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Open-pit mining is a major driver of habitat transformation, yet separating mining impacts from natural environmental variability remains challenging in semi-arid ecosystems. We evaluated mammal detection patterns over five years (2020-2024) in relation to mining expansion, rainfall, vegetation productivity, water availability, and habitat type in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Wildlife monitoring was conducted using 52 fixed camera-trap stations distributed across approximately 43,000 ha, generating 14,360 trap-nights. Detection activity varied with rainfall and herbaceous productivity, reflecting expected resource-driven dynamics. However, three nocturnal species, aardwolf (Proteles cristatus), Cape fox (Vulpes chama), and Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), showed consistent declines associated with mining expansion into wild olive shrubland. Detection rates were negatively correlated with the extent of mining disturbance (r = -0.55 to -0.72).Because detection probability was not explicitly modelled, results are interpreted as activity-based associations rather than measures of abundance. Nevertheless, the consistency of observed spatial and temporal patterns suggests that mining-related habitat modification may influence wildlife activity beyond background climatic variability. These findings highlight the value of integrating long-term camera-trap monitoring with spatial disturbance mapping to support biodiversity management in semi-arid mining landscapes.

Pathological and microbiological surveillance of wildlife can reveal clinically silent but biologically important reproductive disorders. This case report describes a middle-aged (6-7 years) fallow deer hind (Dama dama) in good body condition, legally culled in Hungary, in which post-mortem examination identified a uterine leiomyoma in the left uterine horn and retained fetal cranial bones in the cranial vagina. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published description of uterine leiomyoma in this species. Gross pathology, histopathology, and desmin immunohistochemistry supported the diagnosis of leiomyoma, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to compare the microbiomes of the unaffected uterine horn, affected uterine tissue, and feces. The affected uterine sample showed a microbial profile more similar to that of feces than the unaffected uterine sample, with an increased relative abundance of genera, including Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, and Turicibacter. As this was a single post-mortem case, no treatment was administered. These findings suggest a possible association between chronic mechanical obstruction, retained fetal material, and marked local microbial alteration, while also illustrating the limitations of causal inference from single-animal microbiome data. This case expands the differential diagnosis of reproductive tract lesions in wild ruminants and highlights the value of integrating pathology with careful microbiome interpretation in wildlife case reports.

Some of the most common pathogens in wildlife are parasites. Since wild cervids are phylogenetically close to a lot of our livestock species, disease dynamics can arise, for example, through shared parasites. Insight into regional patterns, shaped by ecosystems and cross-species relationships, is only slowly emerging and the species-specific knowledge about lifecycle and ecology of parasites is often based on cross-sectional studies and therefore limited. Possibilities for broad and easy investigation of parasites could be the key to widen our understanding of these systems and processes. Here, shotgun metagenomics were investigated as a method for parasite detection in fecal samples of wild ungulates. The results were further validated by histopathological examination of gastrointestinal tissues. The results from the two methods are in line with similar studies, and while not being identical, complement each other. This investigation revealed parasite composition and seasonal dynamics in two species of wild cervid red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

DNA mini-barcoding amplifies short DNA fragments, overcoming the inherent limitations of conventional barcoding that targets longer regions and frequently fails in highly degraded DNA. Capitalizing on its distinct advantages in analyzing highly fragmented and complex-matrix DNA, this technology has emerged as a robust approach across disciplines. This review synthesizes current advances and delineates its expanding application landscape. Specifically, it facilitates biological evidence tracing in forensic science, enables the identification of fossils and archaeological remains, and verifies food authenticity. Furthermore, the technology permits the precise detection of adulteration within the traditional Chinese medicine trade chain and allows for effective species identification from environmental samples for biomonitoring. Importantly, it also shows promise in biodiversity assessment and the regulation of wildlife trade, especially when integrated with complementary techniques for trace DNA detection. This review elucidates the technical principles, evaluates interdisciplinary progress, and provides methodological references. Future research should prioritize optimizing primers for extreme degradation, constructing comprehensive reference libraries, and integrating mini-barcoding with quantitative technologies to enhance diagnostic precision.

