Nature Reviews Biodiversity

Our October is live today, with a very spooky cover fitting of the month. www.nature.com/nrbd/volumes... Our Editorial shares some thoughts in the lead-up to #COP17 next week, and discusses Comments that tie-in with the event.

dlvr.itBiodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins the achievement of global biodiversity targetsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 20 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00212-7Target 1 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss. This Perspective outlines how biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins delivery of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets, and how delivering Target 1 will help to coordinate action to benefit biodiversity and human well-being.

10h

ICYMI: New online! Biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins the achievement of global biodiversity targets

4d

Three more days to freely download these #COP17 related Comments: Building a science of biodiversity recovery: www.nature.com/articles/s44... How networks and the GEF can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacity: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

dlvr.itCauses and consequences of the global decoupling of above- and below-ground biodiversityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 22 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00213-6Above-ground and below-ground biodiversity often follow distinct biogeographic patterns, challenging assumptions about the generality of the latitudinal diversity gradient. This Perspective identifies spatio-temporal feedback scenarios that explain why biodiversity patterns converge or diverge across ecosystem compartments, and discusses the ecological consequences of these divergent patterns.

5d

New online! Causes and consequences of the global decoupling of above- and below-ground biodiversity

dlvr.itComplexities in conifer seed cone evolutionNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00216-3Complexities in conifer seed cone evolution

5d

ICYMI: New online! Complexities in conifer seed cone evolution

dlvr.itAssessing progress at COP17Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 13 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00210-9Science and policy communities are taking stock of progress towards global biodiversity targets. Challenges related to governance, financing and insufficient monitoring are limiting nations’ progress, but hope is still warranted.

ICYMI: New online! Assessing progress at COP17

dlvr.itBiodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins the achievement of global biodiversity targetsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 20 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00212-7Target 1 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss. This Perspective outlines how biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins delivery of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets, and how delivering Target 1 will help to coordinate action to benefit biodiversity and human well-being.

New online! Biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning underpins the achievement of global biodiversity targets

dlvr.itBuilding a science of biodiversity recoveryNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00205-6Biodiversity science has built powerful systems for detecting decline, but must now pivot towards defining, explaining and scaling recovery. The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity should make recovery readiness a priority by calling for outcome-based monitoring, systematic learning from success and failure, and evidence that can guide action when opportunities arise.

ICYMI: New online! Building a science of biodiversity recovery

dlvr.itIsland biogeography in deep timeNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 09 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00209-2Island ecosystems feature unique species assemblages with diverse evolutionary histories, but identifying island communities in deep time comes with its own challenges. This Perspective explores the application of island biogeographic study to deep time island communities and the challenges that researchers must navigate.

ICYMI: New online! Island biogeography in deep time

dlvr.itComplexities in conifer seed cone evolutionNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00216-3Complexities in conifer seed cone evolution

New online! Complexities in conifer seed cone evolution

dlvr.itBiodiversity origins, threats and conservation in the Western GhatsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 07 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00202-9The Western Ghats in India is the world’s most densely populated biodiversity hotspot. This Review synthesizes the biogeographic history as well as current distributions of and threats to the region’s biodiversity, before discussing strategies to conserve biodiversity in alignment with human needs.

ICYMI: New online! Biodiversity origins, threats and conservation in the Western Ghats

dlvr.itHow networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00204-7The first cycle of national reporting under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework revealed that a gap persists between what parties must measure and what most report. Closing this implementation gap requires investment and coordination to leverage existing monitoring capacity. Biodiversity observation networks, sustained by the Global Environment Facility, can do both.

This Comment is free to read and download (with nature. com registration) for two weeks, until October 26!

Nature Reviews Biodiversity@natrevbiodiv.nature.com

New online! How networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacity

dlvr.itBuilding a science of biodiversity recoveryNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00205-6Biodiversity science has built powerful systems for detecting decline, but must now pivot towards defining, explaining and scaling recovery. The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity should make recovery readiness a priority by calling for outcome-based monitoring, systematic learning from success and failure, and evidence that can guide action when opportunities arise.

This fantastic Comment by Becky Chaplin-Kramer is free to read and download (with nature. com registration) for two weeks, until October 26!

Nature Reviews Biodiversity@natrevbiodiv.nature.com

New online! Building a science of biodiversity recovery

dlvr.itAssessing progress at COP17Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 13 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00210-9Science and policy communities are taking stock of progress towards global biodiversity targets. Challenges related to governance, financing and insufficient monitoring are limiting nations’ progress, but hope is still warranted.

