Environmental variation likely modifies the life-history traits of vertebrates. As ectothermic vertebrates, it is possible that the body size of amphibians is impacted by environmental conditions. Here, we firstly quantified age and body size variation in the Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) across the Hengduan Mountains. Then, we examined the environmental correlates of this variation based on the literature and our unpublished data on the age and body size of the Andrew’s toad from 31 populations distributed in southwestern China. Although our analysis revealed significant variations in age and body size across B. andrewsi populations, neither latitude nor altitude correlated with this variability in age and body size. We found that age at sexual maturity, mean age, and longevity increased with decreasing annual mean temperature, whereas age at sexual maturity increased with decreasing temperature seasonality, implying that temperature was a crucial habitat characteristic that modulated age structure traits. Moreover, we revealed positive associations between age structure and UV-B seasonality, and negative relationships between both mean age and longevity and precipitation seasonality. We also found that body size increased with increasing precipitation in the driest month and UV-B seasonality. However, body size did not covary with temperature, signifying no support for Bergmann’s rule. These findings help us to understand amphibians’ abilities to adapt to environmental variation, which is particularly important in order to provide a theorical basis for their conservation.

Climate change is a significant driver of changes in the distribution patterns of species and poses a threat to biodiversity, potentially resulting in species extinctions. Investigating the potential distribution of rare and endangered species is crucial for understanding their responses to climate change and for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem management. The Szechwan rat snake (Euprepiophis perlacea) is an endemic and endangered species co-distributed with giant pandas, and studying its potential distribution contributes to a better understanding of the distribution pattern of endangered species. In this study, we confirmed seven presence points of this species in the Yingjing Area of the Giant Panda National Park, and selected eleven key factors to predict the potential distribution of E. perlacea under current and future scenarios using MaxEnt models. Our study consistently achieved AUC values exceeding 0.79, meeting the precision requirements of the models. The results indicated that the high potential distribution area of E. perlacea is mainly located near Yunwu mountain and the giant panda rewilding and reintroduction base, accounting for approximately 12% of the protected area. Moreover, we identified the primary environmental factors influencing the distribution of E. perlacea as the distance from streams and the slope degree, with their contribution rates exceeding 41% and 31%, respectively. In comparison to the current scenario, the potential habitat range for E. perlacea did not show an overall reduction in the context of future climate scenarios. To ensure the long-term preservation of E. perlacea, it is advisable to validate its actual distribution based on the models’ results. Particular attention should be given to safeguarding its core distribution areas and raising awareness among residents within the potential distribution range about the conservation of E. perlacea.

Phenotypic variation of morphological and physiological traits is assumed to be generated from spatial heterogeneity in environments, and it has been regarded as an important concern domain in evolutionary biology. Organs display markedly size variation among populations along environmental gradients and this variation is associated with changes in oxygen supply and energy demands. Here, we investigated geographical variation in the relative size of organs (i.e., brain, heart, lung, gallbladder, livers, spleen, kidneys, and digestive tract) among 14 populations of Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi) transcending an elevational range from 864 to 2,367 m, and spanning 8° latitude. We found that although the relative sizes of the eight specific organs varied significantly among populations, none organ size was affected by altitude and latitude. However, based on the combined the new data and published data we found a negative relationship between the relative size of the heart and latitude, contrasting to the Hesse’s rule. We also found that the relative size of livers was positively linked to latitude, suggesting that more energy demands and intakes due to slower metabolism in high latitude shaped the evolution of larger livers.

Reproductive investments influenced by environmental conditions vary extensively among geographically distinct populations. However, investigations of patterns of intraspecific variation in male reproductive investments and the mechanisms shaping this variation in anurans remain scarce. Here, we focused on the variation in testis size in 14 populations of the Andrew’s toad Bufo andrewsi, a species with weak dispersal ability but wide distribution in southwestern China, to establish whether male reproductive investment varies on an environmental gradient. Our analysis revealed a significant variation in relative testis size across populations, and a positive correlation between testis size and body condition. We, however, found no geographic trends explaining the variability in the testis size. The relative testis size did not increase with increasing latitude or altitude. We also found no relationship between relative testis size and rainfall, but a negative correlation with the coefficient of variation of temperature, with larger testes under stable environments. These findings suggest that the decreased male reproductive investment of this species may be a consequence of harsher or fluctuating environmental conditions.

Climate change promotes variations in distribution ranges, potentially leading to biodiversity loss and increased extinction risks for species. It is crucial to investigate these variations under future climate change scenarios for effective biodiversity conservation. Here, we studied the future distribution ranges of 268 Testudoformes species under climate change using habitat models, specifically species distribution models (SDMs), to assess their conservation status. Our results have indicated that over half of species are projected to experience declines in their potential distribution ranges under two scenarios. In particular, we found that three critically endangered species—Three-striped roofed turtle (Batagur dhongoka), Durango mud turtle (Kinosternon durangoense), and Colombian mud turtle (Kinosternon dunni)—displayed extraction of their distribution ranges and faced extinction under global climate change. Additionally, our analysis revealed that the potential distribution ranges of some species might increase under future climate scenarios. However, these findings must be interpreted with caution as they do not account for other significant factors such as biological invasions, population structure, land-use change, anthropogenic disturbances, and inter-organism interrelationships. Future studies should incorporate these factors to provide a more comprehensive assessment of extinction risks. Our findings suggest that climate change, in conjunction with habitat degradation and human activities, must be considered when assessing the extinction risks of Testudoformes.

Habitat utilization is a critical determinant of animal survival and reproductive success. Clarifying species-specific habitat preferences provides essential insights into ecological requirements and forms the basis for sound conservation planning. The Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii), a medium-sized, sexually dimorphic pheasant endemic to montane forests of central and southern China, is classified as a nationally protected Class II species. Nevertheless, its fine-scale habitat selection during the breeding season remains inadequately documented. In 2024, we conducted a field investigation in the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, to examine microhabitat use during this critical period. Our analysis revealed a significant preference for sites characterized by greater tree and bamboo height, higher canopy and bamboo cover, increased litter coverage, and taller shrub layers. In contrast, the species consistently avoided locations dominated by dense, tall herbaceous vegetation. Principal Component Analysis identified six principal components, collectively explaining 71.78% of the total environmental variance. The first component was primarily associated with bamboo structural attributes, the second with tree-layer structure, and the third with proximity to forest edges and streams. These findings indicate that effective conservation of this pheasant requires targeted forest management practices that preserve this specific suite of habitat characteristics, which are essential for ensuring reproductive success and long-term population viability.