This study aimed to delineate multi-species corridors across the KAZA landscape to be included in land use planning and identify which wildlife dispersal areas (WDA) are most critical for seven key mammal species across KAZA. For each species, we modelled habitat suitability across KAZA using ~ 48,000 occurrence points, from both camera trap and spoor surveys. Data from different sources were individually analysed, combined in an ensemble model and final outputs overlayed to form a multi-species layer, with which we assessed connectivity identifying core areas (KDE), corridors (LCP) and functional habitat in KAZA. The central KAZA region, from the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park to Hwange National Park, supports the most extensive, well-connected core habitat for multiple species. Connectivity weakens toward the Sebungwe region, Angola, Namibia, and Kafue due to major rivers, veterinary fences, and growing human settlement/development. However, substantial highly suitable habitat occurs outside protected areas, with some WDAs playing disproportionately important roles in sustaining species' connectivity. No single species serves as an umbrella for others when identifying critical corridors, making multi-species analyses essential for comprehensive conservation planning. Protecting corridors and core areas across KAZA depends largely on land uses outside protected areas, underscoring the need to integrate multi-species corridors into land-use planning and to promote coexistence between people and wildlife.

Habitat loss and degradation are two of the main drivers of contemporary avian population declines. Wildlife managers are increasingly advocating for tools that provide decision support to set priorities for restoration or conservation efficiently. We demonstrate how to derive two species-specific management and resilience metrics: the greatest management impact point (GMIP) and the ecological resilience threshold (RT). The GMIP indicates the amount of environmental change in a landscape where habitat improvements are expected to have the greatest impact on species' occurrence. The RT represents the amount of environmental change in a landscape that a species can tolerate before the steepest change in occupancy is expected to begin. We estimate species-specific metrics using the amount of uncharacteristic exotic vegetation as an index of environmental change, and demonstrate how multispecies patterns may suggest potential management strategies. We estimated occupancy models using 5 years of multispecies avian detection data from the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program in the State of Utah, USA (hereafter, Utah). Based on the estimated relationship between species' occupancy and amounts of uncharacteristic exotic vegetation, we derive RT and GMIP scores for 61 species breeding in Utah. We found wide interspecific variation in resilience to amounts of exotic vegetation, with species generally clustering at extreme values. Our results demonstrate that birds in Utah appear more resilient to amounts of uncharacteristic exotic vegetation at coarser spatial resolution, showing greater variance and lower average RTs at finer spatial resolution. Species that are not fully resilient to the range of uncharacteristic exotic vegetation observed in this study are expected to respond most strongly, on average, to management actions in landscapes with high levels of exotic vegetation; however, early detection and rapid response is likely the most effective strategy. Quantified across many species, these metrics can be used to identify and prioritize landscapes where current environmental conditions could be maintained to avoid the greatest species' declines, or which maximize expected biodiversity returns on investment in environmental restoration. Managers can consider either focal species' resilience for tailored conservation planning or summarize species resilience to create efficient management plans that maximize outcomes for multiple species.

In the inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research project WildlifeNL, we hired six PhD candidates through a selection process that explicitly valued ITD competencies and aligned the process to hire a balanced team of PhD candidates. The approach included (1) a rubric with individual and team assessment criteria that we used across positions; (2) selection procedures that were aligned in their timing; (3) alignment meetings to discuss candidates and approaches across positions; and (4) overlapping supervision teams and selection committees. In this Comment, we describe our approach and share our experiences in implementing it. We argue that designing an explicit and intentional process to safeguard the ITD character of a project in PhD hiring procedures helps to make well-grounded choices that shape the individual PhD candidates' experiences as well as the overall ITD project and thereby supports ITD research in which PhD candidates play an important role. We experienced the rubric to be particularly valuable to mediate negotiation of expectations, values and assumptions across supervisors and selection committees. Moreover, we argue that ITD research requires not only considering the merits of individual candidates, but also their fit with the project, the consortium, and with other candidates. We argue that the central role that PhD research plays in many ITD research contexts necessitates intentional hiring which includes explicit assessment criteria for team composition, diversity, and ITD competencies. We invite others to translate our experiences in ITD PhD hiring processes to their context, including the rubric that we make available in this article.

