Abstract Marine ecosystems face increasing anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Knowledge gaps are particularly evident in mesophotic ecosystems (MEs), which provide vital ecological functions but are difficult to study due to logistical and technological challenges. This study explores the role of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) as a complementary tool to Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys for characterising MEs in Northern Portugal. We conducted 59 interviews with fishers to gather information on species distribution, depth ranges, habitat associations, and conservation views. Simultaneously, 187 ROV dives recorded species presence and habitat features. Fishers reported a high diversity of species, including several Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicators, some absent from ROV observations, thus expanding biodiversity records for the region. Comparisons revealed both overlaps and discrepancies, emphasising the complementarity of LEK and ROV methods. Fishers broadly recognised the ecological importance of corals and sponges and showed support for conservation measures, although opinions varied among different fishing groups. Our findings demonstrate that combining LEK with scientific surveys improves biodiversity assessments, helps identify key conservation areas, and fosters collaborative efforts to protect mesophotic ecosystems amidst increasing human impacts.

Abstract Tiger conservation is a global priority, and Nepal’s program has achieved notable success. However, rapid population growth has intensified human–wildlife conflicts. This study assessed the socio-economic costs of rising tiger populations, evaluated ecological and environmental risks, and examined stakeholder perspectives to inform sustainable human–nature coexistence using a sustainability framework and the theory of change. Wild tiger numbers nearly tripled from 2009 to 2023, reaching 355 (95% CI: 318–392), coinciding with an 11-fold increase in human–wildlife incidents. Over 15 years, conflicts caused an average of 18 (95% CI: 12–24) human casualties, 152 ± 34 injuries, and 47 ± 10 cattle losses annually. Tiger abundance was strongly correlated with human injuries ( r = 0.71–0.74), casualties ( r = 0.81), and livestock losses ( r = 0.75). Relief expenditures averaged US$1.1–1.18 million per year, highlighting substantial economic burdens. Mann–Kendall analyses revealed significant upward trends in tiger numbers, human injuries, casualties, livestock loss, and relief distribution ( p < 0.05). Ecological challenges include at least 20 tigers in captivity (2024) and 558 wildlife deaths in 2022/23, including retaliatory killings. Stakeholder priorities varied: safety and compensation for local communities, law enforcement for officials, coordination for NGOs, policy reform for political leaders, and awareness for the media. Current interventions—rescue, caging, and relief distribution—impose pressures on social, economic, ecological, and environmental systems without fully mitigating risks. Applying the theory of change, findings underscore the need for integrated, community-centered, long-term strategies combining conflict prevention, livelihood protection, habitat and prey management, and policy reform. Such approaches can reconcile ecological sustainability with socio-economic welfare, ensuring effective tiger conservation while minimizing adverse human and environmental impacts. Graphical abstract

Abstract Large whales are likely the marine megafauna most at risk from vessel collisions. However, studies often identify areas of greatest risk by calculating two-dimensional overlap metrics, overlooking vertical overlap in the three-dimensional water column. This study quantifies collision risk for fin whales in the north-east Atlantic by including dynamic parameters in collision risk models and simulates potential mitigation measures. Dive profiles of 21 fin whales instrumented with time-depth recorders in the Azores were used to estimate the proportion of time spent within reach of vessel draughts across the north-east Atlantic. Fin whales were at greater vertical risk at night, with a median dive depth of 5 m compared to 12 m during daylight hours. When dive depths (vertical risk) was integrated into spatio-temporal variation of vessel characteristics and animal distribution, 972 (796–1200 when incorporating uncertainty in animal density estimates) collisions were estimated to occur annually, of which 641 (525–791) were likely to be fatal – when assuming no avoidance response. This is well above the estimated sustainable potential biological removal level of 131 individuals a year in this region. Simulation of potential mitigation measures indicated that re-routeing shipping lanes may be largely infeasible, whereas vessel slowdowns may be more practical and effective to minimize population-level impacts to a vulnerable species. However, how such measures would be accepted by the shipping industry remains to be seen. These findings provide a quantitative assessment of ship-strike risk and inform mitigation methods, providing an invaluable basis for discussions with environmental managers and maritime authorities.

Abstract Human infrastructure development is a major cause of environmental fragmentation, which threatens biodiversity globally. Fragmentation and its consequences are particularly pronounced in developing countries, where rapid economic growth and infrastructure development often have devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems. Strategies to halt biodiversity loss require the protection of ecological connectivity between areas of high conservation importance, but this is often overlooked in environmental planning and infrastructure impact assessment. In this study, we provided a worked example demonstrating how structural landscape connectivity can be integrated into the impact assessment of new linear infrastructure projects in two developing countries: South Sudan and Uganda. To achieve this aim, we (i) created macro-regional ecological networks under two scenarios, i.e. the present landscape and a future scenario that also includes the planned linear infrastructure, (ii) assessed future changes in landscape connectivity due to their implementation, and (iii) identified which linear infrastructure will pose the greater threat to ecological corridors and will impact the integrity of the ecological network. Specifically, we prioritized conservation areas with high biodiversity, threatened species and minimal human disturbance and identified the corridors connecting them. The impact of the planned linear infrastructure on corridors was assessed by quantifying the changes in connectivity between the two scenarios, both at the landscape level and in proximity of each linear infrastructure. The proposed approach could provide a basis for informing conservationists, policy makers and environmental planners in prioritising actions to maintain and restore ecological connectivity and promoting its inclusion in environmental planning and impact assessments.

