporal changes of watershed pattern, process and functional resilience from 1990 to 2020, and explored the driving factors affecting ecological resilience with the help of the optimal parameter geographic detector. Furthermore, the geographically weighted regression model is used to reveal the spatio-temporal non-stationarity of the main driving factors. The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the proportion of the total area of blue-green infrastructure in the Dawen River Basin has always remained above 80%, which is dominated by green infrastructure, but it shows a downward trend from 90.17% to 82.73%. (2) The ecological resilience of the blue-green infrastructure in the basin shows a step-change trend of “descending, ascending, ascending”, in which the pattern and process resilience show a fluctuating downward trend, decreasing by 2.12% and 3.37% respectively, while the functional resilience shows an increasing trend, increasing by 6.78%. (3) The absolute values of regression coefficients of slope length factor, runoff velocity, blue-green infrastructure connectivity, night light and policy factors continue to increase, and the intensity of their influence on ecological resilience is increasing year by year. To improve ecological resilience in the future, on the basis of protecting and expanding high-resilience regions, differentiated strategies should be implemented for low-resilience regions, so as to enhance the spatial and functional connections among various infrastructures, and systematically build an interconnected regional ecological resilience network.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1819553</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1819553</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Stem photosynthesis and hydraulics are not coordinated in photosynthetic stems in a tropical xerophytic scrub]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Eleinis Ávila-Lovera</author><author>Louis S. Santiago</author><author>Wilmer Tezara</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Stem photosynthesis is common in multiple seasonally dry biomes, however, most of current knowledge comes from studies done in desert and Mediterranean-type ecosystems. In the tropics, plants with photosynthetic stems also occur in tropical dry forests and xerophytic scrubs, which are among the most threatened terrestrial ecosystems. Research in warm deserts has shown that stem photosynthesis and water transport (hydraulics) are interconnected, with species having greater stem hydraulic conductance also maintaining greater stem stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate. We tested whether this hypothesis holds true in drought-deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs from a tropical xerophytic scrub in the Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island, Venezuela, an area impacted by open-cast sand mining. Exploring the potential coordination between photosynthetic and hydraulic traits within and among organs will give us insights into the functional strategies plants use to cope with seasonal drought and disturbance in this site. To this aim, we measured photosynthetic rate (Aarea), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in leaves and photosynthetic stems, and stem hydraulic traits in 12 tree and shrub species. We found no relationship between sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (KS) and stem Aarea. However, species with high KS also had high leaf δ13C, indicating that efficient stem water transport is associated with leaves having greater long-term integrated water-use efficiency. Interestingly, species with higher stem Aarea also exhibited higher stem water-use efficiency, both intrinsic and instantaneous. Results suggest a coordination of hydraulics and photosynthetic traits between leaves and stems but not within photosynthetic stems. Our results also suggest higher variability in economic traits in photosynthetic stems than in leaves, indicating potential differences in the selection of photosynthetic traits in leaves and stems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1769757</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1769757</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Personality tips the scale: how individual differences in exploration shape behavioural and hormonal adjustment to different environments]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sophia Marie Quante</author><author>Dongying Zhao</author><author>Rupert Palme</author><author>Sylvia Kaiser</author><author>S. Helene Richter</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Individuals show consistent differences in their behaviour across time and/or context, usually referred to as animal personality in behavioural ecology. These inter-individual differences raised the question if animals of different personalities also vary in how they adjust to certain environmental conditions. In the present study, we aimed to investigate personality-dependent differences to different environmental conditions. By means of two distinct experiments, Lister Hooded rats (Rattus norvegicus f. domestica) were characterised regarding their level of exploration and exposed to an environment with a predictable versus an unpredictable food availability (experiment 1) or to an environment with a social partner of matching versus mismatching personality (experiment 2). To assess behavioural differences between individuals