Human impacts on species and ecosystems are increasing at a drastic rate. Raptors, a group of birds particularly vulnerable due to their ecological traits, are heavily affected by a variety of direct and indirect threats. Identifying important areas used during the breeding season and assessing exposure to main risks is crucial for promoting effective management and conservation strategies. We GPS-tracked 25 Eleonora’s Falcons Falco eleonorae, i.e. 2% of the Italian breeding population from a colony in Sardinia, and identified an Important Conservation Area (ICA) of 8,099 km2. This ICA spans Sardinia (Italy, 83%) and Corsica (France, 17%), with only 29.1% of its area covered by Natura 2000 sites. During the breeding season falcons undertook extensive excursions across both sea and land (females: 159 ± 288, males: 198 ± 391 km), often reaching areas far from the colony and routinely encountering wind farms. In Sardinia, 10.2% of the region’s turbines were within the ICA. Around 53% of the locations during foraging excursions fell within the turbine rotor-swept zone (RSZ), and accelerometer data revealed that peak flight activity of falcons coincided with peak wind intensity, the moment when turbines are most likely to be operational. Overall, results suggested that Eleonora’s Falcons are highly mobile during the breeding season and that wind farms pose a potential threat. To aid in spatial planning and management, especially considering the predicted increase in offshore wind farms in the area, we provide the identified ICA freely available for download.

Wetlands are critical ecosystems for many species of conservation concern, including migratory birds. These species face resource depletion and unpredictability in the context of global change and are expected to adjust their space use accordingly. Understanding how waterbirds use space and identifying their foraging needs are essential for guiding conservation efforts. Here, we present preliminary results on the fine-scale space use of a wetland flagship species, the Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, in La Brenne, a historical French breeding stronghold. The species is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in France and breeds in only a few large wetlands. For the first time, we equipped four adult terns with miniature GPS tracking devices, providing unique, high-resolution data on their daily movements throughout the breeding season (i.e. pre-incubation, incubation, rearing, and post-breeding). Our results showed that most daily foraging trips did not exceed 2–3 km, resulting in relatively small home ranges (ranging from 2.00 km2 to 14.95 km2). Values were higher during the post-breeding period (up to 8 km from the nest and home range size up to 74.45 km2). Furthermore, we found that Whiskered Terns remained faithful to their foraging areas throughout the season and preferentially foraged in ponds – especially those near their colony – compared with other potential foraging habitats. On average, 91% of foraging positions occurred in ponds and 9% in grasslands. We also provide practical details on bird capture and device attachment methods. Finally, this pioneering bio-logging study offers promising prospects for future research on the movement ecology of Whiskered Terns, which could be invaluable for their conservation.

Data on species’ demography are essential to detect changes in population size, identify drivers of population change, motivate conservation plans, or evaluate the effectiveness of management. The Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus is a seabird with a circumpolar distribution, which is listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) European Red List, although listed as “Least Concern” globally. It is both a predator and a kleptoparasite reliant on marine and terrestrial prey, and undertakes migrations from northern breeding habitats to temperate and tropical marine environments. Most studies of breeding populations originate from North Atlantic populations where Arctic Skuas are primarily kleptoparasitic. However, a large proportion of the global breeding population occupies remote coastal and inland tundra of Arctic regions where Arctic Skuas are more generalist in foraging modality and the range of prey taken. Here, we collated and summed national/regional population estimates to provide an updated global estimate of breeding population size and trends. We reviewed drivers of population change and knowledge gaps, and their implications for the conservation of this species. We estimated a minimum breeding population of 185,131–395,315 pairs combining Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Europe; we extrapolated that at least 40,000 pairs could be found in Asian Russia, where no estimates were available. We noted differential trends, with substantial declines in typically kleptoparasitic populations of the North Atlantic where data quality was higher, whereas for populations in the Nearctic, trend data were scarce and geographically restricted. Various threats were identified as potential drivers of population change, including bottom-up processes, fisheries, heat stress, and interspecific competition/predation. Given the large uncertainty around abundance and population trends for much of the Arctic Skua’s range, the current global conservation status of Least Concern may be better designated as “Data Deficient”, and we encourage the implementation of a range of approaches to improve monitoring of population trends and demography globally.

Cock-tailed Tyrant Alectrurus tricolor (Vieillot, 1816), a Vulnerable South American grassland specialist, is facing substantial habitat loss due to land-use change by agricultural and forestry expansion. This study aims to assess the current distribution and suitable habitat availability for Cock-tailed Tyrant using species distribution modelling (SDM) and recent distributional data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Occurrence data from 1,583 records, mapped by season and habitat type, were used to generate a MaxEnt model with a high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.974). Results revealed three main distributional clusters: one in Brazil, another spanning Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina, and a separate group in the Bolivian lowlands. Seasonal analysis found no significant distributional shifts, supporting previous findings of the species’ non-migratory behaviour. Key environmental contributors to habitat suitability included ecoregion type, precipitation, and vapour pressure. The predicted suitable habitat covers approximately 177,753 km². These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts focusing on critical grassland habitats, particularly within the Cerrado, Southern Cone Mesopotamian grasslands, and Beni savanna biomes. Sustainable land-use practices, grassland restoration, and periodic habitat reassessments are essential to preserve Cock-tailed Tyrant populations and support the biodiversity of South American grasslands.

