Integrative Zoology[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Divergence Linked to Possible Ecological Speciation in Blind Mole Rats: Integration of Thermal Biology and Bite Force in the Upper Galilee Blind Mole Rat (Nannospalax galili).
Lövy M, Okrouhlík J, Vejmělka F … +4 more , Schwarzová P, Rendulić M, Nevo E, Šumbera R
Integr Zool · 2026 Jul · PMID 42390885 · Publisher ↗
Ecological speciation refers to the process in which divergent natural selection drives lineage diversification within a species. The Upper Galilee blind mole rat (Nannospalax galili) provides a compelling model for stud...
Ecological speciation refers to the process in which divergent natural selection drives lineage diversification within a species. The Upper Galilee blind mole rat (Nannospalax galili) provides a compelling model for studying ecological speciation because it inhabits a landscape lacking physical barriers yet characterized by a stark ecological contrast between rendzina and basaltic soils in northern Israel. These soils differ in multiple biologically relevant properties that strongly influence mole rat biology. Here, we examined differences in energetics and bite force in mole rats from basaltic and rendzina soils to assess whether such differences might contribute to local adaptation and facilitate ecological speciation. We found no population-level differences in resting metabolic rate, digging metabolic rate, body heat dissipation patterns, or bite force. In contrast, basalt-dwelling mole rats maintained approximately 1.6°C lower body temperatures than rendzina-dwelling counterparts, exhibited a larger post-digging increase in body temperature after burrowing in either soil type, and showed higher digging efficiency. These physiological differences are consistent with the dual challenges of basaltic soil, namely its higher mechanical resistance to digging and the seasonally more hypoxic, CO-rich atmosphere within its burrows. Collectively, our results support a scenario in which thermal and hypoxia-related physiological traits underpin local adaptations and may contribute to ecological speciation of blind mole rats across contrasting soil habitats.
Spatial Patterns of Avian Stable Isotopes Reveal Ecological Impacts of Climate and Land-Use Change.
Jia Y, Zhang C, Hu X … +3 more , Wei W, Nie Y, Zhou H
Integr Zool · 2026 Jul · PMID 42390884 · Publisher ↗
Stable isotope analysis provides an integrated approach to tracing animal dietary sources and trophic structures while being sensitive to environmental and land-use changes. It therefore serves as a powerful tool for eva...
Stable isotope analysis provides an integrated approach to tracing animal dietary sources and trophic structures while being sensitive to environmental and land-use changes. It therefore serves as a powerful tool for evaluating the interactions between animal resource use and environmental variation. However, spatial isotopic patterns across large numbers of species and their responses to climate change and anthropogenic activities remain poorly understood. Here, we applied a Bayesian mixed-effects modeling framework and isotopic niche analyses using feather samples from 766 individuals of 200 bird species in southwestern China (1958-2007) to assess how ecological, climatic, and anthropogenic factors jointly shaped the spatial patterns of feather carbon (δ C) and nitrogen (δ N) isotopes across taxa. The results revealed that the δ C and δ N values differed markedly across dietary and migratory guilds, highlighting distinct strategies of resource use and trophic organization among species. The feather δ N values increased with increasing pasture coverage, suggesting a potential elevation of the baseline δ N in grazing landscapes. δ N also showed a positive trend with precipitation, indicating that wetter environments may be associated with elevated nitrogen isotopic baselines. Furthermore, isotopic niche analyses revealed that farmland habitats exhibited broader isotopic niches than forest habitats, especially for herbivores, highlighting the influence of agricultural expansion on resource use. Overall, this study demonstrates how ecological traits, climatic factors, and human disturbances jointly shape avian trophic patterns across taxa and scales, providing new insights into trophic structure and the consequences of land use change for ecosystem function across diverse ecosystems.
New Co-Introduced Trematode, Maritrema dikerogammari sp. nov., From Invasive Amphipods in the Danube: Insights Into Maritrema Taxonomy and Phylogeny.
Rashydov A, Oros M, Lisitsyna O … +3 more , Greben O, Ovcharenko M, Sarabeev V
Integr Zool · 2026 Jul · PMID 42390845 · Publisher ↗
Biological invasions are among the most disruptive forces affecting global biodiversity. The "killer shrimp" Dikerogammarus villosus, a pervasive Ponto-Caspian invader across Europe, serves as a key model for understandi...