of varying exploration levels, the home cage behaviour of the animals was monitored and two tests for measuring anxiety-like behaviour were conducted. Furthermore, concentrations of baseline faecal corticosterone metabolites were determined to record hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical activity repeatedly. The characterisation showed consistent inter-individual differences in exploration levels in both experiments. While personality, environment and the interaction of both did not affect faecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations in neither of the experiments, several behavioural differences between individuals of varying exploration levels were detected in the home cage and in the tests. Most interestingly, interactions between personality and environment were found, pointing towards a better behavioural adjustment of highly explorative animals to predictable conditions. Therefore, the results emphasise the existence of context-specific personality-dependent behavioural patterns. Moreover, personality-dependent and environment-dependent differences in welfare-associated measures were reported. More specifically, a predictable food availability was associated with more affiliative and less agonistic behaviour, whilst a matched social partner was linked to increased locomotor activity in one of the behaviour tests. Additionally, restructuring of the social group was reported to increase faecal corticosterone metabolites. Thus, the study does not only highlight the importance of integrating personality into eco-evolutionary perspectives on adjustment processes but also points towards relevant aspects for animal welfare endeavours.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1701295</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1701295</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Inferring ancestral population type from limited samples]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>David Waxman</author><author>Andrew D. J. Overall</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionA population’s demographic “type” is characterized by the shape of its age distribution. This structure provides insights into its behavioral ecology, such as how elderly individuals contribute to the survival and reproductive success of younger members (e.g., the grandmother hypothesis). As human populations vary across a broad spectrum of types—ranging from enslaved (Type II) to modern industrial (Type I) populations—there is significant interest in identifying the demographic shapes of ancient populations.MethodsWe simulated allele frequency drift for 17 age-structured populations with overlapping generations across a range of population types. Differences between estimates of age-specific loss of genetic diversity were utilized to estimate survivorship curves (lx), which were then used to categorize the source population’s type.ResultsWe demonstrate that Pollak’s Fk — a measure designed to capture changes in allele frequencies across time points within an age-class — can be accurately approximated across different age-classes within a single time point (i.e., a standing population).DiscussionIn scenarios where DNA samples are limited but span multiple age-classes, such as in ancient DNA or endangered species research, this method makes it possible to estimate population type and demographic history.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1819307</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1819307</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Changes and assessment of grassland ecosystem health in alpine region, as in Eastern Kunlun Mountains]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yongxiao Zhu</author><author>Junqiang Yao</author><author>Siyu Liu</author><author>Yang Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe health of grassland ecosystems is of great significance for regional ecological security. The alpine grassland is fragile and sensitive to climate change and human activities, but studies on the assessment and mechanism of the grassland ecosystem health are scarce. MethodsBased on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, together with the entropy method, obstruction degree model and optimal parameter-based geographical detector, we constructed a health assessment system for the grassland ecosystem in Eastern Kunlun Mountains (EKM) and systematically assessed the spatio-temporal dynamics changes of the ecosystem health in EKM from 1990 to 2020. Moreover, we dynamically identified the obstacle factor and driving factor of the grassland ecosystem health in EKM.ResultsThe results show that: (1) Over the past 30 years (1990-2020), the health index (HI) of the grassland ecosystem in EKM exhibited a fluctuating upward trend with average value of 0.2231. The grassland presented a healthier pattern in the southeast than in the northwest of EKM, generally at a medium-to-low health level (nearly 70%). (2) The health grades of the grassland ecosystem in EKM underwent significant changes. The percentage of the low health area dropped to 34.42%, and the combined percentage of the health and high health area fluctuated upward to 23.50%. The net improvement rate of the whole EKM region was +7.35%, but there was a slight degradation in the internal part of the grassland with a net improvement rate of -1.84%. (3) During 1990-2000, the structural pressure caused primarily by grassland area reduction and