New online! Assessing progress at COP17

dlvr.itOvercoming institutional mismatches to scale agroforestryNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00214-5Agroforestry is widely recognized as essential for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems, but remains marginal in tropical agricultural governance owing to structural policy biases towards simplified production systems over multifunctional landscapes. Scaling agroforestry requires redefining agricultural success, aligning finance with ecological time, and embedding multifunctionality within governance.

ICYMI: New online! Overcoming institutional mismatches to scale agroforestry

Nature Reviews Biodiversity reposted

Prof Susie Maidment

@tweetisaurus.bsky.social

nature.comIsland biogeography in deep time - Nature Reviews BiodiversityIsland ecosystems feature unique species assemblages with diverse evolutionary histories, but identifying island communities in deep time comes with its own challenges. This Perspective explores the a...

Fossil taxa are sometimes considered island weirdos without any actual evidence that island effects were important in their evolution. So we wrote a paper on how we could do actual island biogeography in deep time. If you want a copy but can't access it, email me: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

dlvr.itBuilding a science of biodiversity recoveryNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00205-6Biodiversity science has built powerful systems for detecting decline, but must now pivot towards defining, explaining and scaling recovery. The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity should make recovery readiness a priority by calling for outcome-based monitoring, systematic learning from success and failure, and evidence that can guide action when opportunities arise.

New online! Building a science of biodiversity recovery

dlvr.itUnderstanding and managing ecological light pollutionNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00206-5Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a substantial, growing and largely unregulated threat to biodiversity worldwide. In this Review, Dickerson et al. examine the state of knowledge regarding the measurement, impacts and mitigation of ALAN, and outline priorities for future ALAN research and policy development to protect biodiversity.

ICYMI: New online! Understanding and managing ecological light pollution

dlvr.itIsland biogeography in deep timeNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 09 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00209-2Island ecosystems feature unique species assemblages with diverse evolutionary histories, but identifying island communities in deep time comes with its own challenges. This Perspective explores the application of island biogeographic study to deep time island communities and the challenges that researchers must navigate.

New online! Island biogeography in deep time

dlvr.itThree ideas to inspire curiosity in natural history educationNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 01 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00211-8Natural history can captivate the minds of all manner of people for a multitude of reasons, but a shifting media landscape demands adaptation from public educators. Kiersten Formoso, natural history educator and assistant professor at Rutgers University, describes her three main aims when using mixed media in natural history education.

ICYMI: New online! Three ideas to inspire curiosity in natural history education

dlvr.itBiodiversity origins, threats and conservation in the Western GhatsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 07 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00202-9The Western Ghats in India is the world’s most densely populated biodiversity hotspot. This Review synthesizes the biogeographic history as well as current distributions of and threats to the region’s biodiversity, before discussing strategies to conserve biodiversity in alignment with human needs.

New online! Biodiversity origins, threats and conservation in the Western Ghats

dlvr.itThe importance of insect biodiversity for vertebratesNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00201-wChanges in insect diversity and abundance can affect vertebrates but understanding these consequences relies on having rich information about vertebrate–insect interactions. This Review summarizes the positive, negative and indirect ways that insects affect vertebrates, and discusses data gaps that hinder understanding of these relationships and the consequences of insect declines.

ICYMI: New online! The importance of insect biodiversity for vertebrates

dlvr.itOvercoming institutional mismatches to scale agroforestryNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00214-5Agroforestry is widely recognized as essential for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and sustainable food systems, but remains marginal in tropical agricultural governance owing to structural policy biases towards simplified production systems over multifunctional landscapes. Scaling agroforestry requires redefining agricultural success, aligning finance with ecological time, and embedding multifunctionality within governance.

New online! Overcoming institutional mismatches to scale agroforestry

Nature Reviews Biodiversity reposted

Kiersten Formoso, PhD(epressed)

@formorphology.bsky.social

nature.comThree ideas to inspire curiosity in natural history educationNature Reviews Biodiversity - Natural history can captivate the minds of all manner of people for a multitude of reasons, but a shifting media landscape demands adaptation from public educators....

Hi! My World View in Nature Reviews Biodiversity was published today! Read about my three main aims when educating people about topics in natural history. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

dlvr.itUnderstanding and managing ecological light pollutionNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00206-5Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a substantial, growing and largely unregulated threat to biodiversity worldwide. In this Review, Dickerson et al. examine the state of knowledge regarding the measurement, impacts and mitigation of ALAN, and outline priorities for future ALAN research and policy development to protect biodiversity.