Agricultural expansion and urbanization create fragmented landscapes that alter resources for wildlife. These changes influence populations of key pathogen reservoirs, affecting zoonotic disease risk. In the Neotropics, common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) often benefit from fragmented areas where cattle pastures replace their native habitat with cattle acting as a food source and contributing to their population growth and geographic expansion. Because D. rotundus is a key reservoir of the rabies virus, understanding its distribution is essential for anticipating and mitigating rabies risk. We analyzed priority areas for rabies prevention across Brazil's 5,570 municipalities using vulnerability, exposure, and hazard indicators, including D. rotundus potential distribution, human rabies cases, rabies in dogs and cats, and environmental and socioeconomic descriptors available from the Brazilian government and open datasets. Using spatial prioritization methods, we ranked municipalities to identify priority areas for prevention and control. From 2001 to 2024, an average of six human rabies cases occurred annually in 1.45% of municipalities (N = 81). For cats and dogs (N = 240), cases occurred in 122(2.19%) of municipalities, not overlapping with human cases. Priority areas included the municipalities of Ouricuri (Pernambuco), Viseu (Pará), and several cities in Maranhão, including those where no cases were reported. These findings can support targeted One Health interventions by identifying municipalities with elevated structural and historical susceptibility to rabies risk, supporting 2030 rabies-elimination goals.

Studying elusive carnivores in dense tropical habitats poses many logistical challenges. Commonly applied field techniques can entail substantial resources and human power, precluding short-term studies from generating a comprehensive understanding of species ecology. We leveraged Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) in India's Western Ghats to better understand dholes (Cuon alpinus) across the forest and agroforest landscapes of Wayanad (Kerala) and Valparai (Tamil Nadu). Through interviews of 476 informants (forest department staff and local residents), we documented dhole sighting locations, pack sizes, and interactions with co-predators, domestic dogs, livestock, and humans. Our findings reveal a strong local awareness of dhole ecology, with vernacular names highlighting their cultural relevance. Pack sizes reported were consistent with those from previous studies. Dhole interactions with co-predators were less frequently reported compared to domestic dogs, suggesting potential risks of competition and disease transmission. Instances of livestock depredation were extremely rare, hinting at an adaptation to minimize negative interactions with people. Forest officials generally held positive perceptions toward dhole conservation, recognizing the species' ecological importance. Our study underscores how LEK can complement traditional research approaches and offer unique insights on elusive species in shared human-wildlife spaces. The framework used and the knowledge thus generated can aid in co-developing conservation strategies to safeguard megafauna populations beyond Protected Area boundaries.

Ticks are important vectors of bacteria belonging to the order Rickettsiales, several of which are causes zoonotic diseases. Amblyomma triste is the main vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the etiological agent responsible for most cases of human spotted fever rickettsiosis in Argentina. However, information on the circulation of rickettsial agents in protected areas of the La Plata River Hydrographic Basin, a region that includes highly urbanized environments and frequent contact between wildlife, domestic animals and humans, remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of rickettsial bacteria in A. triste collected in protected areas of Buenos Aires Province, (La Plata River Hydrographic Basin, Argentina). Between September and December 2021, ticks were collected by vegetation flagging in four protected areas and analyzed individually. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for detecting the genus Rickettsia was initially performed using a simple PCR to amplify a variablesized fragment of the 23S-5S rRNA intergenic spacer. An initial PCR was performed with primers for a 16S rRNA fragment for the Anaplasmataceae family. A total of 247 adult ticks were examined. Twelve specimens (4.9%) tested positive for Rickettsia, and sequence analysis confirmed their identity as R. parkeri. Positive ticks were detected in Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park and Campos del Tuyú National Park. In addition, two specimens yielded sequences corresponding to Candidatus Midichloria sp. These findings confirm the presence of R. parkeri in A. triste populations from protected areas of the La Plata River Hydrographic Basin and provide the first evidence of Ca. Midichloria sp. in this tick species in Argentina. The results highlight the need for continued surveillance of tick-borne microorganisms in protected areas located near densely populated regions, where human exposure to infected ticks may occur.

