Infrastructure-induced fragmentation of riverine ecosystems has engendered the need for more effective aquatic restoration efforts globally. Fragmentation assessments have been extensively undertaken to inform connectivity restoration efforts for fish and other aquatic biota, but they have potentially underestimated the extent of fragmentation by fixating on large dams and overlooking the contribution of other barriers like road crossings and small irrigation structures. The current study addresses this limitation in Mekong region countries (MReCs) of Southeast Asia, by assessing the fragmentation impacts of road crossings and small irrigation structures together with large dams. Our analysis indicates that the basin-scale fragmentation impact of road crossings is similar to that of large dams in MReCs, while small irrigation structures actually have a far greater impact. These findings raise concerns about the real global extent of aquatic fragmentation, and highlight the need for decision-makers to think beyond dams when attempting to restore connectivity for aquatic biota.

Perca fluviatilis (the European perch) is one of the most common and well-studied freshwater fishes in the world, largely owing to its widespread distribution and popularity among anglers and aquaculturalists. It has been especially well-studied in its native ranges of Eurasia, but has received far less attention elsewhere. Here we review key aspects of the general biology and ecology of the European perch, by considering learnings from countries where it is native in addition to those where it has been introduced. Our review demonstrates that the European perch is a highly fecund, trophic generalist that can live in a wide range of habitats and withstand a wide range of physico-chemical conditions. The growth rates and sexual development of the European perch vary among geographical regions, largely due to differences in climatic conditions, with populations in warmer Southern Hemisphere regions tending to exhibit faster growth rates and attain sexual maturity at younger ages than populations occurring in most cooler Eurasian regions. Genetic differentiation has also been observed in native populations from different parts of Europe, although it remains unclear as to whether native and non-native populations differ genetically, and what the ecological implications of any such differences are. Future research should prioritise assessing both genetic and phenotypic differences between native and non-native populations, and determining the ecological implications of these differences. Such knowledge is crucial for informing European perch conservation and/or aquaculture management in countries where it is native; and invasive species management in countries where it has been introduced.

This paper explores the concept of ephemeral cultural landscapes through the lens of public election advertising during the 2025 Australian Federal election in the regional city of Albury, New South Wales. Framing election signage as a transient cultural landscape, the study assesses the distribution of election signage (corflutes) disseminated by political candidates against demographic and socio-economic criteria of the electorate. The paper examines how corflutes and symbolic signage reflect personal agency, spatial contestation, and community engagement within urban and suburban environments. A detailed windscreen survey was conducted across Albury over three days immediately prior to and on election day, recording 193 instances of campaign signage and mapping their spatial distribution in relation to polling booth catchments, population density, generational cohorts, and socio-economic status. The data reveal stark differences between traditional party (Greens, Labor, Liberal) strategies and that of the independent candidate whose campaign was marked by grassroots support and creative symbolism, notably the use of orange corflutes shaped like emus. The independent’s campaign relied on personal property displays, signaling civic engagement and a bottom-up assertion of political identity. While signage for major parties largely disappeared within days of the election, many of the independent’s symbolic emus persisted, blurring the temporal boundaries of the ephemeral landscape and extending its visual presence well beyond the formal campaign period. The study argues that these ephemeral landscapes, though transitory, are powerful cultural expressions of political identity, visibility, and territoriality shaping public and private spaces both materially and symbolically. Ultimately, the election signage in Albury serves as a case study for understanding how ephemeral landscapes can materially and symbolically shape public space during moments of civic expression.

The Mekong River Basin (MRB) supports the world’s most productive inland fishery, but is becoming increasingly fragmented by river infrastructure, with more than 13,000 barriers already present and further expansion expected. Fish passage facilities (FPFs), such as fishways, offer a potential mechanism to mitigate connectivity loss, yet their distribution and characteristics across the basin have not previously been synthesised. Here, we present the first basin-scale dataset of FPFs in the MRB, the MRB FPF Inventory, to support environmental authorities in planning fish passage investments. We identified 81 FPFs constructed or proposed since 1994, representing only 0.6% of known barriers. These measures were dominated by fishways (65.4%), with most intended to restore longitudinal connectivity (71.6%) and support bidirectional passage (77.8%), and were concentrated primarily at irrigation weirs (69.1%) and large hydropower dams (17.3%). Implementation has accelerated in recent years, with 58% of FPFs constructed or proposed since 2020, although their distribution varies markedly among countries and infrastructure sectors. Notably, only a small proportion of FPFs have been evaluated, indicating that the effectiveness of fish passage restoration across the basin remains largely unquantified. The MRB FPF Inventory provides a baseline for prioritising future investments and highlights the need for coordinated, basin-scale strategies to restore migratory connectivity in one of the world’s most important inland fisheries.