New online! Understanding and managing ecological light pollution

dlvr.itEvolution by natural selection can be complex yet predictableNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00200-xEvolution by natural selection is a well-evidenced and well-understood process, but predicting the course that it will take in the future is less clear. In this Perspective, Nosil and Gompert argue that considering the complex interactive effects of selection pressures can strengthen predictive frameworks and inform on evolutionary dynamics.

ICYMI: New online! Evolution by natural selection can be complex yet predictable

Nature Reviews Biodiversity reposted

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

@ukceh.bsky.social

doi.orgThe importance of insect biodiversity for vertebrates - Nature Reviews BiodiversityChanges in insect diversity and abundance can affect vertebrates but understanding these consequences relies on having rich information about vertebrate–insect interactions. This Review summarizes the...

Replying to @ukceh.bsky.social

The importance of insect biodiversity for vertebrates See the study co-led by @r-cooke.bsky.social published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity: rdcu.be/8tw5as5aTc3a @natrevbiodiv.nature.com @natureportfolio.nature.com

dlvr.itThree ideas to inspire curiosity in natural history educationNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 01 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00211-8Natural history can captivate the minds of all manner of people for a multitude of reasons, but a shifting media landscape demands adaptation from public educators. Kiersten Formoso, natural history educator and assistant professor at Rutgers University, describes her three main aims when using mixed media in natural history education.

New online! Three ideas to inspire curiosity in natural history education

dlvr.itThe importance of insect biodiversity for vertebratesNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 30 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00201-wChanges in insect diversity and abundance can affect vertebrates but understanding these consequences relies on having rich information about vertebrate–insect interactions. This Review summarizes the positive, negative and indirect ways that insects affect vertebrates, and discusses data gaps that hinder understanding of these relationships and the consequences of insect declines.

New online! The importance of insect biodiversity for vertebrates

dlvr.itThe low-altitude economy challenges aerial biodiversityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00208-3Drone delivery and air taxi use are expanding rapidly, especially in China, which is home to the world’s largest civilian drone manufacturing sector and a vast domestic user base. Yet ecological safeguards for the airspace shared between drones and flying wildlife remain scarce, which creates a policy gap with global conservation implications.

ICYMI: New online! The low-altitude economy challenges aerial biodiversity

dlvr.itEvolution by natural selection can be complex yet predictableNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00200-xEvolution by natural selection is a well-evidenced and well-understood process, but predicting the course that it will take in the future is less clear. In this Perspective, Nosil and Gompert argue that considering the complex interactive effects of selection pressures can strengthen predictive frameworks and inform on evolutionary dynamics.

New online! Evolution by natural selection can be complex yet predictable

dlvr.itBreaking new ground on rock outcropsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00207-4Breaking new ground on rock outcrops

ICYMI: New online! Breaking new ground on rock outcrops

dlvr.itHow networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00204-7The first cycle of national reporting under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework revealed that a gap persists between what parties must measure and what most report. Closing this implementation gap requires investment and coordination to leverage existing monitoring capacity. Biodiversity observation networks, sustained by the Global Environment Facility, can do both.

ICYMI: New online! How networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacity

dlvr.itThe low-altitude economy challenges aerial biodiversityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00208-3Drone delivery and air taxi use are expanding rapidly, especially in China, which is home to the world’s largest civilian drone manufacturing sector and a vast domestic user base. Yet ecological safeguards for the airspace shared between drones and flying wildlife remain scarce, which creates a policy gap with global conservation implications.

New online! The low-altitude economy challenges aerial biodiversity

dlvr.itPathways to recover Asian wild pigs from African swine feverNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00198-2African swine fever virus has spread rapidly across Asia, causing lethal disease in several endemic wild pig species and Eurasian wild boar in Southeast Asia, and threatening some species with extinction. The authors set out a Roadmap for coordinated action to address this emerging conservation, livelihood and food-system crisis.

22 Sept

ICYMI: New online! Pathways to recover Asian wild pigs from African swine fever

dlvr.itBiodiversity in deep timeNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00199-1Earth’s biodiversity record extends far beyond the species alive today, and the fossil record is crucial for understanding the biodiversity of the past, present and future.

