Primula, well known for its heterostyly, is the largest genus in the family Primulaceae with more than 500 species. The considerable species number has introduced a huge challenge for taxonomy. The phylogenetic relationships among Primula still maintain unresolved due to frequent hybridization and introgression between closely related species. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast genomes of Primula wilsonii Dunn, which is a PSESP (plant species with extremely small populations), using Illumina sequencing and compared its genomic sequences with those of four related Primula species. The chloroplast genomes of Primula species were similar in the basic structure, gene order, and GC content. The detected 38 SSRs (simple sequence repeats) loci and 17 hypervariable regions had many similarities in P. wilsonii, P. anisodora, P. miyabeana, and P. poissonii, but showed a significant difference compared with those in P. secundiflora. Slight variations were observed among Primula chloroplast genomes, in consideration of the relatively stable patterns of IR (inverted repeats) contraction and expansion. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes and protein‐coding genes confirmed three major clades in Chinese Primula, but the infrageneric sections were not in accordance with morphological traits. The P. poissonii complex was confirmed here and P. anisodora was the most closely related species to P. wilsonii. Overall, the chloroplast genome sequences provided useful genetic and evolutionary information for phylogeny and population genetics on Chinese Primula species.

The scarcity of up‐to‐date data on the distribution and dynamics of the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) presented a significant challenge in developing effective conservation strategies and implementing protective measures within China. Currently, most of China's national‐level nature reserves and administrative departments operate at the county level, thereby limiting the applicability of larger‐scale analyses and studies for these administrative entities. This study employed 11 widely used modeling techniques created within the Biomod2 framework to predict suitable habitats for the pangolin at the county scale, while examining the correlation between environmental variables and pangolin distribution. The results revealed that highly suitable habitats in Mingxi County of China encompassed only 49 km². Within the county‐managed nature reserve, the proportion of highly suitable habitats reached as high as 52%. However, nearly half of these areas, both moderately and highly suitable habitats, remained inadequately addressed and conserved. We found nine administrative villages that necessitated prioritized conservation efforts. The study anticipated an overall expansion in suitable habitats over the ensuing two decades, with significant growth projected in the eastern regions of Xiayang and Hufang Town. This research offered a clear and applicable research paradigm for the specific administrative level at which China operates, particularly pertinent to county‐level jurisdictions with established nature reserves.

Understanding the roles of ecological drivers in shaping biodiversity is fundamental for conservation practice. In this study, we explored the effects of elevation, conservation status, primary productivity, habitat diversity and anthropogenic disturbance (represented by human population density and birding history) on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional avian diversity in a subtropical landscape in southeastern China. We conducted bird surveys using 1‐km transects across a total of 30 sites, of which 10 sites were located within a natural reserve. Metrics of functional diversity were calculated based on six functional traits (body mass, clutch size, dispersal ratio, sociality, diet and foraging stratum). We built simultaneous autoregression models to assess the association between the ecological factors and diversity of the local avian communities. Local avian diversity generally increased with increasing habitat diversity, human population density and primary productivity. We also detected phylogenetic and functional clustering in these communities, suggesting that the avian assemblages were structured mainly by environmental filtering, rather than interspecific competition. Compared with sites outside the natural reserve, sites within the natural reserve had relatively lower avian diversity but a higher level of phylogenetic heterogeneity.

Primula, well known for its heterostyly, is the largest genus in the family Primulaceae with more than 500 species. The considerable species number has introduced a huge challenge for taxonomy. Although several phylogenetic constructions have been carried out thoroughly, the relationships between Primula species were remained incompletely understood, especially for the relationship among sections within Chinese species. P. wilsonii Dunn is a PSESP (plant species with extremely small populations) with very limited genetic information to explore its endangered mechanism and conservation. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the complete chloroplast genomes of P. wilsonii using Illumina sequencing and compared its genomic sequences with those of four related Primula species. The chloroplast genomes of Primula species were similar in the basic structure, gene order and GC content. The detected 38 SSRs loci and 17 hyper-variable regions had many similarities in P. wilsonii, P. anisodora, P. miyabeana and P. poissonii, but showed a significant difference compared with those in P. secundiflora. Slight variations were observed among Primula chloroplast genomes, in consideration of the relatively stable patterns of IR contraction and expansion. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes confirmed three major clades in Chinese Primula, but the infrageneric sections were not in accordance with morphological traits. The P. poissonii complex was confirmed here and P. anisodora was the species that was most closely related to P. wilsonii. Overall, the chloroplast genome sequences provided useful genetic and evolutionary information for phylogeny, population genetics and conservation studies on Chinese Primula species.

Integrating population genetics with species distribution models provides powerful insights into species' evolutionary trajectories under climatic and geological contexts, and informs evidence‐based conservation strategies for endangered species. In this study, we characterized the population genetic structure of Primula wilsonii , a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) endemic to the mountains of Southwest China, to provide insights for the conservation of alpine endangered plants. Double‐digest restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq) generated 18,313 neutral and unlinked single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 30 individuals across seven populations. Population genetic analysis revealed that these populations formed two major clusters. All populations exhibited low levels of genetic diversity ( He = 0.00184–0.00271; π = 0.00176–0.00292), with one population (MG1) showing high genetic differentiation ( F _ST > 0.7) from the other populations, possibly reflecting long‐term geographic isolation resulting in a small effective population size ( Ne ). Demographic history analysis indicated an expansion around 0.88 Ma, followed by sustained contraction since approximately 45 ka with low Ne levels maintained. Species distribution models further suggested range contraction from the Last Glacial Maximum to the mid‐Holocene and persistence of suitable refugia in the Hengduan Mountains under future warming scenarios. In conclusion, our results indicated that complex topography and Quaternary climatic oscillations have shaped a hierarchical genetic structure with deeply isolated lineages. We therefore recommend delineating at least three independent management units, consistent with patterns of genetic structure, differentiation, and demographic history. These findings highlight the importance of integrating genetic and environmental evidence in the conservation of P. wilsonii and other PSESPs.