We report the rediscovery of two endemic tree species of the genus Myrcia (Myrtaceae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in 2021–2022. Both Myrcia colpodes and Myrcia rubiginosa were previously known from a small number of specimens collected mostly in the 19th century in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil. Living specimens had not been recorded since 1958 and 2005, respectively. We provide here photographic documentation and updated risk assessments for both species, which will be submitted to IUCN for a formal assessment. Our findings illustrate that rare species that have not been collected for long periods can sometimes be found in plain sight in urban forest fragments. We also highlight the importance of protected areas for the conservation of forest trees, in particular rediscovered species. We recommend a number of conservation actions and encourage the Brazilian government, scientific institutions and civil society to acknowledge the importance of these species and to act to safeguard their future.

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are key components of dryland ecosystems worldwide, contributing to soil stabilization, nutrient cycling and enhancing ecosystem resilience. Despite their ecological importance, biocrusts in the Arabian Peninsula are largely underexplored, with much of the region’s biocrust diversity and functionality remaining undocumented. This review synthesizes current knowledge on biocrusts across the Arabian Peninsula, focusing on their major taxonomic groups (cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens, mosses and algae), their ecological roles and distribution patterns. It also discusses the potential for biocrust restoration through strategies such as cyanobacterial inoculation and passive protection, which could contribute to land degradation and desertification control in the Arabian Peninsula. Our work identifies significant research gaps in biocrust biodiversity, ecophysiology and their role in ecosystem functioning within this region, and calls for more focused research to integrate biocrusts into land management strategies for the Arabian Peninsula.

Visual methods of surveying snakes are subject to observer bias and their accuracy is often questioned. Data collection by non-specialists offers an alternative way to record sightings. We present citizen science as a valuable tool for surveying the viperid snake Lachesis rhombeata, yielding more data than a traditional visual census in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in north-east Brazil. From visits to local museum/university collections and a literature search, we obtained only 10 georeferenced historical records for this species in the study area dating from 1990 to 2020. In 218 h of visual field surveys during 2022 and 2023, covering 15,000 m2, we did not locate any L. rhombeata individuals, probably because their low population density and cryptic habits made their detection difficult. However, during the same period we acquired 110 georeferenced records through citizen science. The high number of records from citizen science underscores the value of this approach when working with an elusive and threatened snake. Lachesis rhombeata is often implicated in human–wildlife conflict but engaging local people in the project led to positive behavioural changes. Through citizen science we were able to examine live individuals, map the species’ current distribution, investigate threats to its survival and contribute data for studies on taxonomy, diet, home range, diseases and ethno-herpetology.

An understanding of bird movement and habitat use in breeding and non-breeding areas is critical for the conservation of migratory birds. Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii breeds in Japan and Russia then migrates more than 6,000 km to its non-breeding sites in Australia. It is at risk because it favours areas under pressure from urban development. We investigated the movement patterns of Latham’s Snipe at a key non-breeding site – Jerrabomberra Wetlands, in Canberra, Australia. We tracked 32 Latham’s Snipe using GPS telemetry devices in the 2022/3 and 2023/4 seasons. The tracked birds remained at Jerrabomberra Wetlands for their non-breeding season and formed distinctive and predictable patterns of roosting and foraging. The distance range between roosting and foraging sites was similar across both the 2022/3 and 2023/4 seasons, with 75% of birds travelling less than 2.5 km and the majority of birds travelling <6 km. Approximately one third (31%) of birds travelled up to 30 km overnight before returning to the wetlands, and two birds (6%) travelled up to 140 km for up to three days. Home range sizes averaged 19 ha and did not significantly differ among individuals in either season. The relatively small size of the home ranges and short foraging trip distances suggest that conservation of non-breeding habitat in urbanised areas can be achieved through the protection of small areas, providing the habitat is suitable. However, individuals varied in their use of the broader landscape and therefore their susceptibility to threats may vary. From an urban planning perspective, habitat protection should prioritise roost sites while ensuring a diversity of foraging habitat within 6 km.

