Transboundary conservation actions have been recognized as essential in our efforts to stop the loss of biodiversity. However, lack of information on species distributions in transboundary regions and accordingly the understanding of the threats in these areas impairs conservation. During a preliminary survey of ferns and lycophytes in Menglun Sub-reserve of the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China, two species were collected and identified as new records, which are the new Chinese record of Leptochilus wusugongii, new record of Hymenasplenium wusugongii in Mengla County, and the rediscovery of populations of Cyrtomium latifalcatum, these first two species were only newly published and recorded in Laos. This study represents the need for more survey in the transboundary regions and joined efforts in the assessment of conservation needs as well as planning of conservation actions crossing the borders of several nations.

The IUCN Bear Specialist Group (BSG) oversees the conservation of all seven species of terrestrial bears. These species range across most of Asia, Europe, North America, and the Andes Mountains of South America. We surveyed BSG members to gauge their perception of threats to bears in their local area, understand what actions they had undertaken to reduce these threats, and document their opinions of the effectiveness of their actions and the chief constraints encountered. Members indicated that the types and severity of threats to bears varied geographically and by species. Loss, degradation, or fragmentation of forested habitat was rated the highest threat for all species, and among species, was ranked most severe for sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) on the Indian subcontinent. Exploitation for trade (illegal hunting) was viewed as the most threatening to sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Southeast Asia. Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) in South America were especially prone to mortality from human–bear conflicts. Future impacts of climate change, although difficult to assess, were considered an impending high threat for Andean bears and brown bears (U. arctos) at high elevations in Asia. Although BSG members focused most on the “Assess” phase of IUCN's conservation cycle (Assess, Plan, Act, Communicate, Network), > 80% had also been involved in direct actions (Act phase) aimed at improving or protecting habitat (60%), reducing conflicts (54%), and/or reducing illegal exploitation (33%). Members were more apt to act when they perceived a threat to be high. Their actions also appeared to be influenced by previous success and available resources. Moreover, since two-thirds of BSG members (higher in Asia) did not self-identify as bear specialists, their conservation actions were not necessarily targeted at bears. BSG members considered conservation to be most effective in North America and least so in Asia, where resources, human capacity, and government support were lacking. This survey yielded more detailed and spatially explicit information than contained in IUCN Red List Assessments, and should help improve the next Red List update.

Symbiotic fungi provide nutrients for orchid seed germination and seedling development, underpinning the long-term conservation and reintroduction. Dendrobium sinominutiflorum is a critically endangered orchid species, with limited natural populations and the role of symbiotic fungi in seed germination is still unclear. To ensure more effective conservation strategies for this endangered orchid species, this study developed a symbiotic seed germination and seedling development protocol. Using seed baiting technique, the in situ germinated protocorms were obtained. A compatible mycorrhizal fungus, Tulasnella sp. (strain MHSH), was isolated and identified by morphological and molecular analysis. Compared with asymbiotic seed germination on 1/2 Murashige and Skoog (1/2 MS) medium, symbiotic seed germination of D. sinominutiflorum by co-culturing with the MHSH strain on Oatmeal Agar (OMA) medium showed a higher protocorm growth rate and seedling formation rate. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the infected cortical cells of symbiotic protocorms lacked distinct organelles and were colonized by fungal hyphae. The fungal hyphae penetrated, proliferated, and were subsequently digested within the protocorm cells, indicating that symbiotic protocorms exhibit a heterotrophic life and efficiently utilize fungal hyphae to support their growth and development. In contrast, asymbiotic protocorms contained abundant chloroplasts and amyloplasts, suggesting their capacity for autotrophic growth dependent on exogenous nutrients to sustain protocorm development. The symbiotic germination technique is a resource-saving and highly efficient propagation method, making it a promising ex situ conservation strategy. This study presents a technical protocol for screening seed germination-promoting fungi and establishing a symbiotic germination system, offering a feasible solution for the conservation of rare and endangered orchid species.

