This study describes a novel species of Gekko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) based on its distinct morphological features and molecular evidence, which was identified in the Dabie Mountains on the border of Anhui and Henan provinces of Central China. Gekko kaiyai sp. nov. could be distinguished from its congeners owing to its morphological characteristics, such as being a medium body sized gecko species (snout–vent length, 56.98–64.99 mm, n = 4, females; 50.03–61.56 mm, n = 11, males); nostrils scale in contact with rostral scale; tubercles on the dorsal and limb, while the upper forelimb is smooth with no tubercles; 22–33 interorbital scales between the anterior corners of the eyes; 157–209 ventral scales between mental and cloacal slit; 90–121 midbody scale rows; 30–43 ventral scale rows; 7–9 sub-digital lamellae on first fingers, 8–13 fourth fingers, 7–9 first toes, and 7–11 fourth toes; free of webbing in the fingers and toes; 9–12 pre-cloacal pores in males, which are absent in females; post-cloacal unilateral tubercles 1 (few 2); and a dorsum that is greyish white to dark brown, with 6–7 brown markings between the nape and sacrum. The phylogenetic tree based on the mitochondrial DNA sequences (16S, CYTB, and COI) indicated that Gekko kaiyai sp. nov. form an independent clade with strong support (100/1) and are a sister group to G. hokouensis. At the inter-species level, the genetic distances were all large, further confirming that an independent species had been identified. The discovery of this species implies that there are now 87 identified species in the genus Gekko, 22 of which can be found within China.

Establishing and managing nature reserves to mitigate wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation is challenging, particularly in the face of increasing human activity. To understand how wildlife coexists in environments affected by anthropogenic disturbances, we conducted a 19-month survey examining the Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) in the Anhui Tianma National Nature Reserve, China. Previous studies of large terrestrial birds focused primarily on livestock impacts, with less attention given to other human activities. We used occupancy models and performed daytime activity rhythm analysis based on camera trap data to examine the spatiotemporal responses of these species to human activities, livestock, and domestic dogs. The results showed that human disturbance activities within the reserve impact the distribution patterns of Reeves’s pheasant and Koklass pheasant, but the effect was not significant. In high-disturbance environments, both species adjusted their activity times to avoid direct or indirect interactions with humans, livestock, and dogs. These findings provide insights for replanning core and creation of buffer zones within the reserve and have broader implications for conservation strategies in similar habitats. Our study suggests that well-designed conservation objectives can balance species protection with sustainable human presence.

Context Restricted to the densely populated regions of Eastern China, musk deer populations have dramatically declined over the past several centuries, primarily due to extensive poaching and significant habitat loss. In recent years, the Anhui musk deer has further faced an extremely high risk of extinction as a result of climate change and escalating human disturbances. However, research on the Anhui musk deer based on extensive field survey data remains limited, thereby constraining the development of effective conservation strategies. Objectives This study aims to evaluate the current and future habitat suitability of the Anhui musk deer, assess the vulnerability of these habitats to climate change, and delineate potential refuges that could support the population amidst climatic shifts. Additionally, we seek to identify ecological corridors that would facilitate dispersal among habitat patches under changing climate conditions. Methods Occurrence locations (N = 101) of the Anhui musk deer were collected using large-scale infrared camera monitoring data from 2013 to 2023. The MaxEnt model was employed to predict suitable habitat and assess the potential impacts of climate change. A gap analysis was then conducted to identify deficiencies in current nature reserves, and potential climate refuges were determined based on areas of stable habitat. Subsequently, connectivity analysis was performed to identify potential ecological corridors between habitat patches. Results The Anhui musk deer is highly sensitive to temperature and human disturbance. The total area of suitable habitat for Anhui musk deer is 1188.90 km² currently, with only 11 habitat patches larger than 5 km² (median patch size = 79.05 km²; and mean = 19.84 km²). Future projections suggest a continuous decline in suitable habitat, with areas decreasing to 1,052.45 km² by 2050, 841.82 km² by 2070, and 798.35 km² by 2090. Currently, nature reserves encompass only 38.52% of the suitable habitat. Climate refuges for the Anhui musk deer cover 586.24 km², but 44.38% of these areas remain unprotected. The construction of 14 potential ecological corridors connecting isolated populations to core populations could mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and protect the Anhui musk deer population. Conclusions Our findings indicated that the habitat area of Anhui musk deer will continue to decline under future climate conditions, and current conservation efforts are insufficient. The remaining Anhui musk deer populations in the Dabie Mountains should be considered as regional populations and managed meticulously to ensure their long-term survival under human disturbances and climate warming.