Biological invasions are among the most disruptive forces affecting global biodiversity. The "killer shrimp" Dikerogammarus villosus, a pervasive Ponto-Caspian invader across Europe, serves as a key model for understanding the ecological consequences of such expansions. However, despite its extensive spread, the helminth fauna associated with this invader remains poorly characterized, obscuring potential spillover effects and the evolutionary history of its symbionts. To address this gap, we surveyed 54 European freshwater localities (2020-2025) and screened 1271 D. villosus specimens from 10 positive stations. These sites span the Danube (Slovakia) and Baltic (Poland) drainage basins, representing the southern and northern invasion corridors. Using an integrative taxonomic approach combining detailed morphology (12 fixed adults and 4 live metacercariae) and multi-locus phylogenetics (18S, 28S, ITS, and COI), we formally describe Maritrema dikerogammari sp. nov. infecting D. villosus. Our analyses place the new species within a distinct freshwater clade as the sister taxon to the Carpathian endemic Maritrema neomi. Historical records of Maritrema inusitatum from the Dnieper River were misidentifications, and we reassign them to the new species, confirming the parasite's longstanding presence in both the Danube and Dnieper basins. This study documents a clear case of "hidden co-invasion," where a cryptic parasite established itself in the invasion corridor undetected. Phylogenetic reconstruction reveals that the evolution of this group is driven by a fundamental marine-to-freshwater transition, shaped by ancient vicariance and recent host-facilitated dispersal. We refine the taxonomy of the genus Maritrema and underscore the critical role of invasion routes in the spread of associated fauna.
Evolutionary Conservation and Reproductive Expression of ABC Transporter Genes in Two Sphenomorphus Skinks.
Zhang S, Xu J, Hu M … +5 more , Zhou Q, Li P, Wu YH, Chen L, Li H
Integr Zool · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383586 · Publisher ↗
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters represent one of the largest membrane protein superfamilies in vertebrates, playing essential roles in translocating diverse substrates across membranes. However, knowledge of ABC...
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters represent one of the largest membrane protein superfamilies in vertebrates, playing essential roles in translocating diverse substrates across membranes. However, knowledge of ABC transporter genes in reptiles remains limited. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the ABC gene family in oviparous Sphenomorphus incognitus and viviparous Sphenomorphus indicus. A total of 45 ABC genes were identified in each species and classified into seven subfamilies (ABCA-ABCG). Comparative and phylogenetic analyses revealed a generally conserved gene repertoire, with limited duplication events observed mainly in the ABCA and ABCG subfamilies, whereas other subfamilies (e.g., ABCE, ABCF, and ABCD) remained highly conserved. Interestingly, a lineage-specific duplication of ABCC2 was identified in lizards. Oviductal expression profiling revealed distinct temporal patterns of ABC gene expression across reproductive stages. Several genes, including ABCG1, ABCC3, and ABCD4, exhibited conserved expression trajectories across both species, suggesting shared transcriptional regulation. In contrast, ABCA1, ABCB1, and ABCG2 showed species-specific expression patterns, indicating regulatory divergence between the two lizard species. Overall, ABC gene expression was more dynamic in S. incognitus than in S. indicus. In summary, although the ABC transporter family is structurally conserved, it exhibits lineage-specific evolutionary changes and divergent transcriptional regulation in lizard oviducts. This study provides a foundation for understanding the diversity and regulation of ABC transporter genes in reptiles.
Adaptations That Track Environmental Temperature Cues in Hibernation: Insights From Time-Series Transcriptomic Profiles in a Hibernating Freshwater Turtle.
Liu X, Zhang C, Zhong S … +1 more , Zhang W
Integr Zool · 2026 Jul · PMID 42383568 · Publisher ↗
Organisms can use environmental temperature cues to time life-history events and coordinate necessary adaptive physiological adjustments to synchronize with seasonal environmental changes. However, our knowledge about th...
Organisms can use environmental temperature cues to time life-history events and coordinate necessary adaptive physiological adjustments to synchronize with seasonal environmental changes. However, our knowledge about the adaptations that track environmental temperature cues in life-history events remains limited. Hibernation is an important life-history strategy for many animal groups to survive seasonal cold and food scarcity. This study explored the match between physiological adaptations during hibernation and environmental temperature cues by analyzing monthly hepatic transcriptomic profiles in the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle Mauremys reevesii juveniles throughout field hibernation in relation to water temperature change patterns. We illustrated the transcriptomic dynamics indicative of the onset of hibernation, deep hibernation, and the gradual end of hibernation in M. reevesii corresponding to phases of rapid temperature reduction, low temperatures, and temperature rise, respectively. During these stages, in hibernating M. reevesii, we revealed the substantial upregulation of genes involved in protective mechanisms, including anti-apoptotic processes, autophagy, and mRNA stability regulation prior to the coldest period; a coordinated transcriptional suppression of immune-related genes during deep hibernation; and a pre-activation of genes involved in translational processes before emergence when water temperature began to rise. These results suggested active adaptive regulations that track environmental temperature cues in hibernating M. reevesii, rather than merely passive effects of temperature changes. This study provides insights into the adaptations underlying synchronization between life-history events and environmental changes, a process fundamental to phenology, and offers a crucial mechanistic framework for further understanding of the potential effects of climate change on hibernation processes.