18 Sept

ICYMI: New online! Biodiversity in deep time

dlvr.itBreaking new ground on rock outcropsNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00207-4Breaking new ground on rock outcrops

17 Sept

New online! Breaking new ground on rock outcrops

dlvr.itHow networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacityNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00204-7The first cycle of national reporting under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework revealed that a gap persists between what parties must measure and what most report. Closing this implementation gap requires investment and coordination to leverage existing monitoring capacity. Biodiversity observation networks, sustained by the Global Environment Facility, can do both.

16 Sept

New online! How networks and the Global Environment Facility can turn national reporting into lasting biodiversity monitoring capacity

dlvr.itConservation risks and opportunities from deglobalization in a fragmenting worldNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00203-8As globalization retreats and the world fragments into regional blocs and reshoring, global trade, governance and ecological pressures are being fundamentally reorganized. This moment offers a narrow window of opportunity to embed biodiversity, conservation and biosecurity safeguards into the emerging multipolar order before weakened global coordination makes such integration more difficult.

15 Sept

ICYMI: New online! Conservation risks and opportunities from deglobalization in a fragmenting world

dlvr.itPathways to recover Asian wild pigs from African swine feverNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 15 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00198-2African swine fever virus has spread rapidly across Asia, causing lethal disease in several endemic wild pig species and Eurasian wild boar in Southeast Asia, and threatening some species with extinction. The authors set out a Roadmap for coordinated action to address this emerging conservation, livelihood and food-system crisis.

15 Sept

New online! Pathways to recover Asian wild pigs from African swine fever

11 Sept

Check out our September issue! www.nature.com/nrbd/volumes... Review topics this month: 🦴Advances in dinosaur palaeontology 🔊Conservation bioacoustics 🌽Crop wild relatives 🧪🌎

dlvr.itBiodiversity in deep timeNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00199-1Earth’s biodiversity record extends far beyond the species alive today, and the fossil record is crucial for understanding the biodiversity of the past, present and future.

11 Sept

New online! Biodiversity in deep time

dlvr.itMoving beyond single traits to predict endotherms’ responses to climatic warmingNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00195-5Species have morphological, physiological and behavioural responses to temperature, which are typically used in isolation to infer phenotypic change under climate warming. In this Perspective, Symonds and colleagues argue for a multi-trait, integrative approach to better inform understanding of phenotypic changes in response to climatic warming.

10 Sept

ICYMI: New online! Moving beyond single traits to predict endotherms’ responses to climatic warming

dlvr.itConservation risks and opportunities from deglobalization in a fragmenting worldNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00203-8As globalization retreats and the world fragments into regional blocs and reshoring, global trade, governance and ecological pressures are being fundamentally reorganized. This moment offers a narrow window of opportunity to embed biodiversity, conservation and biosecurity safeguards into the emerging multipolar order before weakened global coordination makes such integration more difficult.

8 Sept

New online! Conservation risks and opportunities from deglobalization in a fragmenting world

dlvr.itMoving beyond single traits to predict endotherms’ responses to climatic warmingNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00195-5Species have morphological, physiological and behavioural responses to temperature, which are typically used in isolation to infer phenotypic change under climate warming. In this Perspective, Symonds and colleagues argue for a multi-trait, integrative approach to better inform understanding of phenotypic changes in response to climatic warming.

3 Sept

New online! Moving beyond single traits to predict endotherms’ responses to climatic warming

dlvr.itThe policy relevance of climate-change scenarios for biodiversity researchNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 26 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00193-7Understanding climate-change scenarios is essential for researchers seeking to assess the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. In this Perspective, Schoeman et al. examine climate-change scenarios, their use for biodiversity research, and their relevance to policy, as well as providing recommendations for how biodiversity researchers can make the best use of future climate projections.

2 Sept

ICYMI: New online! The policy relevance of climate-change scenarios for biodiversity research

dlvr.itGlobal trends and impacts of the online illegal wildlife tradeNature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 24 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s44358-026-00192-8Online illegal wildlife trade threatens species, ecosystems and human well-being. This Review examines the species and products involved, online platforms, drivers, trade routes and impacts of this trade, and how these compare with those of traditional illegal wildlife trade, before outlining mitigation strategies and future priorities for research and action.

31 Aug

ICYMI: New online! Global trends and impacts of the online illegal wildlife trade

Nature Reviews Biodiversity reposted

Springer Nature

@springernature.com

20 Aug

An orange-tailed marsh dart damselfly peering through a leaf has won the 2026 BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology image competition. The annual contest showcases the beauty of biodiversity and the science behind its conservation: spklr.io/63325ERtjJ #envecon #biodiversity