Prunus subgenus Cerasus (Mill) A. Gray, commonly known as cherries and cherry blossoms, possesses significant edible and ornamental value. However, the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of cherry species remain largely unexplored. Here, we successfully assembled the mitogenomes of five cherry species (P. campanulata, P. fruticosa, P. mahaleb, P. pseudocerasus, and P. speciosa), revealing common circular structures. The assembled mitogenomes exhibited sizes ranging from 383,398 bp to 447,498 bp, with GC content varying between 45.54% and 45.76%. A total of 62 to 69 genes were annotated, revealing variability in the copy number of protein-coding genes (PCGs) and tRNA genes. Mitogenome collinearity analysis indicated genomic rearrangements across Prunus species, driven by repetitive sequences, particularly dispersed repeats. Additionally, the five cherry species displayed highly conserved codon usage and RNA editing patterns, highlighting the evolutionary conservation of the mitochondrial PCGs. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of subg. Cerasus, although notable phylogenetic incongruences were observed between the mitochondrial and plastid datasets. These results provide significant genomic resources for forthcoming studies on the evolution and molecular breeding of cherry mitogenomes, enhancing the overall comprehension of mitogenome structure and evolution within Prunus.

Global climate change has the potential to modify the habitats of plant species, thereby exerting a direct impact on biodiversity. Betula species, belonging to the Betulaceae family and commonly known as birch trees, are widely distributed in China. They possess crucial ecological and economic value. However, few studies have examined the potentially suitable distribution of Betula species in China under the influence of climate change. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the biodiversity patterns of Betula species in China in response to future climate change. In this study, we selected five representative Betula species and collected their distribution records from China. Based on 19 climate variables, the main environmental factors for each species were identified and optimal parameter combinations were determined. The MaxEnt model was employed to construct potentially suitable distribution models for these Betula species, both currently and in the future. The results indicated that the AUC and TSS values for the five species models were greater than 0.903, suggesting a high level of accuracy. The most important climate variable impacting the distribution of Betula species is the temperature seasonality standard deviation. Among the five species, Betula utilis possesses the largest total suitable distribution area, covering 313.42 × 10⁴ km². Additionally, under future climate warming, the distribution of the studied Betula species will shift toward higher latitudes and altitudes. Species in the southwestern region may migrate toward habitats where the effects of climate change are mitigated, whereas Betula species in the low-latitude southern regions face a substantial threat due to climate change. In the northern areas, under high greenhouse gas emission scenarios, the region experiencing species expansion was much smaller compared to the area of species contraction predicted. Our findings reveal the responses of Betula species to future climate change and provide valuable insights for guiding the future conservation and utilization of Betula forest resources.

Climate change poses significant challenges to forest biodiversity by altering species distributions. This study employed the MaxEnt model to predict the current and potential future suitable habitats of five Alnus species in China under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Model accuracy was high, with temperature seasonality identified as the most influential variable. In addition, predicted range shifts showed species-specific patterns, with most species expanding toward higher latitudes and elevations. In contrast, Alnus ferdinandi-coburgii exhibited consistent habitat contraction. These findings enhance understanding of the climatic responses of Alnus species and provide a scientific basis for targeted conservation and management strategies under future climate change, and may offer insights into habitat responses of Alnus species in other temperate regions.

The subfamily Apocynoideae comprises diverse woody vines and shrubs that play important ecological, medicinal, and ornamental roles, with Nerium oleander being one of the representative species. Analyzing the chloroplast genomes of this subfamily provides a molecular foundation for phylogenetic reconstruction, species identification, and breeding programs. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of 14 chloroplast genomes in Apocynoideae, including the two newly sequenced genomes of N. oleander cultivars 'Paihua' and 'Nanum'. Our results revealed that: (1) the chloroplast genome structure within this subfamily exhibits significant variations in the non-coding regions; (2) codon usage is influenced by both mutational pressure and natural selection, with lineage-specific fine-tuning; and (3) selection pressure follows an evolutionary pattern characterized by core conservation and specific divergence, while repetitive sequences display distinct species-specific features and a notable A/T-rich bias. Phylogenetic analysis showed that N. oleander shares a close relationship with Strophanthus. Furthermore, the subfamily Apocynoideae is non-monophyletic, with the subfamily Asclepiadoideae nested within it as a clade. This study provides the first comprehensive multi-dimensional evolutionary analysis of chloroplast genomes in Apocynoideae, offering important molecular evidence for lineage differentiation, adaptive evolution, and species identification.

Climate change is reshaping the distribution of forest species globally, yet its effects on the temperate tree genus Carpinus in China remain understudied. This study used an ensemble species distribution modeling framework to predict current and future suitable habitats for 32 Carpinus taxa under three shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) climate scenarios for the 2090s. Five algorithms were integrated, and models with high predictive performance (AUC > 0.9) were used to generate ensemble forecasts. The ensemble models achieved AUC values no lower than 0.987 and TSS values no lower than 0.904. The results showed a clear trend of northwestward and upslope range shifts, with substantial habitat contractions under high-emission scenarios. Temperature seasonality and annual precipitation were identified as key environmental drivers. Two narrowly distributed species, C. omeiensis and C. londoniana var. lanceolata, are projected to lose all suitable habitats under SSP585, indicating a high extinction risk. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating climate-based risk assessments into conservation strategies and highlight the need to prioritize vulnerable species and high-elevation refugia to safeguard the long-term persistence of Carpinus diversity in China.