The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Assortative Mating on Adaptation.
Han JX, Wang RW
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42312664 · Publisher ↗
Evolutionary rescue links evolutionary biology and ecology by examining how rapid adaptation aids population persistence following environmental change through the integration of genetic and ecological processes. Assorta...
Evolutionary rescue links evolutionary biology and ecology by examining how rapid adaptation aids population persistence following environmental change through the integration of genetic and ecological processes. Assortative mating behavior has been observed in a wide range of animals, but its effects on evolutionary rescue have not been fully explored. Here, a simulation is developed that models populations displaying assortative or random mating behavior and adapting to new environments. The results indicate that assortative mating behavior, in comparison with random mating behavior, has a double-edged effect on evolutionary rescue in new environments. Assortative mating behavior reduces the phenotypic variance of a population before environmental change, as well as the rate of accumulation of beneficial mutations when the population size is declining, thus exposing the population to a higher extinction rate and risk than random mating behavior. Concurrently, the assortative mating behavior leads to the rapid accumulation of beneficial mutations when the population size is small and consequently accelerates population recovery, particularly during the middle and late stage of evolutionary rescue. Furthermore, the increased strength of assortative mating can result in an augmentation of the extinction rate and risk of populations, as well as the recovery rate of population size. This study highlights the importance of animal behavior in evolutionary rescue.
Drivers of Mouse Plagues: Exceptional Rainfall Following Prolonged Drought Triggers Mouse Plagues in Southeastern Australia.
Brown PR
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42312652 · Publisher ↗
Population outbreaks of house mice (Mus musculus L.) (= mouse plague) are a periodic feature of southeastern Australia's grain belt, causing significant crop damage and social-economic impacts. From 1904 to 1980, a plagu...
Population outbreaks of house mice (Mus musculus L.) (= mouse plague) are a periodic feature of southeastern Australia's grain belt, causing significant crop damage and social-economic impacts. From 1904 to 1980, a plague occurred once every 5-7 years. Since 1980, there has been an increasing frequency observed in all regions except South Australia. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to describe the phenomenon, but the specific combination of rainfall patterns in generating conditions for a mouse plague is not clear. Monthly rainfall data over 125 years were collected from three locations, and a measure of 6-monthly rainfall anomaly was calculated to determine trends in dry (deficit) and wet (surplus) periods. These rainfall patterns were then analyzed in relation to the timing of known mouse plague events. A mouse plague that occurred after a particular sequence of dry weather was observed (well below 6-month accumulated long-term average rainfall anomaly of -45 to 65 mm over 25-31 months), followed by an exceptional wet period (well above long-term 6-month accumulated average of 55 to 90 mm over 17-20 months). The combination of the magnitude and duration of rainfall deficit, followed by the magnitude and duration of the rainfall surplus, was required; anything less did not lead to a plague. The dry conditions appear to reset the system in some way, with mice responding to increased food supply following exceptional post-drought rainfall. A conceptual model of factors driving mouse plagues is proposed. There remain questions about the underlying biological mechanisms that drive these plagues, including density-dependent effects and the role of post-traumatic stress through inherited traits.
Female-Biased Sexual Size Dimorphism and Its Potential Causes in Hairy-Winged Bats.
Yue Y, Huang Z, Guo Y … +5 more , Wu Y, Liao Y, Hu Y, Wang X, Yu W
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42299901 · Publisher ↗
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread in bats, yet its magnitude, direction, and underlying mechanisms vary substantially among species and remain incompletely understood. The hairy-winged bat (Harpiocephalus harpia...
