Under the backdrop of globalization, biological invasions driven by human activities have become a major threat to global biodiversity. As a crucial ecological security barrier in southwestern China, Xizang possesses rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. Cosmos bipinnatus , a widely cultivated ornamental invasive plant in Xizang, is spreading very fast and poses a potential threat to Xizang. Clarifying its distribution patterns and response mechanisms under climate change is critical for safeguarding regional ecological security and implementing effective invasion control measures. Through field investigations and computational modeling using optimized Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) models with parameter tuning, ArcGIS 10.4, and R programming, we predicted current and future (2050 and 2090) potential invasion risk zones under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios (SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5). MaxEnt results show: (1) The model's AUC of 0.983 indicates high accuracy. The dominant factors affecting Cosmos bipinnatus distribution are the average temperature of the coldest quarter, Human Impact Index, and upper soil pH. (2) Under future climates, the potential risk area of Cosmos bipinnatus will likely expand northwest. Under SSP1‐2.6, the risk area within Shannan City will shift. Under SSP5‐8.5, Cosmos bipinnatus is more sensitive to climate change, with faster expansion and longer–distance shifts, moving from Gacha County to Namling County. This research provides essential ecological evidence and practical reference for comprehensive prevention and dynamic monitoring of C. bipinnatus invasions in Xizang.

Paeonia ludlowii, a critically endangered species endemic to Tibet, China, possesses significant ornamental, culinary, and medicinal value. However, its mitochondrial genome remains understudied, limiting insights into its evolutionary mechanisms and constraining conservation genetics applications and molecular breeding programs. We present the first complete assembly and comprehensive analysis of the P. ludlowii mitochondrial genome. Most remarkably, we discovered that the P. ludlowii mitogenome exhibits an atypical dual-circular structure, representing the first documented occurrence of this architectural feature within the genus Paeonia. The assembled genome spans 314,371 bp and encodes 42 tRNA genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 31 protein-coding genes, with a pronounced adenine–thymine bias. This multipartite genome structure is characterized by abundant repetitive elements (112 functionally annotated SSRs, 33 tandem repeats, and 945 dispersed repeats), which potentially drive genome rearrangements and facilitate adaptive evolution. Analyses of codon usage bias and nucleotide diversity revealed highly conserved gene expression regulation with limited variability. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirms that P. ludlowii, P. suffruticosa, and P. lactiflora form a monophyletic clade, reflecting close evolutionary relationships, while extensive syntenic collinearity with other Paeonia species underscores mitochondrial genome conservation at the genus level. Extensive inter-organellar gene transfer events, particularly from chloroplast to mitochondrion, suggest that such DNA exchanges enhance genetic diversity and promote environmental adaptation. The discovery of the dual-circular architecture provides novel insights into plant mitochondrial genome evolution and structural plasticity. This study elucidates the unique structural characteristics of the P. ludlowii mitochondrial genome and establishes a crucial genetic foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies and facilitating molecular-assisted breeding programs for this endangered species.

The invasive plant Datura stramonium L. possesses strong reproductive capacity and ecological adaptability, showing a tendency to spread rapidly, especially in highly human-disturbed habitats. To explore its resource utilization pathway—turning waste into wealth—and to address toxic metal pollution in strongly human-disturbed areas (such as mining regions), this study evaluates its phytoremediation potential in contaminated soils on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. We established a non-planted control and three planting density treatments to compare the removal rates of Pb, Cd, Cr, and As. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess how planting density influences the multi-metal phytoremediation performance of this invasive species in a high-altitude plateau environment. The results showed that planting significantly increased toxic metal removal rates, with overall efficiency generally improving at higher densities, particularly for Cr. Analysis of bioconcentration and translocation factors revealed distinct element-specific accumulation patterns. Pb and As were primarily enriched and retained in the roots. Interestingly, while Cd exhibited a strong localized tendency to accumulate in the leaves, its overall root-to-shoot translocation remained relatively restricted at the whole-plant level, similar to Cr. Overall, D. stramonium functions primarily through root stabilization for Pb, As, and Cr, alongside partial aboveground accumulation for Cd. However, given its toxic and invasive nature, any practical phytoremediation application requires strict post-harvest biomass management and ecological monitoring to prevent secondary spread.