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Karst groundwater is an important water supply, especially in northern China. With the rapid development of China's economy, anthropogenic activities have had a significant impact on karst groundwater formation, circulation and other processes. In this paper, the Baotu spring basin, which is closely related to anthropogenic activities, was selected as the research object to carry out a study of water chemical characteristics and evolutionary processes. And, mathematical statistics, Piper trilinear diagram, Gibbs diagram, and ion ratio methods were used to analyze the characteristics and evolution processes of groundwater. The results of this study show that the hydrogeochemical components of karst groundwater are mainly controlled by the weathering of rocks, mainly by the dissolution of carbonate rocks and silicates with the dominant cation of Ca2+ and the dominant anion of HCO3−. Considering the role of anthropogenic activities, including agricultural and industrial activities, the evolution process of karst groundwater is mainly controlled by hydrogeochemical effects such as mineral dissolution and filtration, the mixing of multiple water bodies, anthropogenic activities (domestic sewage, industrial and agricultural wastes), oxidation–reduction and cation alternating adsorption. Moreover, the influence of anthropogenic activities on the formation and evolution of karst groundwater gradually increases, leading to the rise in nitrate content in karst groundwater and accelerating carbonate rock dissolution. The research results of this paper can provide a favorable reference for environmental protection and research on karst groundwater in areas of intensive anthropogenic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic contamination of surface waters is a critical issue in urbanised catchments, especially in Mediterranean environments with scarce water resources and intermittent rivers. A combined hydro-geochemical and multivariate statistical methodology has been applied to evaluate the surface water quality of Wadi El Hatab catchment (Central Tunisia). More than half of the 28 samples collected in March 2021 exceeded WHO standards for sodium, chloride and sulphate contents. Most polluted sites are directly influenced by domestic and industrial effluents that contaminate the river for kilometers. Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Ascendant Classification distinguished four contamination sources: water-rock interaction, domestic wastewater, untreated industrial effluents mainly from paper mills and irrigation return. A Water Quality Index model indicated that 75% of the surface water was unsuitable for drinking purposes; while according to chemical indices such as saturation index, sodium absorption coefficient (SAR), magnesium ratio (MR) and percent sodium (%Na), 25 to 49% of samples were unsuitable for irrigation. Considering that water of Wadi El Hatab is used for vegetable irrigation, serious public health issues may arise. The investigation demonstrated that a single representative sampling campaign could be a useful way to identify contamination sources when interpreted with both statistical and geochemical tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River Delta (YRD) is an important agricultural and industrial region in China, yet its water resources have been increasingly affected by shortages and pollution due to human activities and the impact of climate change. This has resulted in severe damage to the water ecosystem in the YRD, thereby necessitating the adoption of effective legal measures to safeguard these resources. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent research findings on water resources and water ecology in the YRD. Specifically, it summarizes the changes and characteristics of the geographical distribution, quantity and quality of water resources in the region and analyzes the effects of climate change, economic development and population growth on water resources. In light of the vulnerability and risks to the water resources and ecosystems in this area, this paper evaluates the impact of human activities on regional water security and proposes strategies for the sustainable utilization of water resources and the protection of public health. The insights and measures presented in this paper provide valuable guidance and references for water resource management and environmental protection in the YRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, forest ecosystems, especially subtropical forests, play a central role in biogeochemical cycles and climate regulation, demonstrating their irreplaceable function. The subtropical region of China, characterized by its unique forest ecosystem, complex terrain, climate heterogeneity, diverse vegetation types, and frequent human activities, underscores the importance of the in-depth study of its net primary productivity (NPP). This paper employs the eddy covariance–light use efficiency (EC-LUE) model to quantitatively estimate the gross primary productivity (GPP) of this region from 2001 to 2018, followed by an estimation of the actual net primary productivity (ANPP) using the carbon use efficiency (CUE). The results showed that over these 18 years, the annual average ANPP was 677.17 gC m−2 a−1, exhibiting an overall increasing trend, particularly in mountainous areas, reserves, and the cultivated lands of the northeastern plains, whereas a significant decrease was observed around the urban agglomerations on the southeast coast. Furthermore, the Thornthwaite memorial model was applied to calculate the potential net primary productivity (PNPP), and diverse scenarios were set to quantitatively evaluate the impact of climate change and human activities on the vegetation productivity in the study area. It was found that in areas where the ANPP increased, both human activities and climate change jointly influenced ANPP dynamics; in areas with a decreased ANPP, the impact of human activities was particularly significant. Additionally, the heterogeneous distribution of ANPP across different altitudinal gradients and the driving effects of various climatic factors were analyzed. Finally, a partial correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between the temperature, precipitation, and ANPP. This study indicated that temperature and precipitation have a substantial impact on the growth and distribution of vegetation in the region, yet the extent of this influence shows considerable variation among different areas. This provides a robust scientific basis for further research and understanding of the carbon dynamics of subtropical forest ecosystems and their role in the global carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the rivers play an important role. Many people are directly or indirectly dependent on rivers. Rivers are not only important to human, it is also important to animals and plants. The quality of water is affected by human activities and is declining due to the rise of urbanization, population growth, industrial effluent, climate change and other factors. Besides sewage water directly falls into rivers and ultimately pollutes rivers. The resulting water pollution is a serious threat to the well-being of both the Earth and its population. In this paper, we reviewed the sources of river pollution and the pollution status of some north Indian rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for degrading rivers and decreasing their capacity to offer ecosystem services. This paper reports the findings of a study carried out to assess the impacts of anthropogenic activities in Pinyinyi River water quality using physicochemical parameters. BOD, COD, phosphate, pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, DO and nitrate were analysed. Anthropogenic activities around Lake Natron Ramsar Site also documented. pH, EC, TDS, turbidity and DO measure in-situ using potentiometric method (HANNA HI 9829). Phosphate and nitrate analysed using photometric method (HACH DR/2700). BOD and COD analysed using bottle incubation method for five days (BOD incubator) and dichromate method (COD digester) respectively. Structured questionnaires used to collect data about anthropogenic activities taking place around Lake Natron Ramsar Site. DO, BOD, COD and turbidity were above the permissible limit. Phosphate, pH, EC, TDS and nitrate were within permissible limit. Irrigation, livestock keeping, fishing, bathing, washing, deforestation, water diversion, sand mining, making bricks along the river, tourist guidance, soda ash harvesting and selling soda ash are the anthropogenic activities taking place around Lake Natron Ramsar Site. River water was found to be unsafe for drinking purposes and was found to be safe for irrigation purposes. The study recommends sustainable anthropogenic activities along Pinyinyi River and mitigation measure to restore the lost ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regions near the Tropic of Cancer are a latitudinal geographical zone with typical climatic, topographic, and human landscape features. It is necessary to explore the region's net primary productivity (NPP) dynamics as it combines complex topography, various vegetation types, and intense human activities. The study sets the transect near the Tropic of Cancer (TCT) and uses the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford (CASA) model to estimate the NPP from 2000 to 2020. After using the RESTREND method, the paper calculates and compares the relative contributions of climate variability and anthropogenic activities to NPP changes. Finally, the geographical detector (Geodetector) model is applied to evaluate how anthropogenic and natural factors affect spatial distribution patterns and NPP changes. The results indicated that the average annual NPP is 820.39 gC·m−2·yr−1 during the 21 years. In addition, when the NPP varies, it increases over the entire study area, with a slope of 4.81 gC·m−2·yr−1, particularly in the western region. Across the entire research area, 63.39% and 77.44% of the total pixels positively contribute to climate variability and human activities in NPP, with a contribution of 0.90 and 3.91 gC·m−2·yr−1, respectively. Within the western, central, and eastern regions, anthropogenic activities have a stronger impact on NPP than climate variability, particularly pronounced in the eastern region. Furthermore, vegetation cover is the dominant factor in the spatial patterns and NPP trends across the TCT and the three regions. In contrast, climate factors are shown to be less influential in NPP distribution than in the western region. The results also demonstrated that the effect of population density and the GDP on NPP gradually rises. Two-factor interaction is much larger than any individual factor, with the dominant interaction factor being vegetation cover with climatic factors. Lastly, the findings revealed that anthropogenic activities positively promote NPP accumulation across the TCT, thus highlighting the importance of human activity-led ecological restoration and ecological protection measures that contribute to regional carbon sequestration and carbon balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches are ecologically valuable ecosystems and sites that attract many tourists from all over the world, therefore, knowledge of their environmental conditions to establish sound management strategies is of extreme relevance. This study aims to assess and classify 50 beaches through an innovative coastal management approach called "Sector Analysis", which integrates Litter grading, the coastal scenic quality and beach typology in order to classify sites into one of three sectors: Green (high value sites), Red (low value sites) and Yellow (sites with contradictory values). Litter Grade makes it possible to classify a site according to the quantity of litter using four grades from "A" (low) to "D" (high amount). The Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES) allows to classify sites into five classes, ranging from extremely attractive natural sites (Class I) to unattractive degraded and urbanized sites (Class V). This innovative methodology for sustainable coastal area management can be easily applied to any beach in the world. The results on Litter Grade and CSES considered in this paper were obtained from previous studies and used to obtain the Sector Analysis that showed only 8 sites (16%) are in the Green sector, 18 sites (36%) in the Red sector and 24 sites (48%) in the Yellow sector. The significant percentage of sites in the Red sector (one third of the sites studied) clearly indicates the degradation that the Moroccan Mediterranean coast has undergone due to considerable anthropogenic activities and the lack of adequate coastal management programs. In this study, various management interventions were proposed to conserve and improve the aesthetic quality of beaches and reduce the impact and presence of litter in the coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water supply system plays a major role in the community. The water source is carefully selected based on quality, quantity, and reliability. The quality of water at its sources is continuously deteriorating due to various anthropogenic activities and is a major concern to public health as well. The Kalu River is one of the major water resources in Sri Lanka that supplies