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread in bats, yet its magnitude, direction, and underlying mechanisms vary substantially among species and remain incompletely understood. The hairy-winged bat (Harpiocephalus harpia) represents a particularly informative case, as pronounced female-biased SSD has historically led to taxonomic confusion, underscoring its value for exploring the mechanisms driving SSD at the species level. Here, we quantified intersexual morphological differences underlying female-biased SSD in 80 H. harpia individuals (41♂, 39♀) sampled across China. After excluding potential geographic effects, females exhibited both absolute and relative size advantages over males in multiple craniodental characteristics, whereas sexual differences in wing elements were detected only in absolute terms. Craniodental differentiation and sex-specific allometric patterns in skull morphology, particularly in regions associated with bite force and mastication, suggest that females potentially exploit larger and/or harder prey during energetically demanding reproductive stages. In contrast, wing morphology in H. harpia exhibited little evidence of sex-specific allometric growth or shape differentiation, and female wing dimensions appeared sufficient to accommodate pregnancy-related mass gain without additional compensatory enlargement. Moreover, the absence of sex-biased reduction in body-size variance provides limited support for intrasexual resource competition. Collectively, our findings indicate that SSD in H. harpia is best explained by niche divergence, with the "Big Mother" and "Resource Competition" hypotheses playing secondary roles.
Saving Water to Survive: Alternative Water Loss Strategies Could Explain Color Polymorphism Maintenance in a Lacertid Lizard.
Sacchi R, Scali S, Dadda T … +8 more , Storniolo F, Zuffi MAL, Melotto A, Sherpa S, Frongia F, Tassi D, Ficetola GF, Mangiacotti M
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42299865 · Publisher ↗
We investigated a potential new trade-off underlying the color polymorphism in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). We tested the hypothesis that red males prioritize hydroregulation over fine thermoregulation, whi...
We investigated a potential new trade-off underlying the color polymorphism in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). We tested the hypothesis that red males prioritize hydroregulation over fine thermoregulation, while white and yellow morphs are fine thermoregulators. This hypothesis was tested by experimentally measuring evaporative water loss (EWL) rates in 36 male lizards (12 for each morph) at a high temperature (37°C) under both dry and wet air conditions. Our results indicate that the red morph consistently exhibits a higher EWL rate compared to white and yellow morphs under both experimental conditions. No significant differences in EWL emerged between the white and yellow morphs. Since our experimental setup prevented behavioral adjustments and morphs did not differ in body size, the observed differences in EWL suggest underlying physiological mechanisms that allow white and yellow lizards to conserve water more efficiently. This finding supports our hypothesis and suggests that the red morph's strategy of finely regulating water balance may be favored in cooler, wetter environments. We propose that the thermo-hydroregulation trade-off, combined with the previously identified trade-off between aggression and survival, can explain the maintenance of a stable polymorphism with four distinct morphs in this species.
Feasibility Assessment: An Essential Eradication Tool.
Samaniego A, Brown K, Broome K
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42299850 · Publisher ↗
Eradication and control are two distinct pest management approaches. Control aims to reduce pest impacts to acceptable levels but requires ongoing investment. If funding or support declines, results can quickly be lost....
Eradication and control are two distinct pest management approaches. Control aims to reduce pest impacts to acceptable levels but requires ongoing investment. If funding or support declines, results can quickly be lost. Eradication is a one-off, time-limited campaign to remove every individual from a population within a defined area. When achievable, acceptable, and sustainable (i.e., feasible), it offers permanent gains without ongoing control. Globally, pest eradication success rates on islands are high, particularly for invasive rodents (>90%). Failures still occur, commonly through inadequate or incomplete planning. Lessons from decades of eradication projects show success depends on thorough preparation, realistic funding, robust management, and a clear understanding of site conditions, pest ecology, and potential risks. Best practice guidelines, refined through experience, help reduce failure risk and make complex projects possible. The New Zealand Department of Conservation's Island Eradication Advisory Group (IEAG) has distilled lessons into a practical planning package that includes a feasibility assessment. The feasibility assessment template is a framework, not a rigid formula, built around approximately 40 targeted questions addressing project context, rationale, technical achievability, sustainability, social acceptance, and required resources. By identifying dependencies, planning issues, knowledge gaps, and risks, a feasibility assessment gives decision-makers a clear picture of what the best chance of success will require. It is helpful for eradication and control projects (socially, ecologically, and technically simple and complex), by supporting informed investment, building stakeholder confidence, and helping avoid costly false starts. While designed for use early in the planning cycle, it can also be used to review established projects. Rather than limiting ambition, it makes challenges transparent and ambition credible.
Opportunistic Foraging in Changing Insular Landscapes: Trophic Ecology of the Azores Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus azorica).