Rapid land-use change is compressing the space between people and wildlife at an unprecedented pace, elevating concerns of conflict between people and keystone megafauna such as the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana). However, the underlying drivers of human-elephant conflict (HEC) are often inferred but not causally identified, and forecasting under future scenarios is limited, restricting our ability to anticipate where and why conflict will intensify. Using a dataset on conflict events from 2004 to 2020 across a transboundary landscape in Southern Africa, we integrate causal inference (panel data regressions) and machine learning (point process models) to link mechanisms with spatial forecasts. We find that human population growth, cropland expansion, and climate-driven aridity in core elephant-protected areas drive conflict risk. Furthermore, we show that landscape features such as wildlife fences and roads constrain elephant movement in ways that drive HEC. Applying these models to projected land use, population, and climate under future coupled climate-development scenarios, we find that the area at high risk of HEC increases by 33 to 100% by 2085 with corresponding rises in event frequency. Aggressive human land-use expansion leads to the most dramatic increases in conflict, with climate impacts playing a significant but smaller role. These results identify emerging conflict hotspots decades in advance, offering actionable foresight for land-use planning and mitigation in a region critical to elephant conservation.

Environmental change is reshaping wildlife reproduction through increasing temperatures and often leading to the spread of emerging infectious diseases, yet the physiological consequences of managing these stressors remain poorly understood. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable due to their ectothermy and high susceptibility to chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Here, we examine how Bd infection and thermal treatment interact to influence sperm quality and reproductive investment in male green and golden bell frogs (Ranoidea aurea), a species that has suffered severe population declines. Moderate Bd infection was associated with elevated sperm concentration relative to uninfected and heavily infected males, consistent with increased short-term reproductive investment under elevated mortality risk. However, severe infection led to pronounced reductions in sperm concentration and motility. Thermal treatment successfully eliminated Bd infection but imposed reproductive costs: sperm concentration declined following treatment and remained significantly reduced six months later, despite partial recovery of sperm motility and membrane integrity. Our findings reveal that disease and thermal stress jointly shape amphibian reproductive outcomes through context-dependent trade-offs between immune defence and gamete production. While mild infection may trigger short-lived increases in reproductive output, both severe infection and pathogen clearance via thermal exposure impose lasting constraints on fertility. These results highlight an underappreciated cost of disease mitigation and suggest that increasing thermal extremes associated with climate change may further limit amphibian reproductive resilience, with important implications for conservation management and population persistence.

We present updated baseline information on bats inhabiting the Vietnamese Mekong Delta based on literature review and field expeditions between 2018 and 2024. In total, 32 bat species from six families were documented across 23 study sites within the delta. Our integrated analyses of morphological and acoustic data along with mitochondrial sequences reveal two new country records (Rhinolophus thailandensis and Hipposideros kingstonae) and novel populations of relict forms in several species' complexes (R. macrotis, R. marshalli, and H. galeritus). These findings indicate that bat populations in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta include previously undocumented diversity and unique evolutionary patterns. However, bats and other wildlife within the delta face escalating threats from the synergistic effects of anthropogenic activities (e.g., unsustainable land-use and farming practices, illegal hunting, wind energy development) and climate change. Compounding these threats, public awareness of the importance of bat conservation remains limited and misperceptions of bats as sources of zoonotic diseases remains widespread. We advocate for urgent implementation of multidisciplinary initiatives to conserve the unique biodiversity of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta and achieve sustainable development goals.