Understanding biotic responses to environmental changes will help identify extinction risks and direct conservation efforts to mitigate negative effects associated with anthropogenic-induced environmental changes. Here we use the Quaternary fossil record of mole salamanders (Ambystoma) from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico to reveal geographic patterns of extirpation since the Pleistocene. Ambystoma are known to have previously inhabited regions of central Texas on the Edwards Plateau; however, they are largely absent from the region today. We used a well-dated fossil record of Ambystoma from Hall’s Cave combined with other fossil sites in the region to deduce why Ambystoma was ultimately extirpated from the Edwards Plateau and to test hypotheses related to temperature-driven body-size changes in line with the temperature–size rule. We propose that Ambystoma was likely extirpated from the region due to changing temperature and precipitation regimes that caused increased mortality and disruptions to breeding and larval development. We found some support for decreased body size in Ambystoma with increased temperature during the late Pleistocene, suggesting that body size may be an important feature to monitor in modern populations of Ambystoma as salamanders become subjected to increasingly hotter temperatures in the coming decades.

Ensuring seed viability over decades is a central challenge in ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources. Standard germination tests, while effective, are destructive and fail to detect early molecular damage that precedes viability loss. RNA integrity has emerged as a promising biomarker due to the inherent vulnerability of mRNA to oxidative degradation in the dry state. In this study, we identified and validated seed-stored mRNAs in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a major crop species extensively represented in global germplasm collections, and investigated transcript degradation patterns in seeds conserved for up to 30 years. Using a comparative genomics approach, we identified 107 P. vulgaris orthologs of long-lived rice mRNAs, many encoding proteins involved in RNA stabilization, oxidoreductase activity, and primary metabolism. Thirty transcripts were validated by RT-qPCR, and the integrity of nine was assessed using paired primers targeting 5′ and 3′ regions. Degradation followed a consistent 5′→3′ pattern, particularly in longer transcripts, and correlated strongly with germination power. Predictive performance varied across transcripts: PSMA4, SMP1, and TRA2 consistently showed strong correlations with viability, whereas others were less informative. The ΔΔCq metric improved resolution by detecting degradation asymmetry. Samples included a genetically diverse panel of conserved, regenerated, and artificially aged accessions, enhancing applicability to real-world genebank conditions. Artificial aging intensified degradation signatures and mirrored patterns observed in naturally aged seeds. Altogether, our results indicate transcript integrity as a molecular biomarker for seed viability, supporting the development of robust molecular tools to inform decision-making and regeneration planning in long-term germplasm conservation.

This study investigates the impact of tourist activities on penguin behaviour on Barrientos Island, an intensively visited site in the Antarctic Peninsula. By simulating tourist presence and activities, we assessed the behavioural responses of two species, Pygoscelis antarcticus and Pygoscelis papua, and their differences with regard to two specific factors: nest position (perimetral/non-perimetral) and nesting site size (large/small). The findings reveal that both species were sensitive to human presence, especially when visitors talked while approaching the nesting sites. We observed greater behavioural differences regarding the position within the colony for gentoo penguins (P. papua). For this species, the size of the nesting sites was also an important factor affecting its response to human presence, with the large nesting sites being less affected. This trend was not shared by chinstrap penguins (P. antarcticus), whose behaviour towards visitors was not affected significantly by either factor. We recommend mitigating tourists’ impact by maintaining their viewing distance at greater than 10 m and by having them move quietly and slowly around these penguin species.

This paper explores the utility of conviviality thinking for archaeological theory and practice. It first situates calls for convivial analysis as a response to the excesses of late capitalism and the existential challenges of the global Anthropocene polycrisis. The paper then highlights the critical, ethical and interpretive potentials of the concept to re-think human–animal coexistence, to frame new approaches to ecological conservation and to creatively reimagine shared multispecies futures. A suite of examples from hunter-gatherer archaeology and archaeological museums is offered to illustrate how conviviality thinking helps to challenge traditional representations of the past and contributes to an engaged, post-critical approach to museum and heritage practices fostering a fruitful dialogue on the diversity of species co-living. Conviviality constitutes a powerful lens through which to integrate theory and practice and to draw on the empirical strengths of archaeology, while recognizing the need to speak to a critical moment in planetary history.

The overexploitation of wildlife for bushmeat consumption poses a significant threat to biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Angola, where the problem remains largely unexplored. This study provides the first overview of the regional bushmeat trade in Uíge Province and an analysis of consumption patterns in this socio-economic context. We provide data on the range of species hunted and their respective conservation status, and highlight the sources and structures underlying this regional trade. We conducted qualitative expert interviews with nine bushmeat traders from four communities and a quantitative consumer survey of 204 citizens of Uíge. More than 60% of the respondents consumed bushmeat at least once per week and 23% hunted regularly, indicating that this practice is deeply rooted in society. Of the 16 species sold in the central market in Uíge, five are categorized as threatened or Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, highlighting the need for control measures. Large parts of the population consider bushmeat consumption to be an integral part of their culture but our results indicate that younger and better educated Angolans are moving away from these traditions and are less likely to practice traditional hunting. These findings suggest that access to comprehensive education and environmentally sustainable livelihoods is key to reducing the unsustainable use of wildlife resources.