Fontaine R, da Silva LP, Santos R … +3 more , Mata V, Silva L, Gonçalves D
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42262156 · Publisher ↗
Human activities have caused major transformations to many oceanic islands worldwide, driving native species to adapt their foraging behavior to altered resources. While such trophic plasticity enables animals to persist...
Human activities have caused major transformations to many oceanic islands worldwide, driving native species to adapt their foraging behavior to altered resources. While such trophic plasticity enables animals to persist in unstable and modified environments, it also disrupts established trophic interactions and alters ecosystem dynamics. Columbids (pigeons and doves) often dominate avian frugivore guilds on oceanic islands and play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning through their seed dispersal services. However, understanding how environmental pressures shape trophic interactions has received little attention. We investigated the trophic ecology of the Azores woodpigeon (Columba palumbus azorica), an endemic subspecies of the Azores archipelago, using DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples collected on two islands, to clarify its ecological role and assess how seasonal variations and land-use changes affect diet richness and composition. Our results reveal a diversified diet composed of a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants, with 159 plant taxa detected across 450 samples. Despite the almost complete disappearance of pristine habitats, native plants remain a significant part of the diet, but exotic and cultivated species are largely consumed, suggesting strong limitations in natural resources. As expected, we observed marked seasonal variations in diet, likely related to food availability, particularly of fruits. Strong spatial variations in foraging behavior were also observed as pigeons tended to be more generalist in simplified landscapes, and habitat disturbance resulted in a dietary shift from native to exotic plants. Overall, our study indicates a great trophic plasticity and opportunistic foraging behavior that provides resilience against environmental pressures, while it may threaten the regeneration of natural habitats.
Amphibian-Derived Peptide OA-AL14 Alleviates UVB-Induced Skin Photoaging via Autophagy Activation Mediated by the AMPK/mTOR Pathway.
Peng Y, Wu Y, Fu Z … +14 more , Kang Z, Jia Q, Zhao W, Wang Z, Liu Y, Zhang R, Li Y, Ru Z, Su W, Liu N, Li Y, Yin S, Wang Y, Yang X
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42241584 · Publisher ↗
Skin photoaging, primarily driven by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, is a complex process involving oxidative stress and autophagic dysfunction, for which effective therapeutic options remain limited. Here, we identified...
Skin photoaging, primarily driven by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, is a complex process involving oxidative stress and autophagic dysfunction, for which effective therapeutic options remain limited. Here, we identified a novel peptide, OA-AL14 (ALFWPMKKPWPESC), from the skin secretions of the frog Odorrana andersonii Boulenger, 1882, and investigated its protective effects against UVB-induced photoaging. OA-AL14 exhibited excellent biocompatibility and potent antioxidant activity in vitro. In a UVB-irradiated mouse model, topical application of OA-AL14 significantly ameliorated key features of photoaging, including erythema, pigmentation, epidermal hyperplasia, and barrier disruption. Mechanistically, OA-AL14 activated the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and restored cellular redox balance. Furthermore, transcriptomic and biochemical analyses revealed that OA-AL14 induced protective autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Inhibition of autophagy partially abrogated its protective effects, confirming the functional relevance of this mechanism. These findings establish OA-AL14 as a promising multifunctional candidate for treating skin photoaging by integrating antioxidant defense and autophagy activation.
Seasonal Stability and Immune-Related Flexibility in the Functional Structure of Passerines From Central Chile.
Ramírez-Otarola N, Maldonado K, Álvarez-Vergara F … +2 more , Navarrete L, Sabat P
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42233380 · Publisher ↗
Understanding how multiple physiological and ecological traits combine to shape functional profiles is essential for predicting how wild animals respond to environmental variability. We integrated morphological (body mas...
Understanding how multiple physiological and ecological traits combine to shape functional profiles is essential for predicting how wild animals respond to environmental variability. We integrated morphological (body mass), trophic (δ C, δ N), and immune (hemagglutination, hemolysis) traits in nine passerine species sampled in summer and winter in central Chile to quantify multivariate functional profiles and assess their seasonal stability, phylogenetic structure, and environmental sensitivity. Principal component analysis identified three main axes of functional variation: a trophic-immune gradient (PC1), a body size-associated axis with secondary trophic contribution (PC2), and natural antibody-mediated immunity (PC3). Hierarchical clustering revealed a primary functional partition, whereas deeper subdivisions received limited bootstrap support, indicating that organization in functional space is better described as continuous trait gradients rather than discrete functional groups. Linear mixed-effects models using individual PC scores showed that seasonal shifts were most evident along PC1, whereas PC2 primarily reflected species-level differentiation associated with body size and dietary guild. PC3 exhibited moderate interspecific variation but limited seasonal responsiveness. Phylogenetic signal was not detected for any principal component axis, suggesting limited evidence for phylogenetic structuring of functional variation within this assemblage. Together, these results indicate that functional organization in these passerines reflects persistent species-level ecological strategies modulated by axis-specific seasonal plasticity. Integrating trophic and immune traits within a multivariate framework provides insight into how physiological differentiation and ecological specialization jointly shape community-level functional structure.