water resource constraints was the major obstacle, then in 2005-2015, it shifted to functional and climate stress featured with vegetation degradation (NDVI decline), and climatic drought. In 2020, a compound pressure pattern was formed with the simultaneous appearance of high obstruction degrees of multiple factors, including NDVI, standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and precipitation. (4) The factor detection results show that the land use area ratio (Q = 0.247), grassland area ratio (Q = 0.238), sediment flux (Q = 0.181) and grazing intensity (Q = 0.123) are the key factors dominating the spatial differentiation of grassland health. All the factor pairs exhibit either bivariate enhancement or nonlinear enhancement.DiscussionOverall, this study has integrated the obstacle diagnosis model with the geographical detector and revealed the dynamic evolution and spatial differentiation mechanisms of alpine grassland ecosystem health from the dual perspectives of constraint and driving. This is a valuable basis for protecting grassland ecological system in alpine regions and performing corresponding management.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1829217</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1829217</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Coupling coordination between urban green economy and ecological resilience in the context of urban rewilding: evidence from Chinese cities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chen Yang</author><author>Yi Yongkang</author><author>Wei Yuan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionUnder the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the development of green economy and the enhancement of ecological resilience are widely regarded as critical pathways for promoting sustainable urban transformation. However, systematic empirical evidence on the synergistic relationship between the two, along with their spatiotemporal evolution patterns and driving mechanisms, remains limited.MethodsBased on panel data from 280 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2023, this study first constructs a comprehensive evaluation indicator system for green economy and ecological resilience. It then employs methods such as the coupling coordination degree model, Dagum Gini coefficient, Markov chain, and geodetector to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between green economy and ecological resilience.ResultsThe key findings are as follows: (1) During the study period, both urban green economy and ecological resilience levels exhibited a continuous upward trend, with the CCD steadily increasing, indicating a gradual transition toward a stage of coordinated development. (2) The CCD shows significant regional heterogeneity, following a pattern of “convergence first, divergence later”, with inter-regional disparities serving as the primary source of overall inequality. (3) Spatially, the CCD exhibits a clustering pattern characterized by “high–high” and “low–low” agglomerations, with its evolution displaying notable path dependence and neighborhood spillover effects. (4) The geodetector analysis reveals that the level of digital infrastructure is the dominant driver of spatial differentiation in the CCD, with universal synergistic enhancement effects among various factors.DiscussionThese findings elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics underlying the coordinated development of green economy and ecological resilience, providing empirical evidence and policy implications for advancing high-quality and sustainable urban development under the SDGs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800460</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800460</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Birth weight shapes renal damage from prolonged endurance activity later in life]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Alison A. Murray</author><author>Daniel P. Longman</author><author>Emily L. Brown</author><author>Tomasz J. Nowak</author><author>Michael P. Muehlenbein</author><author>Jonathan C.K. Wells</author><author>Jay T. Stock</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionEndurance activity is considered a hallmark of human evolution, but there is limited understanding of what constrains this capacity. The renal demands of endurance exercise often elicit cellular damage, and renal functional capacity is shaped by fetal growth, but whether birth weight (BW) directly affects exercise-induced renal damage is unknown.MethodsHere, we test the extent to which birth weight shapes change in serum creatinine, a marker of kidney function, among 44 ultramarathon athletes racing in hot or cold conditions.ResultsOn their own, sex, age, distance run, hydration status, and muscle damage explained ~33% of the variance in absolute creatinine change (p=0.009). The addition of linear and quadratic mean-centered birth weight terms and ultramarathon race significantly improved the model fit (p<0.01), explaining ~58% of the variance in absolute creatinine change across the races (p<0.001). In this model, hydration status and both birth weight terms were the significant predictors of creatinine change (all p<0.05), indicating that both low and high birth weights were associated with a higher chance of transient elevation in creatinine after prolonged exercise. Holding all other variables constant, birth weight influences the kidney’s response to endurance exercise in a U-shaped manner, with the lowest increases in creatinine predicted at birth weights of ~3.8 kg.DiscussionRenal functional capacity, proxied by BW, may thus have been central in constraining the upper limits of endurance activity in human evolution, helping us to understand why not just inadequate, but too much, physical activity can impair health.