The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a Critically Endangered species with elusive habits that challenge monitoring efforts. In Hong Kong and for much of its distribution, basic questions on the population biology, distribution, and habitat associations of M. pentadactyla have not been fully investigated. We developed a burrow-based monitoring approach relying on reconnaissance walks across grids coupled with landscape-scale modeling based on remote sensing data to fill these knowledge gaps for the species. From 2018 to 2021 we detected a total of 248 burrows across sites in Hong Kong, with active usage of a subset of these verified through camera trapping. The burrow-level analysis revealed that burrows tended to be further away from the coast and at higher elevations than random. Burrows were also found in grasslands, shrublands, and mature forest in roughly equal proportions. For the grid-level analysis, we found burrows were more numerous further away from the coast, when areas had an east-facing aspect, and with lower proportions of shrubland and urbanization. Both scales of the analysis identified distance to coast as the most important factor suggesting that core natural habitats and undisturbed/protected areas are key for pangolin persistence in Hong Kong. We found no evidence of human hunting for pangolins but dogs were recorded at an active burrow. The rare and elusive nature of M. pentadactyla can complicate monitoring efforts but our results here demonstrate how burrow-based approaches, particularly when leveraged in landscape analysis and remote sensing (and LiDAR especially), can be used to provide key conservation and wildlife management insights.

The Javan hawk-eagle, Nisaetus bartelsi (Stresemann, 1924), is an endemic raptor of Java, Indonesia, whose population is listed as endangered. As part of conservation efforts, phylogenetic reconstruction is necessary to understand its evolutionary history and relationships. This study aims to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between N. bartelsi and other members of the genus Nisaetus, as well as to evaluate the resolution of phylogenetic trees within the subfamily Aquilinae using five mitochondrial DNA markers: COI, cyt-b, ND2, ND4, and ND5. Genetic data were obtained from a blood sample of N. bartelsi and compared with sequences of other members of Aquilinae obtained from GenBank. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) recovered N. bartelsi as the sister-taxon of N. alboniger and N. nipalensis with robust support, in contrast to previous studies which placed N. bartelsi as the sister-species of N. alboniger. Furthermore, the sampled representatives of the genera Nisaetus, Aquila, and Hieraaetus were recovered as monophyletic groups. The topology distinctly separates the Aquila-Hieraaetus clade from the Nisaetus-Spizaetus clade. Among the five markers, ND2 exhibited the highest proportion of variable sites (37.7%) and parsimony-informative sites (22.7%). Additionally, species delimitation analysis using Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) recovered N. bartelsi as a distinct molecular unit, a result congruent with its current taxonomic status despite its morphological similarities to other Sundaic hawk-eagles.

Understanding the drivers of wildlife spatial distribution can help to guide effective conservation and management. Seasonality is an important factor affecting food resources and other habitat conditions, influencing spatial distribution dynamics. This study used data from 110 camera traps in the Inner Mongolia Hanma National Nature Reserve, China, from 2016 to 2021 to estimate the population densities of lynx (Lynx lynx) and three ungulate prey species, and analyzed them using Random Encounter Models. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the effects of environmental factors on the spatial density distribution of prey and their impacts on the lynx spatial density distribution in cold and warm seasons. The results showed that during the warm season, roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) spatial density distribution was influenced by forest swamps and birch forests; in the cold season, fallen logs, shrub swamps, and mixed forests most significantly impacted distribution. Moose (Alces alces) population density was higher near shrub swamps during the warm season, but higher in areas with higher Betula fruticosa shrub abundance and fewer fallen logs in the cold season. Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) population density was higher closer to roads, birch forests, and mixed forests in both warm and cold seasons, and either higher (cold season) or lower (warm season) B. fruticosa shrub abundance. Except for moose in high-elevation areas during the cold season, the three ungulate species inhabited low-elevation areas during warm and cold seasons. Lynx spatial density distribution in the warm season was primarily influenced by musk deer density, B. fruticosa shrub abundance, and fallen tree abundance; in the cold season, lynx were mainly affected by roe deer and musk deer density, elevation, and slope. To assist lynx recovery in the region, protection of wild prey populations should be strengthened, and habitat quality elements, such as forest structure and composition, should be improved.

The diversity of plants, birds, and mammals plays a crucial role in shaping the musical styles of ethnic communities. The origin and development of music are nurtured by the natural environment surrounding human societies. To explore how the natural environment influences the musical styles of various ethnic groups, we focused on ethnic minorities in China and their environments. We applied ecological geography approaches to analyze the influence of different ecological and geographical factors on musical characteristics. The results show that neither the living habits of different ethnic groups nor geographical factors are the dominant influences on ethnic music. Instead, the diversity of plants, birds, and mammals plays a key role in shaping the musical styles of these communities. The findings imply that by protecting biodiversity, the musical and cultural heritage of humanity can also be protected.