Decades of Enclosure Protection Exert Composite Effects on Grassland Grasshopper Communities.
Feng DD, Zhao HF, Men YH … +5 more , Li J, Yang ML, Yang CQ, Chen B, Zhang AB
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42229367 · Publisher ↗
Grasshoppers serve as crucial indicator taxa for assessing the health of grassland ecosystems. While numerous studies have investigated the effects of enclosure protection or overgrazing on grasshopper diversity, it rema...
Grasshoppers serve as crucial indicator taxa for assessing the health of grassland ecosystems. While numerous studies have investigated the effects of enclosure protection or overgrazing on grasshopper diversity, it remains unclear whether grasshoppers exhibit phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation under different habitat pressures-particularly for species with limited dispersal capacity. This study systematically investigated the effects of 20-40 years' enclosure protection on grasshopper community diversity compared to overgrazing. Furthermore, using the low-mobility grasshopper Chorthippus fallax as a model, we compared egg development rates between the two management regimes and elucidated the underlying genetic structure and differentiation patterns. The results revealed that enclosure protection significantly reshaped grasshopper community structure and led to species-specific population dynamics, despite not altering the Shannon-Wiener index or species richness. Eggs of C. fallax from exclosure-protected sites exhibited a significantly longer development duration than those from overgrazed sites (26.34 vs. 25.74 days; p < 0.05). Population genetic analyses revealed no obvious genetic structure or differentiation between the two groups (F < 0.05). A total of 389 candidate outlier loci potentially associated with environmental adaptation were identified using both BayeScan and F-based methods. Subsequent evolutionary simulations demonstrated that strong genetic differentiation at these loci between the two populations could emerge within approximately 162 ± 19 years under the assumed conditions (F = 0.25; s = 0.05). This study not only reveals the phenotypic and genetic responses of grasshoppers to enclosure protection but also provides a scientific basis for designing sustainable grassland management strategies.
Environmental Drivers of Communal Roost Distribution and Size in Western Jackdaws (Coloeus monedula) Under Landscape Transformation.
Palacios-Martínez I, Carrete M, García J … +18 more , Alonso H, Arizaga J, Frías Ó, Godinho C, Hernández-Brito D, Hortas F, Martín-Zúñiga J, Montoya Ayala R, Mouriño J, Muñoz AR, Pérez-García JM, Prieta J, Sanz J, Solé-Bujalance L, Travassos P, Villanúa D, Zamora-Marin JM, Blanco G
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42229366 · Publisher ↗
Large-scale studies linking species distribution to environmental variables are crucial for understanding human impacts on ecosystems and informing conservation actions. Multiscale habitat models reveal how organisms int...
Large-scale studies linking species distribution to environmental variables are crucial for understanding human impacts on ecosystems and informing conservation actions. Multiscale habitat models reveal how organisms interact with their environment and respond to pressures like habitat loss and urbanization. This study investigates the environmental drivers influencing the winter distribution and abundance of the Western Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula) across the Iberian Peninsula, highlighting its value as a model for assessing anthropogenic impacts. Using data from a coordinated winter census of communal roosts, we employed a multiscale analytical framework to analyze roost location and size. Environmental suitability models were developed to identify potential roosting and foraging areas, with particular emphasis on the role of urbanization in shaping the species' distribution in winter. Urban areas and th composition of agricultural landscapes emerged as key determinants of roost location, positively influencing both roost occurrence at fine scales and habitat suitability across foraging areas. Conversely, high vegetation productivity and dense vegetation cover negatively impacted roost size, suggesting that communal roosting patterns are heavily dictated by the proximity and quality of foraging grounds. Suitability models identified urban areas, agricultural landscapes, and river valleys as the most favorable habitats. Nevertheless, urbanization significantly constrained overall suitable habitat extent. These results reveal an emerging urban commuting strategy where individuals decouple nocturnal safety in urban refugia from diurnal foraging in agro-pastoral habitats. This behavioral shift helps explain widespread declines of common species, as rising energetic costs of balancing anthropogenic safety and resource availability may drive population instability in the Anthropocene.
