Ectotherms in a Dynamic Environment: Understanding Patterns of Ecology, Distribution, Evolution, and Threats to Species
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3588
Special Issue Editors
Interests: phylogenomic; historical demography; eco-phylogeography; trait evolution, barcoding bioinformatics, taxonomy; and the evolutionary ecology of invasive and native species
Interests: amphibian behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology; cognitive biology; wildlife conservation; human-wildlife interaction; community ecology
Interests: amphibians’ biodiversity and conservation; behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology; landscape modeling for ecological requirements; conservation-orientated phylogeography
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue in Diversity exploring key aspects of ecology, functional traits mechanisms, distribution, systematics, evolution and conservation, specifically in the context of ectotherms in the changing environment.
In an environment undergoing accelerating changes, due to natural factors and human activities, ectotherms need to cope with the changing conditions that require innovative strategies, greater plasticity, and phenotypic adaptations. Fishes, amphibians and reptiles occupy significant positions in various ecosystems and provide indispensable ecosystem services. Experiencing a higher rate of decline compared to other animal groups, 25% of freshwater fish, 21% of reptiles, and 41% of amphibians are already threatened with extinction. Unprecedented anthropogenic pressures in the form of habitat modification, climate warming, exploitation, and invasive species require constant adaptation in the form of ecological requirements, behavioural and cognitive traits, and morphological and physiological factors.
Extinction risks are unequally distributed across species. Some genera stand out as highly threatened, due to the large number of range-restricted species and the high threat level, and exhibit high rates of population decline. There are above 45,000 recognised species of fish, amphibians and reptiles in the world; however, a substantial number of species still remain undiscovered and undescribed. Even among the described species, many are still characterised by unclear boundaries and evolutionary relationships. This leads to incomplete and unclear phylogenetic classification and as a result the fundamental knowledge about species and several aspects of biology remain obscured.
This Special Issue aims to collate research on fundamental, integrative and applied sciences related to ectotherms across habitat types and spanning both local and global landscapes. We encourage the submission of work focused on population trends, behavioural and cognitive ecology, distribution, systematics, phylogeography, and trait evolution, as well as conservation and ecosystem services. We have kept the focus of this Special Issue broad to accommodate studies highlighting diverse aspects of ecology and conservation to help understand the anthropogenic impacts on the fitness and survival of ectotherm species, inform conservation strategies and develop the sustainable management of ecosystem services. In addition, articles, reviews, syntheses and commentaries on applied approaches to the conservation and management of species in natural environments are welcome. If you are interested or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Dr. Siti N. Othman
Dr. Deyatima Ghosh
Prof. Dr. Amaël Borzée
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- amphibians
- reptiles
- behaviour
- cognition
- predation
- morphology
- bioacoustics
- distribution
- population trend
- evolutionary biology
- invasion
- parasitism
- phylogenetics and phylogeography
- population genetics
- trait evolution
- ecosystem service
- distribution modelling
- conservation
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