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1817908</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1817908</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Comprehensive ecosystem assessment and refined zoning management of the Qinling-Daba mountains in China]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yueqing Yang</author><author>Xingjie Lin</author><author>Yu Miao</author><author>Liangliang Wu</author><author>Wei Sun</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The Qinling–Daba Mountains serve as a crucial ecological barrier in China’s national ecological security framework. Nonetheless, the designation of conservation areas and zoning management remain insufficiently refined and inadequately aligned with ecological processes, limiting effective preservation and high-quality regional development. Utilizing high-resolution remote sensing and multi-source spatial datasets (2000–2023), we performed a comprehensive evaluation of ecosystem patterns, ecosystem quality, and essential ecosystem services, and established a zoning framework that integrates ecosystem status, functional roles, and geographic constraints by superimposing key ecological function zones and biodiversity priority areas. Results indicate that (1) forest, built-up land, and wetlands increased by 1343.18 km2, 1725.36 km2, and 488.48 km2, respectively; landscape dynamics exhibited stable forest connectivity, farmland evolving from contiguous blocks to a more dispersed arrangement, and intensified clustering and expansion of urban land. Ecosystem quality increased overall: regions with growing EQI represented 48.07%, whereas 5.48% showed negative trends. Enhancements were mostly seen in the Qinling–Daba mountainous region, while reductions were more prevalent in the environmentally vulnerable northwestern area. Regions designated as “very important” for water and soil conservation constituted 17.90% and 10.75% of the study area, respectively, mostly aligning with mountainous areas characterized by dense vegetation and generally favorable hydrothermal conditions. By integrating qualitative and functional change indicators with spatial limitations, we identified three functional management categories: Ecological Enhancement (EI), Ecological Stability (ES), and Ecological Degradation Risk (ED), which were further separated into 18 zoning units. This research offers a practical spatial framework for targeted restoration and management, risk assessment, and efficient distribution of conservation resources to improve ecosystem resilience and governance accuracy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1752451</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1752451</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mapping of cultivated land resources and food security: spatiotemporal dynamics, mechanisms, and governance paths in China’s 13 major grain producing areas]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jiangtao Gao</author><author>Fenghua Liu</author><author>Xiangli Guo</author><author>Xiaobei Xu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Accelerating climate volatility, ecological degradation, and increasing land-use pressure demand systematic, data-driven approaches to safeguard cultivated land resources and national food security. Building upon the growing paradigm of intelligent ecological monitoring, this study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution and coupling relationship between cultivated land resources and food security across China’s major grain-producing regions from 2002 to 2023. Integrating multi-source panel data with an arable land productivity evaluation model, gravity-center transfer analysis, an improved land pressure index, and a food security driving-force model, we construct a comprehensive analytical framework that bridges resource conditions, agricultural capacity, and socio-economic dynamics. Results indicate that cultivated land resources in major grain-producing areas remained generally stable and improved over the study period. The arable land pressure index experienced short-term fluctuations in the early 2000s but stabilized after 2007. Moreover, the coupling tension between cultivated land resources and food security has steadily decreased, reflecting an increasingly coordinated development trajectory. These trends suggest progressive alignment between resource endowment, agricultural production structures, and institutional support. Guided by empirical findings and the strategic need for intelligent land governance, this study proposes: optimizing functional zoning in primary production areas to maximize spatial advantages; integrating land-use efficiency with ecological stewardship to advance the strategy of "storing grain in the land"; leveraging agricultural science and digital innovation to realize "storing grain in technology"; enhancing farmer welfare and institutional incentives to ensure "food security anchored in livelihoods"; and pursuing a balanced, resilience-oriented food security pathway. Collectively, these strategies provide evidence-based guidance for