Habitat Landscape Requirements for Critically Endangered Leopard Population Persistences.
Zhai P, Qi J, Liu B … +8 more , Qiao S, Li Y, Yan S, Wu G, Bao H, Wang Y, Hao J, Jiang G
Integr Zool · 2026 Jun · PMID 42224106 · Publisher ↗
Habitat fragmentation is a major factor driving the decline and even extinction of large mammals. Although it is widely recognized that large habitat patches are crucial for species survival, the minimum habitat patch ar...
Habitat fragmentation is a major factor driving the decline and even extinction of large mammals. Although it is widely recognized that large habitat patches are crucial for species survival, the minimum habitat patch area requirements of a particular species for its presence, breeding, and dispersal have never been systematically quantified. In this study, based on 831 969 camera days of sampling in Shanxi Province, China, we assessed the current population status and effects of suitable habitat patch areas on the presence and breeding of the North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis). First, we found that there are at least five sustainable local populations (i.e., each patch with at least seven adult females), and suggested the stable persistence of leopards in this area. Second, male leopards were found in habitat patches with an area of at least 20.41 km, female leopards were typically found in patches larger than 157.08 km, while only patches larger than 434.96 km supported breeding females. Our study also uncovered that smaller habitat patches likely serve as stepping stones to promote leopard dispersal, and road tunnels or bridges could function as wildlife crossing structures that increase potential dispersal areas. Consequently, this study highlights the crucial role of landscape structure and pattern in supporting the sustainable survival of big cat populations, providing important evidence on how habitat patches and wildlife road crossings should be managed for large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes.
Disentangle the Ecological Impact of Vessel Activities on Delphinids Ranging Strategy: An Interaction Probability Perspective.
Lin W, Liu B, Zheng R … +5 more , Chen S, Xu S, Lin M, Liu M, Li S
Integr Zool · 2026 May · PMID 42207867 · Publisher ↗
The ever-increasing maritime traffic has been imposing tremendous stress on the aquatic ecosystems. Marine conservation often conflicts with stakeholder interests, making it difficult to secure policy backing for the imp...
The ever-increasing maritime traffic has been imposing tremendous stress on the aquatic ecosystems. Marine conservation often conflicts with stakeholder interests, making it difficult to secure policy backing for the implementation and enforcement of conservation measures. Therefore, it is important to compartmentalize the vessel activities according to their types of impact and prioritize the significance of potential threatening factors, to maximize the conservation benefit with the minimal conservation resources. A resident delphinid population from northern Beibu Gulf, China, presented a shifted ranging pattern and demographic decline recently. We modeled the occurrence probabilities of dolphins using a maximum-entropy approach based on the field sightings reported before and after the population reduction. Then, the interaction probabilities (IPs) between dolphins and different vessel activities were computed by integrating the space-time occupancy rates of vessel activities and dolphins' occurrence probability. Our results showed that dolphins' IP with dolphin-watching vessels decreased across all temporal and spatial scales (and with the largest effect size), identifying the dolphin-watching activity as the most critical threat driving the spatial niche shift of dolphins. While the IPs with traveling, stationary, and fishing vessels, which either increased or fluctuated across the study area after the shift, cannot account for the observed change in dolphins' ranging pattern. Animals may mitigate these threats through trade-offs, prioritizing avoidance of primary disturbances. Therefore, the change in interaction probability may mirror the decision-making process of threatened species, which can be used as a unique tool to assess the relative importance of threats in a multi-use area. Our study provides a novel framework to prioritize conservation interventions in human-dominated seascapes.
From Data to Knowledge to Wisdom: Lessons Learned From the Vancouver Rat Project.
Himsworth CG, Byers KA
Integr Zool · 2026 May · PMID 42207857 · Publisher ↗
Over the past 15 years, the Vancouver Rat Project has been striving to understand, monitor, and manage urban rats and rat-related impacts to human health and well-being in North American cities. One of the key things thi...
