Plant populations are embedded in complex social, cultural, and political contexts, yet plant conservation has traditionally been framed as a predominantly ecological and technical challenge. This study examines how plant conservation has been addressed within the social sciences and humanities over the past three decades, analyzing 119 Scopus-indexed publications through a bibliometric co-occurrence analysis of authors’ keywords using VOSviewer. The results reveal four major thematic areas: (1) plant conservation biology, dominated by ecological and technical approaches; (2) ethnobotany and medicinal plants, linked to traditional knowledge and cultural plant uses; (3) sociocultural dimensions of the conservation of useful plants, integrating sustainable practices, livelihoods, and community values; and (4) plant biodiversity, focused on vegetation, floristic diversity, and local participation. Although scientific output has increased notably since 2018, the field shows a persistent biological bias, with ecological perspectives gaining prominence while sociocultural dimensions become increasingly peripheral. The findings highlight the need to strengthen transdisciplinary and biocultural approaches that integrate ecological metrics with traditional knowledge and to promote participatory governance models that connect biodiversity conservation with environmental justice and human well-being. This study identifies conceptual gaps, emerging trends, and future research opportunities to support more inclusive and effective plant conservation strategies.
Dietary variation across elevational gradients offers insight into how prey availability shapes foraging strategies. We examined stomach contents of Sceloporus bulleri , a viviparous lizard endemic to the Sierra Madre Occidental, across four populations spanning a broad elevational range on the Pacific slope of Jalisco, Mexico. Following the niche variation hypothesis, we predicted that higher-elevation populations, where arthropod diversity is typically reduced, would show narrower individual niches and lower among-individual dietary variation than lower-elevation populations. We identified 47 prey types, dominated by hymenopterans, hemipterans, and arachnids. Contrary to expectations, prey richness, mean prey items per stomach, prey-group diversity, and individual specialization (WIC/TNW ratio, trophic niche breadth) did not differ significantly among populations. However, individual-level analysis using the Proportional Similarity Index showed that populations with lower mean specialization values (Las Juntas y Los Veranos and San Sebastián del Oeste) contained proportionally more dietary specialists. Populations also differed significantly in prey hardness and evasiveness, with Talpa de Allende and Mascota showing distinct prey-texture preferences, and Las Juntas y Los Veranos and San Sebastián del Oeste differing in reliance on evasive prey. These results suggest that population-level niche breadth remains stable across elevation in S. bulleri , while individual specialization and prey-trait selection vary independently of elevation.
The distribution of palm (Arecaceae) species distribution is closely associated with topography, hydrology, and forest architecture, but site- and species-specific studies remain scarce in the Amazon. Here, we describe patterns of palm community structure and their associations with environmental gradients in a remote area of the eastern Amazon, helping fill an approximately 500-km geographic knowledge gap. We hypothesized that local environmental heterogeneity, particularly hydrographic conditions, topography, and forest structure, would promote spatial variation in palm community structure, with species richness and composition varying along these gradients and dominant species showing species-specific associations with local environmental conditions. A field survey across a 5-km transect, subdivided into 100 plots in the Riozinho do Anfrísio Extractive Reserve, Pará, Brazil, identified palm species and collected environmental data, including NDVI, altitude, terrain characteristics, and proximity to permanent and intermittent streams. We assessed associations between species richness, community composition, and environmental variables using multivariate and regression-based analyses. Eighteen palm species were recorded, with the palm community overwhelmingly dominated by Attalea speciosa , which reached exceptionally high local abundance, followed by Geonoma baculifera and Euterpe longibracteata . Variation in species composition was significantly associated with NDVI, altitude, and distance to streams, whereas species richness showed stronger associations with the presence of igarapés and terrain shape. A. speciosa was associated with lower NDVI values and areas away from igarapés, whereas Euterpe oleracea and G. baculifera were positively associated with the presence of igarapés. The observed patterns partially support the hypothesis that local environmental heterogeneity promotes spatial variation in palm community structure by creating habitats differing in environmental suitability for palm species. These findings provide a baseline characterization of palm communities in a poorly documented region of the Eastern Amazon and contribute to understanding how local environmental gradients shape palm community structure and species distribution.
Two colonies of Pinguicula L. (Lentibulariaceae) were discovered in March 2025 within the Maya Mountains of west-central Belize. Previously, this genus had been documented only twice in Belize; however, the current study provides the first detailed description of the morphology and ecology of Pinguicula in the region. Individuals from both colonies exhibited the closest affinity to the P. lilacina Schlechtendal & Chamisso– P. sharpii Casper & Kondo complex from the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. Notable differences between the two colonies were identified: one colony exhibited characteristics similar to those of P. lilacina from central Mexico, while the other displayed features more similar to those of P. sharpii from southern Mexico and Guatemala. Based on these preliminary findings, it is not possible to determine whether these colonies are new species unique to the Maya Mountains or represent recently established populations of P. lilacina and P. sharpii originating from the Sierra Madre regions of Mexico. However, subtle differences from their Mexican counterparts warrant further investigation.
Peri-urban forests play a key role in mitigating climate change and conserving biodiversity within expanding urban landscapes. However, the ecological processes that sustain their functionality—such as the reproductive phenology of plant species—have been poorly documented in the Colombian Andes. This study aimed to conduct a floristic inventory and qualitatively evaluate the phenological events of a peri-urban forest in the Municipality of Popayán (Cauca, Colombia). Sampling was carried out through direct observation of fertile individuals and recording of reproductive phases (flowering and fruiting). A total of 68 species belonging to 31 angiosperm families were identified, with Orchidaceae, Rubiaceae and Araceae being the most diverse. The predominant growth forms were herbs and shrubs, suggesting that the forest is at an intermediate stage of ecological succession. Phenological events showed marked temporal variation: flowering peaks occurred mainly in March, April and September during the monitoring period. These temporal patterns indicate an association between reproductive phenophases and climatic variation. Vismia baccifera , Besleria solanoides and Psychotria carthagenensis stood out for maintaining prolonged flowering and fruiting, providing continuous resources to pollinators and dispersers, thereby reinforcing their ecological role in the regeneration and stability of the ecosystem. The results highlight the importance of peri-urban forest fragments as biodiversity refuges and providers of essential ecosystem services, even under anthropogenic pressures. Additionally, they underscore the need to conserve these fragments, which function as biological corridors and key spaces for ecological connectivity and the resilience of Andean ecosystems.