Abstract Biodiversity conservation in socio-ecologically complex regions requires integrative frameworks that account for multi-scalar pressures, ecological conditions, and policy responses. This study proposes a novel application of the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and geospatial analysis to systematically identify conservation priorities across a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. Using 24 environmental, social, and economic criteria, refined through field surveys (2022–2024) and interdisciplinary expert input, we demonstrate that anthropogenic pressures such as land use, transportation infrastructure, and forest fires account for 75% of total stress on biodiversity, while natural drivers like climate and geohazards contribute 25%. Ecosystem-level variables (e.g., climate heterogeneity, topography, and vegetation structure) received higher expert-derived weights than species-level indicators, emphasizing the foundational role of habitat integrity. Education emerged as the most influential response mechanism, surpassing legal and institutional measures, highlighting the need for community-driven strategies. Spatial prioritisation identified nearly 44% of the study region as high to very high priority for conservation action. Our findings offer a replicable, policy-relevant tool for transparent conservation planning and resource allocation, applicable not only to Mediterranean landscapes but also to other global biodiversity hotspots facing similar socio-ecological pressures.

Abstract Arid desert ecosystems harbor unique plant communities that are highly adapted to harsh environmental conditions but are increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change. Understanding the composition and dynamics of these ecosystems is crucial for effective conservation. In the Ataqa region, the native flora of four unprotected arid wadis is under threat. These wadis are Wadi Hagul, Wadi El-Bada, Wadi El-Gamil, and Wadi Amlog. The main threats include vegetation over-collection, resort development, quarrying, industrial expansion, road construction, and climate change. This study underscores the vital role of soil seed banks as biodiversity reservoirs that enhance ecosystem resilience and aid in conserving native and rare plant species under such pressures. Between 2023 and 2024, fieldwork was conducted to collect plant specimens and soil samples, enabling a comparative analysis of above-ground vegetation and soil seed banks. A total of 41 species were identified in the soil seed bank, comprising 31 flowering plants and 10 bryophytes. However, only 12 of these species were also found in the above-ground flora. The families Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Poaceae were the most represented in the seed bank, with therophytes emerging as the dominant life form. TWINSPAN classification revealed five distinct plant assemblages, with Bryum argenteum , Tamarix nilotica , Zygophyllum coccineum , and Spergularia diandra as dominant species. Environmental parameters particularly electrical conductivity, pH, and calcium carbonate content were key drivers influencing the distribution patterns of above-ground vegetation. Notably, the seed bank contained several species not recorded in the existing flora of the region, including Chenopodium vulvaria , Juncus fontanesii , and Riccia congoana . This suggests that the seed bank serves as a reservoir for rare and cryptic species. These findings have important implications for ecological restoration and the conservation of biodiversity in arid environments under anthropogenic and climatic pressures.

Abstract This study reconstructs the evolution, over the past 35 years, of the plant landscape in the Oreto River Basin (Palermo, NW Sicily), an area of high ecological value included in the Site of Community Importance ITA020012. A vegetation map produced in 1990 was georeferenced and digitalized, then compared with a new land-use map generated from satellite imagery, field-checked, and classified according to the CORINE Land Cover level 3 system. The analyses show that artificial surfaces increased from 8.86% to 15.89% of the Basin, driven by urban sprawl, while agricultural land declined from 38.83% to 29.10%. Pure citrus groves decreased by 14.69 km², whereas olive groves (+ 3.89 km²) and mixed orchards (+ 5.50 km²) expanded, often in response to growing water scarcity. Natural and semi-natural areas show a slight overall increase (from 52.09% to 54.72%), despite a sharp loss of conifer reforestations (–8.17 km²) due to recurrent fires, which fostered the expansion of natural grasslands (+ 13.80 km²). The fragmentation of relict communities of Chrysojasminum fruticans , Ilex aquifolium , Ostrya carpinifolia , and Platanus orientalis , together with the decline of Carex panormitana near urban areas, highlights emerging conservation concerns. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need for integrated policies to curb uncontrolled urbanization, prevent fires, and enhance both forest biodiversity and the traditional agricultural landscape.

Abstract Endemic species exemplify both the exceptional evolutionary value and extraordinary vulnerability of tropical island biodiversity. Conservationists often face the difficult task of balancing ecosystem stability with species-level protection. To reconcile these objectives of biodiversity management, it is essential to understand how endemic species contribute to ecosystem functioning. In this study, we assessed the taxonomic and functional diversity of birds along an elevational gradient on New Britain, the largest island of the Bismarck archipelago, and the role of endemic species in its rainforest ecosystems. We combined field surveys with abundance-weighed trait data to assess avian functional distinctiveness from the large neighbouring landmass of New Guinea. We found a non-linear decrease of bird diversity with elevation, measured by Shannon index. The proportion of endemic species increased with elevation, from 42 to 55% of total species richness. Compared to mainland New Guinea, New Britain assemblages shifted from invertebrate prey to other food sources, such as nectar or fruits. This shift was more prevalent in higher elevations than in the lowlands, and was facilitated equally by endemic and non-endemic species. Most omnivores and nectarivores were endemic, but frugivores and insectivores were more represented among non-endemics. Endemic birds dominated in the provision of pollination, but often adopted more generalist foraging strategies due to seasonal availability of fruits and nectar. In contrast, seed dispersal and insect control were more represented by non-endemics. Functional distinctiveness of New Britain birds may facilitate a different response to human-induced land use change compared to the New Guinean mainland. As only some ecosystem services are chiefly dependent on endemic species, conservation strategies should focus on preserving avian diversity regardless of endemic status.