fostering synergistic and sustainable development between cultivated land resources and national food security, promoting long-term ecological resilience and socio-economic stability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1799425</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1799425</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Harvesting and economic potential of Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill. In Edo State, Nigeria]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>O. H. Opute</author><author>O. Arabomen</author><author>S. O. Jimoh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionNon-timber forest products such as bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis) are critical to rural economies in West Africa, yet their harvesting remains poorly understood in terms of economic returns and sustainability.MethodsThis study assessed the harvesting and economic potential of I. gabonensis in Edo State, Nigeria, using a purposive survey of 79 harvesters. Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression, complemented with thematic analysis of qualitative responses.ResultsThe results showed that harvesting is predominantly male-driven (68%), with a mean respondent age of 41 years, an average household size of 6, and a mean harvesting experience of 11 years. The activity was seasonal, occurring mainly from June to September, with an average weekly harvest volume of 124 kg per household. Regression analysis indicated that household size (β = 0.28, p < 0.05), years of experience (β = 0.32, p < 0.01), and access to productive trees (β = 0.41, p < 0.01) were significant predictors of profitability (R² = 0.47). Profitability analysis indicated that on average, each household earned a gross margin of 1₦103,800 (USD 71.5) per season, corresponding to a rate of return on investment of 91%. Constraints included limited access to trees (63%), declining yields (56%), and overdependence on wild stocks (72%).DiscussionThese findings highlight that sustainable harvesting and domestication of I. gabonensis can serve as Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), enhancing ecosystem services and promoting climate-resilient livelihoods in forest-dependent communities. The study concludes that I. gabonensis harvesting is economically viable but ecologically vulnerable, and that it requires domestication, sustainable practices, and improved access rights to secure its future contribution to rural incomes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1783145</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1783145</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Cracking the black box: a technology–management–policy nexus for invasive species control]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Grace Al-Khawand</author><author>Mohsen B. Mesgaran</author><author>Mir Matin</author><author>Kaveh Madani</author><author>Philipp Robeck</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Biological invasions are a primary driver of global biodiversity loss and impose socio-economic costs. While the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in invasion science has grown in recent years, a significant disconnect remains between advanced computational capabilities and on-the-ground management and policy implementation in biological invasions. This mini-review synthesises current trends in AI applications in invasion science and ecology. The results reveal a landscape dominated by fundamental research and species distribution modelling, with fewer studies focusing on tools for rapid response and control. Critical barriers to integration are identified, including data heterogeneity, the “black box” nature of deep learning, and the lack of standardised training data for management outcomes. Finally, a “Nexus” framework is proposed to align AI development with the invasion policy cycle, emphasising explainable AI, multimodal data integration, and the inclusion of Traditional Ecological Knowledge to transform predictive algorithms into robotic treatment or physical action and actionable Decision Support Systems.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1810966</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1810966</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Non-native invasive beetle alters structure of a riparian bird community in a biodiversity hotspot]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Barbara E. Kus</author><author>Julie L. Yee</author><author>Shannon M. Mendia</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A serious emerging threat to southern California riparian ecosystems is the invasive shot hole borer (Euwallacea spp.; SHB), a non-native beetle that cultivates a pathogenic fungus that kills trees of 66 reproductive host species. We examined the response of the bird community at the Tijuana River, California, to a massive SHB infestation in 2015 using data from a Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) station operated during 7 pre-infestation (2009-15) and 7 post-infestation (2017-23) years. Species richness did not change between pre- and immediate (2017-18) post-SHB periods, but average annual adult captures declined by 27%. Among the species making up ≥ 5% of the total individuals caught in any one year (n=15), abundance declined by up to 76% in 10 species, including those most abundant at the station (Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata), and Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)). Mean annual abundance increased slightly for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva) and doubled for House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) and Western Warbling-Vireo (V. swainsoni). We compared species trends at the Tijuana River to those at a nearby uninfested MAPS station on the Santa Margarita River to isolate the effect of SHB from other factors influencing annual abundance. The contribution of SHB to changes in abundance post-SHB was high (63-80%) for 7 declining species, moderate (22-45%) for 4 species, and weakly to moderately positive (18-40%) for 3 species. By 2019, the SHB infestation at the Tijuana River had abated and canopy cover was recovering through resprouting of mature willows (Salix spp.) and seedling establishment. Bird abundance tracked this regrowth, with all of the species strongly affected by SHB increasing between 2019-23. The rapid recovery of the Tijuana River habitat and the associated response by the bird community are encouraging signs that the threat of the invasive shot hole borer to regional biodiversity may not be as great as originally anticipated.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1717534</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1717534</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Habitat fragmentation of three ungulate species in the Altay region of Xinjiang, China]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yuhang Zhu</author><author>Zhixiang Wang</author><author>Yunchuan Dai</author><author>Xueyu Wang</author><author>Fan Wang</author><author>Dayong Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Under global climate change and intensified human activities, habitats in northwestern China’s Altay region—comprising forests, grasslands, deserts, and alpine areas—are increasingly fragmented. This study assessed the suitable habitat distribution and fragmentation characteristics of three ungulate species: red deer, goitered gazelle, and Siberian ibex. An ensemble species distribution model based on BIOMOD2 was used, and fragmentation metrics were calculated with the landscapemetrics R package. Red deer had the largest suitable area (20,688.54 km²), followed by goitered gazelle (16,342.25 km²) and Siberian ibex (11,477.62 km²). Fragmentation analysis revealed that red deer habitat patches in forest areas had the highest patch density (PD = 0.042); grasslands showed the largest dominant patches (LPI = 63.31) and highest aggregation (AI = 74.45). Gazelle habitats in deserts were the least fragmented (PD = 0.017, AI = 92.06), while ibex habitats in grasslands had higher fragmentation (PD = 0.046) but moderate aggregation (AI = 75.31). The results reveal clear interspecific differences in habitat suitability and landscape patterns, highlighting species-specific responses to environmental gradients. This study provides a scientific basis for habitat management, conservation planning, and connectivity enhancement for large herbivores in cold-arid ecotones.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1748078</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1748078</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Climate change and non-climatic drivers jointly enhanced the NDVI of alpine grassland in the Source Region of the Yellow River (2000–2022)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Miaomiao An</author><author>Ao Yang</author><author>Kerou Zhang</author><author>Liang Yan</author><author>Zhongqing Yan</author><author>Yong Li</author><author>Huan Wang</author><author>Wenru Zhao</author><author>Yichang Gao</author><author>Yuechuan Niu</author><author>Xiaoming Kang</author><author>Xiaodong Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The source region of the Yellow River (SRYR) is a vital water conservation area with substantial spatial heterogeneity in grassland vegetation. Yet the respective contributions of climate change and non-climatic drivers s to that variability remain unclear. This study quantified the relative impacts of climate and non-climatic factors on alpine grassland vegetation dynamics in Maqin County, a typical pastoral area in the SRYR, from 2000 to 2022. Multiple linear regression and residual analysis were used to disentangle climate change and non-climatic drivers to the changes in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The results showed that grassland NDVI exhibited a significant positive trend from 2000 to 2022 (P < 0.05), with 72.84% of the study area showing improvement. Spatially, NDVI displayed a “southeast-high and northwest-low” pattern, driven by differential responses to temperature and precipitation, with temperature being the dominant climatic factor. Climatic change and non-climatic influences jointly dominated vegetation dynamics (affecting 74.67% of the area), with their combined effect exceeding those of either factor alone. Climate change accounted for 51.86% of the variation in NDVI, slightly higher than that explained by non-climatic drivers (48.14%). Overall, a warming and wetting climate has promoted the restoration of alpine grassland, while sustained human interventions (e.g., ecological projects) have become an essential role. These findings provide a promising scientific basis for adaptive management in ecologically sensitive pastoral regions.