Global climate change and human activities are significant threats to biodiversity, contributing to the endangerment of approximately 41% of amphibian species worldwide. In this study, we applied field survey methods, the MaxEnt model, and integrated climate and human activity data to predict potential changes in the diversity and distribution of amphibian species in Huangshan Mountain, China. In this study, we have found 23 amphibian species, belonging to two orders, eight families, and 18 genera. The MaxEnt models showed that the distance from farmland (contributing 26.2%), shrubs (15.6%), and waterbodies (10.6%), as well as the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) (10.1%), significantly influence species distribution and diversity, suggesting that amphibian species prefer habitats with lower levels of human disturbance. Our models also showed that Bio3 (isothermal) (8.9%) and Bio8 (mean temperature of wettest quarter) (8.6%) have a significant impact on the species distribution and diversity, suggesting that amphibians are influenced by temperature and humidity. Our field survey showed that seasonal variation in amphibian diversity revealed significant correlations between climatic factors. Specifically, amphibian species diversity was positively correlated with wind speed, soil moisture, and rainfall (p < 0.05), while amphibian abundance was significantly linked to soil temperature, soil moisture, and rainfall (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the critical role of both climatic conditions and habitat structure in shaping amphibian populations and their distribution in Huangshan Mountain. Therefore, local management authorities should continue to monitor the marginal areas of the region, taking into account key human disturbances and climatic factors that favor the formation of amphibian diversity hotspots. Protective buffer zones should be established to provide effective refuges for amphibians.

Medium- and small-sized carnivores are important indicator species of forest ecosystems, their circadian activity rhythms play a crucial role in regulating resource use, mediating interspecific competition, and responding to environmental change, yet quantitative studies of these rhythms remain relatively scarce. To investigate how leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) balance predation and competition in southern Anhui Province, from May 2023 to April 2024, we conducted systematic infrared camera monitoring in Anhui’s Lingnan Provincial Nature Reserve, Zhejiang’s Qianjiangyuan National Forest Park, and adjacent areas. Using extensive diel activity data of leopard cats and co-occurring potential prey and competitors obtained from 37 validly recovered cameras (40 deployed), we adopted temporal overlap analysis, kernel density estimation, and other methods to test two hypotheses: (1) leopard cats show strong temporal overlap with their primary prey (rats), thereby increasing prey access while reducing direct competition; and (2) seasonal environmental variation drives shifts in temporal overlap, with greater overlap expected during seasons characterized by constrained resources or climatic stress. Leopard cats exhibited a clear bimodal activity pattern with pre-dawn and late-evening peaks. They showed strong temporal correspondence with primary prey such as rats, as well as with nocturnal or crepuscular competitors including masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) and Chinese ferret-badgers (Melogale moschata), while overlap with strictly diurnal birds remained minimal. Seasonal comparisons indicated that temporal overlap between leopard cats and sympatric mammals increased from spring through winter, with more pronounced overlap in summer and winter, suggesting that resource dynamics and climatic pressures modulate activity timing across seasons. These findings demonstrate that leopard cats rely on temporal plasticity to balance hunting efficiency and interspecific interactions under varying environmental conditions. Understanding this behavioral flexibility provides valuable insight into coexistence mechanisms among small carnivores and offers a scientific basis for seasonally informed conservation and management strategies in southern Anhui.

Human activities impact ecosystems globally, and understanding human–wildlife coexistence is crucial for species conservation. This study analyzed trends in local wildlife populations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess their response to human disturbance. From 2017 to 2022, 60 camera sites were monitored, and seven species with the largest population size—excluding rodents—were selected for analysis. The results revealed that the presence of humans (p = 0.025) and domesticated animals (cats and dogs, p = 0.002) significantly decreased during the pandemic. Conversely, five species (except the Tibetan macaque and mainland serow) showed habitat expansion and population growth (p < 0.05), which may be related to their avoidance of human presence or artificial structures such as roads and tourism facilities. In addition, the analysis showed that most species, except the Tibetan macaque and wild boar, adjusted their activity patterns, showing increased diurnal activity when human disturbances were reduced (RR > 0). These findings suggest that species may adapt their behaviors to avoid human presence. This study highlights the negative impacts of human activities on local wildlife and emphasizes the need for stronger conservation and management efforts to mitigate human disturbances in scenic areas.