African swine fever (ASF) has recently swept through Southeast Asia, beginning in 2018, posing a significant threat to populations of native wild pig species. In Borneo, the population of wild bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) declined sharply during the period of regional ASF spread. This paper presents results of WWF-Malaysia surveys of bearded pigs in the Malaysian state of Sabah, in the northern part of Borneo, that showed changes over a 6-yr period (2019-25), starting before the 2021 ASF outbreak. Surveys were conducted along 2-km transects at 28 sites across 10 forest reserves and parks by using a combination of camera trapping and direct observations. The findings revealed high bearded pig occurrence in 2019-20, with a mean of 12.67 pigs per 100 camera-trap nights, followed by a precipitous decline from March 2021 to December 2022 and a slight increase in detections from 2023 onward. These results documented a marked decline of at least one order of magnitude in bearded pig detections across Sabah that coincided with the period of regional ASF spread, and they showed continued low populations even 5 yr after the epidemic was initially recorded. The survey findings provide an important ecologic baseline for monitoring bearded pig populations and highlight the need for integrated wildlife-disease surveillance in the region.

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects a high proportion of threatened southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) and is an important cause of mortality in this host species. Recently, a point-of-care rapid antibody test (POCT) for T. gondii infection was developed for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in human sera. We aimed to validate the POCT using southern sea otter sera against a gold standard state of infection, based on histopathology, immunohistochemistry, parasite isolation, and PCR. In this study, we hypothesized that the POCT rapid screening tool would offer both high sensitivity and specificity (> 90%) for screening T. gondii infection in archived serum samples from southern sea otters with known T. gondii infection status. We applied the POCT assay to sera from 109 sea otters (49 negative, 60 positive), and this assay demonstrated an overall sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 93.9%. These results indicate that the POCT may be a useful screening tool for T. gondii exposure in sea otters. Utilization of this test in wildlife rehabilitation centers would allow for rapid, on-site, and cost-efficient screening of T. gondii exposure that could aid in the diagnosis and clinical management of sea otters with suspected toxoplasmosis. Future efforts could target POCT validation in species such as Hawaiian monk seals and Hector's dolphins, for which T. gondii is listed as a threat to species survival.

Subterranean ecosystems host highly specialized and often cryptic biodiversity, yet even intensively studied landscapes may conceal deeply divergent vertebrate lineages. Here we describe Demogorgonichthys arcanus gen. et sp. nov., a new genus and species of cave-obligate fish discovered in Bobcat Cave, a long-monitored karst system on Redstone Arsenal in northern Alabama, USA. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial nd2, complete mitochondrial genomes, and the nuclear gene rhodopsin place D. arcanus within Amblyopsidae but reveal deep divergence from all described genera, including extensive lineage-specific degeneration of a vision-related gene. Notably, D. arcanus occurs in syntopy with the Southern Cavefish (Typhlichthys subterraneus) despite lacking a close phylogenetic relationship, providing evidence for multiple independent evolutionary origins of cave adaptation within a single groundwater system. This discovery highlights persistent detection bias in groundwater ecosystems and demonstrates that cryptic vertebrate diversity can persist even in well-characterized environments. Extreme endemism and restriction to a single cave-aquifer system further underscore the vulnerability of subterranean biodiversity and the importance of integrating evolutionary and conservation perspectives.

New moniligastrid earthworms of the genera Moniligaster Perrier, 1872 and Drawida Michaelsen, 1900 are described from the specimens collected from the Silent Valley National Park, in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats mountain chain, Kerala State, India. M. girishi Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. nov., and D. reynoldsi Narayanan, Paliwal & Julka, sp. nov., were collected from the tropical wet evergreen forest and montane grassland, respectively. By the possession of single undivided spermathecal atrial gland at each side of the anterior body, M. girishi sp. nov., belonging to the gravelyi species-group and it can be distinguished from other group members by the condition of the prostate and especially the prostatic capsule. Drawida reynoldsi sp. nov., belongs to the D.robusta species-group, which is characterized by glandular prostates and bilobed spermathecal atria. D. reynoldsi sp. nov., can easily be differentiated from all the members of the robusta group by the sausage-like prostatic capsule and large erect spermathecal atrium. An updated key to species of the genus Moniligaster is also provided. With the inclusion of the two newly identified species, India's moniligastrid fauna now comprises 95 recognized species, highlighting both the richness and continued discovery potential of this group.