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1806412</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1806412</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Olfactory responses of the leafminer Liriomyza cicerina (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to chickpea plant volatiles]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Leila Makhlouf</author><author>Karim El Fakhouri</author><author>Rachid Boulamtat</author><author>Mohamed Ouaarous</author><author>Issam Meftah Kadmiri</author><author>Seid-Ahmed Kemal</author><author>Mustapha El Bouhssini</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionChickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an essential pulse crop in many countries, but its productivity is severely constrained by the leafminer Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani), a major chickpea pest in the Mediterranean region and North Africa. Host location by L. cicerina is strongly affected by plant-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which mediate insect host selection and oviposition. Understanding these chemical signals is essential for developing sustainable pest management strategies. MethodsY-tube olfactometer bioassays were conducted to evaluate the olfactory responses of adult leafminers to VOC blends from healthy and infested chickpea plants, to selected individual volatile compounds, and to VOCs released by chickpea varieties with distinct levels of resistance toward L. cicerina. Results and discussionAdult leafminers were significantly more attracted to VOCs emitted by healthy plants than to those released by infested plants. Among individual volatile compounds tested, trans-2-hexen-1-ol elicited the highest attraction (80%), whereas linalyl acetate induced the strongest repellence (73.3%). Moreover, VOC emissions varied among chickpea genotypes, influencing the host preference of L. cicerina. The susceptible variety Arifi (FLIP98-50 C) release more attractive VOC blends compared to the less susceptible genotypes tested. These findings highlight the ecological role of chickpea VOCs in mediating insect-plant interactions, with plant condition, genotype, and specific compounds shaping insect preference and host selection. Identifying attractive and repellent VOCs provides insights into the mechanisms underlying susceptibility and supports the development of sustainable pest management strategies, including monitoring lures, push–pull strategies, and selective breeding of less attractive chickpea varieties.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1638416</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1638416</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Natural enough? A multi-metric ecosystem function evaluation of sill living shorelines]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mariko A. Polk</author><author>Martin H. Posey</author><author>Rachel K. Gittman</author><author>Mackenzie J. Taggart</author><author>Devon O. Eulie</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study addresses a deficit in research on if living shorelines designed with sills can support multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously. A total of 24 ecosystem functional metric proxies were studied; to include: above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, species density (eastern oysters, ribbed mussels, marsh periwinkles, eastern mud snails, smooth cordgrass, salt meadow cordgrass, black needle rush), wave climate, elevation, sediment characterization (deposition, fraction, bulk density), and carbon and nitrogen sequestration. Locations with living shorelines had ecological functions comparable to unprotected fringing salt marsh shorelines in 16 of 24 metrics with 9 metrics being enhanced by the presence of a living shoreline project. Living shorelines had greater sediment deposition and elevation and provided distinctive wave attenuation capabilities that were not supported by unaltered reference shorelines. Sill living shorelines reduced the wave energy by 30% to 60%. Living shorelines support multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800628</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1800628</link>
        <title><![CDATA[3D spatial redistribution and potential release risk of soil nitrogen and phosphorus in a newly built mountainous reservoir watershed]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qi-Hua Wang</author><author>Ji-Hong Xia</author><author>Jia-Yi Zu</author><author>Yue Wang</author><author>Yuan-Shuo Lu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe spatial distribution of soil total nitrogen (STN) and soil total phosphorus (STP) in newly built reservoir watersheds is a critical issue because the initial inundation of nutrient-rich soils can trigger a trophic upsurge. This research assessed the 3D spatial redistribution characteristics of STN and STP, the impacts of environmental factors, and associated legacy P risks in the Gaopingqiao Reservoir watershed.MethodsSoil samples were collected from surface (0-20 cm) and subsurface (20-40 cm) layers across 15 transects covering upper, middle, and footslope positions.ResultsResults showed that STN and STP concentrations averaged 0.43 and 0.08 g kg-¹ with coefficients of variation (CV) of 32.25%-37.46% and 57.14%-65.08% respectively. Distinct 3D distribution architectures were revealed where STN exhibited consistent surface enrichment across all slope positions, whereas STP displayed a significant lateral source-sink transition. This transition was characterized by pronounced enrichment at footslopes (0.10 g kg-1) compared to upper slopes (0.05 g kg-¹) and vertical homogeneity in the depositional zone (P > 0.05). Longitudinal analysis demonstrated a nutrient accumulation trend from upstream to downstream in the left tributary and reservoir area, while the right tributary exhibited fluctuating patterns. Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified slope as the primary environmental driver, with the first axis accounting for 88.31% of the explained variation in nutrient distribution.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate a significant spatial decoupling between N and P, where footslope positions constitute critical source areas (CSAs) of legacy P risk. The study suggests that watershed management should transition from uniform conservation toward spatially differentiated strategies to ensure water security during the formative years of newly built reservoirs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1765271</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1765271</link>
        <title><![CDATA[New data on the sarcopterygian Koharalepis jarviki (Tetrapodomorpha; Canowindridae) from the Late Devonian of Antarctica, revealed via synchrotron and neutron tomography]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Corinne L. Mensforth</author><author>John A. Long</author><author>Joseph J. Bevitt</author><author>Alice M. Clement</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe ‘osteolepiforms’ are an extinct order of lobe-finned fishes that had a cosmopolitan distribution, which are often considered for their proximity to the vertebrate water-to-land transition. The canowindrids are an East Gondwanan clade of tetrapodomorph fishes that exhibit a high level of endemism. However, due to the rarity of canowindrid material and their taphonomy, there is only a single representative preserved wholly in 3D and thus suitable for investigation via modern non-invasive tomography.MethodsHere we present an updated description of the holotype of Koharalepis jarviki, a canowindrid collected from the Late Devonian Aztec Siltstone formation in Mt Crean, Antarctica, elucidated via a combination of synchrotron and neutron tomography.Results and discussionNew elements of the braincase, palate, mandible and axial skeleton are revealed for the first time, and previously reported anatomy including the dermal skull and position of the orbits are confirmed. A partial braincase and endocast has been reconstructed, enabling rare insight into the neural anatomy of Koharalepis. Phylogenetic analysis confirms Koharalepis as a member of the Canowindridae with Harajicadectes zhumini recovered as sister taxon. The canowindrids occupy a region of the phylogenetic tree with ‘osteolepidid’ taxa and megalichthyids, crownward of rhizodonts but below tristichopterids and elpistostegalids. This work provides greater support for the taxonomic characters and phylogenetic position of the enigmatic canowindrid family, and the 3D preservation of this material has enabled us to infer some behavioural and ecological insight.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1742024</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2026.1742024</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) groundings on a four-lane divided highway in south Texas: a comparative study using citizen science]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Bradley E. Beer</author><author>Kevin Ryer</author><author>Md Saydur Rahman</author><author>John H. Young</author><author>Richard J. Kline</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The population of the once-endangered brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has increased over the past several decades and is now considered fully recovered. However, in south Texas, the combined effects of weather patterns, transportation infrastructure, and brown pelican biology have led to road mortalities on State Highway 48 (SH 48) at the Carl “Joe” Gayman Bridge. To mitigate these mortalities, the Texas Department of Transportation modified traffic barriers on SH 48. We aimed to examine the effect of the barrier change and determine which weather variables influence brown pelican groundings on SH 48. Citizen scientists monitored sections of SH 48 during adverse weather conditions to record how many brown pelicans collided with the road and how many were killed by vehicles. The monitoring continued for 6 years during fall and winter when weather conditions were predicted to adversely affect brown pelican flight. Our results showed a significant decrease in the number of downed brown pelicans after the removal of concrete single-slope traffic railings (SSTRs) and the installation of T2P railings along the bridge and causeway. However, there was no significant change in the number of days when grounded brown pelicans occurred after T2P railings were installed. We also found a positive relationship between downed brown pelicans and daily maximum wind speed, and a negative relationship with daily minimum air temperature and daily average air pressure. Globally, bridge-related avian mortality is essentially unstudied. These findings will aid our understanding of the effects of road infrastructure on pelican groundings in Texas and call international attention to the potential negative effects transportation infrastructure may have on coastal bird populations.]]></description>
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