Identification based on conventional morphological characteristics is typically difficult and time-consuming. The development of molecular techniques provides a novel strategy that relies on specific mitochondrial gene fragments to conduct authentication. For this study, five newly sequenced partial mitogenomes of earthworms (Bimastos parvus, Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia andrei, Eisenia nordenskioldi, and Octolasion tyrtaeum) with lengths ranging from 14,977 to 15,715 were presented. Each mitogenome possessed a putative control region that resided between tRNA-Arg and tRNA-His. All of the PCGs were under negative selection according to the value of Ka/Ks. The phylogenetic trees supported the classification of Eisenia and Lumbricus; however, the trees based on cox1 did not. Through various comparisons, it was determined that cox1 fragments might be more suitable for molecular identification. These results lay the foundation for further phylogenetic studies on Lumbricidae.

Millipedes (Diplopoda) comprise one of the most important groups of large soil arthropods in terrestrial ecosystems; however, their phylogenetic relationships are poorly understood. Herein, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Spirobolus bungii was sequenced and annotated, which was 14,879 bp in size and included 37 typical mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs)). Most of the 13 PCGs had ATN (AT/A/T/G) as the start codon except for COX1, which used CGA, and most PCGs ended with the T end codon. By comparing the gene arrangements of the mitogenomes among Diplopoda species, rearrangement occurred between and within orders. In contrast to Narceus annularus, the mitogenome genes of S. bungii had consistent orders but were transcribed in completely opposite directions, which was a novel finding in Spirobolidae. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships within Diplopoda, which were based on the sequences of 13 PCGs, showed that S. bungii was clustered with N. annularus, followed by Abacion magmun. This indicated that there might be a close relationship between Callipodida and Spirobolida. These results could contribute to further studies on the genetics and evolutionary processes of S. bungii and other Diplopoda species.

Long-term nitrogen (N) addition induces N saturation in forests, but its impacts on nutrient allocation across plant organs and life forms remain unclear. Utilizing a 12-year N addition experiment in a coastal poplar plantation in southeastern China, which included five treatments (0 [CK], 50 [N₁], 100 [N₂], 150 [N₃], and 300 [N₄] kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), we examined N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations in leaves and roots of overstory poplar trees and understory herbs in 2024. Results showed understory leaf N increased by 14.9–31.4% in vigorous growth, while overstory leaf N rose only 7.0% under the highest N treatment. By late growth, N₃ treatment understory herbs had 17.2% and 21.9% higher leaf and root N, respectively. In contrast, overstory root N decreased by 15.7% under N₁, but root P increased by 55.4% under N₂. These findings reveal that understory herbs preferentially allocate nutrients to leaves, whereas overstory poplar trees shift allocation to roots under elevated N. Such divergent strategies may reshape interlayer nutrient competition, thereby affecting forest structure and function and providing theoretical and practical guidance for predicting N addition responses and plantation management.