The microsporidian parasites Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae cause nosemosis in honey bees, and spore surface charge is expected to influence adhesion and colloidal stability. However, zeta-potential (ζ) data for Nosema spores are absent from the literature. Here we report the first electrophoretic light-scattering measurements of ζ for N. ceranae spores under standardized conditions (10 mM KCl, pH 7.0, 25 °C). Spores were purified by differential centrifugation and analyzed in ten technical replicates. The mean ζ was -45.2 ± 1.8 mV (coefficient of variation 4.0%). The intensity-weighted distribution was unimodal with a peak at -42.5 mV, and autocorrelation functions indicated good data quality. The pH-dependence curve yielded a point of zero charge at pH 4.8, with a steep negative shift above pH 5, implying that surface carboxyl and phosphate groups dominate the charge. At the pH of the honey-bee midgut (6.0-6.5), ζ is estimated as -20 to -30 mV, which may permit moderate aggregation and influence infection efficiency. The high repeatability (σ = ± 1.8 mV) validates electrophoretic light scattering for future screening of anti-nosemal agents.

Four new species of the head louse genus Schizosairhynchus Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are described and illustrated based on specimens from Australo-Papuan starlings (Sturnidae). They are: Schizosairhynchus anahitaesp. nov. ex Mino anais orientalis (Schlegel, 1871); Schizosairhynchus bilobussp. nov. ex Aplonis panayensis strigatus (Horsfield, 1821) and Aplonis panayensis panayensis (Scopoli, 1786); Schizosairhynchus guadalcanalensissp. nov. ex Mino kreffti (Sclater, 1869) and Schizosairhynchus sarcoplestes sp. nov. ex Sarcops calvus melanonotus Ogilvie-Grant, 1906. The species Schizosairhynchus philippensis (Tandan & Kumar, 1969), Schizosairhynchus erysichthoni Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 and Schizosairhynchus minovenator Gustafsson & Bush, 2017 are reillustrated for comparison. A key to all known species of Schizosairhynchus is given. Also, a list of species of lice belonging to head ecomorph genera parasitizing species of Sturnidae is provided.

Long-term persistent measles virus (MeV) infection of the central nervous system (CNS) can result in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), an invariably fatal late neurological complication of measles. Analogous SSPE-like chronic diseases have also been reported in adult dogs, cetaceans, and more recently harbor seals following infection by canine distemper virus (CDV), dolphin morbillivirus (DMV), and phocine distemper virus (PDV), respectively. Here, we characterize different animal morbilliviruses (CDVlynx, PDV2001, PDV2014, and DMV232-18) that persisted in the CNS of their respective host species for several years after the initial infections. The CDVlynx and DMV232-18 strains encode nonfunctional matrix proteins and hyperfusogenic fusion proteins which are hallmark features of SSPE MeV strains. The complex mutational profile apparent in the PDV2001 strain also has parallels with MeV strains from SSPE cases. In contrast, the PDV2014 strain encodes for a nonfunctional matrix protein but an unmodified F protein supporting the evolutionary precedence of M protein changes in facilitating long-term morbillivirus infections of the CNS. Consequently, our findings show that similar evolutionary pathways across different animal species drive morbilliviruses to evolve analogous mechanisms favoring virus persistence in the CNS and the development of chronic neurological disease. Such naturally occurring chronic animal morbillivirus infections of the CNS provide natural analogues for studying the evolutionary trajectory and molecular basis of the pathogenesis of SSPE in humans. This may pave the way for developing early diagnostics and intervention strategies.