Over the past 15 years, the Vancouver Rat Project has been striving to understand, monitor, and manage urban rats and rat-related impacts to human health and well-being in North American cities. One of the key things this interdisciplinary research has shown is that, while research has traditionally focused on the individual components of the "rat problem," rat-related harms are created, magnified, or mitigated at the interfaces among rats, people, and the environment. Similarly, though each scientific discipline can provide data to help characterize, monitor, and mitigate rat-associated harms, it is the interface between these disciplines from which the knowledge to solve current rat problems emerges, and from which we can create the wisdom needed to predict and prevent future issues. This review describes how we combined epidemiology, ecology, pathology, pathogen genomics, population genetics, policy analysis, social sciences, and more to change the way we assess, monitor, and mitigate diverse risks associated with urban rats.
Responses of Soil Arthropod Communities to Varying Shading Levels in Agriphotovoltaic Systems.
Menta C, Dal Prà A, Scartozzi J … +6 more , Gavinelli F, Concheri G, Stevanato P, Testa G, Ghidesi G, Remelli S
Integr Zool · 2026 May · PMID 42179211 · Publisher ↗
AgriPhotovoltaic (APV) systems integrate solar energy production with agriculture and offer a potential solution to land-use conflicts between food and energy demands. While their effects on crop yield and environmental...
AgriPhotovoltaic (APV) systems integrate solar energy production with agriculture and offer a potential solution to land-use conflicts between food and energy demands. While their effects on crop yield and environmental parameters are increasingly documented, impacts on soil biodiversity-particularly soil arthropods-remain poorly understood. Soil arthropods are key drivers of ecosystem functioning and are highly sensitive to microclimatic and edaphic changes. This study was conducted in a dual-axis APV system in northern Italy and compared two shading configurations: standard (13% shading) and expanded panels (41%). Treatments included wheat and tomato grown under each shading regime, crops under full sun, and an unshaded grass-covered control. Wheat was assessed under all treatments, whereas tomato was evaluated under standard panels and full sun only. Soil samples were collected across crop development stages and analyzed for pH, organic matter (soil organic matter [SOM]), CO emissions, and arthropod communities. Biological quality (QBS-ar), CO emissions, and arthropod diversity were driven more by crop type and season than by shading. Control plots consistently supported higher QBS-ar and Collembola diversity. Panel effects were context-dependent: Expanded panels increased soil moisture and modified pH in wheat, while standard panels mitigated early-season stress by maintaining higher soil temperature and SOM. In tomato, shading effects were limited, although increased soil moisture under panels during late growth favored moisture-sensitive taxa such as Collembola. These findings indicate that elevated APV systems modulate soil conditions without disrupting core soil biodiversity patterns, while highlighting the role of semi-natural grasslands as biodiversity reservoirs within APV landscapes.
Exo-Erythrocytic Development of Haemoproteus belopolskyi (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) in the Type-Vertebrate Host Hippolais icterina, With Remarks on Phenotypic Variation in Avian Haemoproteids.
Tchoumbou M, Himmel T, Harl J … +4 more , Iezhova T, Eigirdas V, Weissenböck H, Valkiūnas G
Integr Zool · 2026 May · PMID 42171356 · Publisher ↗
The patterns of exo-erythrocytic development remain poorly understood for most described Haemoproteus parasites. Three modes of exo-erythrocytic development have been recognized so far: Haemoproteus species that develop...
The patterns of exo-erythrocytic development remain poorly understood for most described Haemoproteus parasites. Three modes of exo-erythrocytic development have been recognized so far: Haemoproteus species that develop only meronts, only megalomeronts, and both morphotypes. The factors underlying the occurrence of these different tissue stages in certain Haemoproteus lineages remain unclear, emphasizing the need for further research on these parasites, which can cause severe disease in non-adapted avian hosts. We investigated, for the first time, the tissue merogony of Haemoproteus belopolskyi in the type-vertebrate host, the Icterine Warbler, Hippolais icterina (Acrocephalidae). Twenty-two naturally infected birds were examined using an integrative approach that included microscopy, nested PCR, traditional histology, chromogenic in situ hybridization, and laser capture microdissection. Phylogenetic analysis of the parasite's partial cytochrome b gene showed a close relationship among the detected Haemoproteus lineages. Megalomeronts of H. belopolskyi were found in the kidneys and heart of eight individuals. In addition to big megalomeronts, small immature meront-like structures were seen in the renal tubules. Molecular analyses and systematic comparison of these structures showed that they represent young (initial) stages of megalomeront development. Laser capture microdissection demonstrated that both the immature and advanced megalomeronts belonged to the H. belopolskyi lineage hHIICT1, indicating that H. belopolskyi produces only megalomeronts and highlighting the importance of integrative analyses to identify tissue stages of different sizes and morphologies.
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