potable water to the Kalutara district (a highly populated area) and Rathnapura district. But, there has been no significant research or investigation to examine anthropogenic activities in the river. Due to this, it is difficult to find any proper study related to the overall water quality in the Kalu River. Therefore, this study covers a crucial part related to the water quality of the Kalu River. The spatiotemporal variation of river water quality is highly important not only to processing any treatment activities but also to implementing policy decisions. In this context, water quality management is a global concern as countries strive to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Poor water quality can have severe consequences on human health, ecosystems, and economies. Contaminated water sources pose risks of waterborne diseases, reduced agricultural productivity, and ecological imbalances. Hence, assessing and improving water quality is crucial for achieving sustainable development worldwide. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive analysis of spatiotemporal analysis of the water quality of the Kalu River using the water quality data of eight locations for 6 years from 2017 to 2023. Nine water quality parameters, including the pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total nitrate, total phosphate, total sulfate, total chlorine, and hardness, were used to develop a simple equation to investigate the water quality index (WQI) of the river. Higher WQI values were not recorded near the famous Kalutara Bridge throughout the years, even though the area is highly urbanized and toured due to religious importance. Overall, the water quality of the river can be considered acceptable based on the results of the WQI. The country lockdowns due to COVID-19 might have impacted the results in 2020; this can be clearly seen with the variation of the annual WQI average, as it clearly indicates decreased levels of the WQI in the years 2020 and 2021, and again, the rise of the WQI level in 2022, as this time period corresponds to the lockdown season and relaxation of the lockdown season in the country. Somehow, for most cases in the Kalu River, the WQI level is well below 25, which can be considered acceptable and suitable for human purposes. But, it may need some attention towards the areas to find possible reasons that are not in the range. Nevertheless, the results suggest the importance of continuous water quality monitoring in the Kalu River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large marginal sandbanks in tidal rivers experience periodic splitting processes. In this paper, the morphodynamic evolution of Jingjiang Beach, a sandbank on the Yangtze tidal river, has been investigated based on measured data. The results show that the duration of the splitting process in the middle and lower sections of Jingjiang Beach is 4–6 years. The periodical evolution occurred both in flood season and dry season, with a slight difference in the initial stage of splitting. This paper focuses on the evolution characteristics related to strong human activities since 2003. Ever since the second stage of the 12.5 m Deepwater Channel Project (DCP), the volumes above the 10 m and 12.5 m isobaths of Jingjiang Beach have been generally decreasing. The elevation data in recent years have demonstrated that the upper section, and nearshore side of the middle section, of Jingjiang Beach have tended to be stable. Moreover, the migration distance for a splitting sand body at the tail of Jingjiang Beach appears to have shortened. With the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the number of days with discharge less than 15,000 m3/s has shown a decreasing trend; thus, the development scale of Jingjiang Beach could decline in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes throughout the globe have been gravely altered or degraded at a pace much more significant than their restoration. In the heart of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Dal Lake, has witnessed extreme loss in water quality during the last four decades because of anthropogenic pressures. The lake is unique in that over 50,000 people inhabit the lake itself in houseboats, dongas, or islands within the lake. These people derive their livelihood from the lake in terms of tourism, agriculture, fishing, and vegetable farming. The countless ways people use the lake have led to an extreme load of pollution in the lake. Encroachment in and around the lake has led to the loss of volume of water in the lake and consequently increased the concentration of pollutants. Discharge of untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and sediments from adjoining catchments have further degraded the lake water quality. The changes in water quality are clear from the physio-chemical properties of the lake waters. While transparency and dissolved oxygen in the lake have decreased drastically during the last 40 years, the concentration of harmful substances like phosphates, nitrates, and chlorides has increased. The hardness of water has also increased due to higher levels of carbonates and bicarbonates in the lake. This paper details the changes in the water quality of Dal Lake over the recent past. The paper analyses the strategies that can be implemented to manage the lake and restore its quality if appropriately implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are simply areas that are fully or partially saturated with water. Not much attention has been given to wetlands in the past, due to the unawareness of their value to the general public. However, wetlands have numerous hydrological, ecological, and social values. They play an important role in interactions among soil, water, plants, and animals. The rich biodiversity in the vicinity of wetlands makes them invaluable. Therefore, the conservation of wetlands is highly important in today's world. Many anthropogenic activities damage wetlands. Climate change has adversely impacted wetlands and their biodiversity. The shrinking of wetland areas and reducing wetland water levels can therefore be frequently seen. However, the opposite can be seen during stormy seasons. Since wetlands have permissible water levels, the prediction of wetland water levels is important. Flooding and many other severe environmental damage can happen when these water levels are exceeded. Therefore, the prediction of wetland water level is an important task to identify potential environmental damage. However, the monitoring of water levels in wetlands all over the world has been limited due to many difficulties. A Scopus-based search and a bibliometric analysis showcased the limited research work that has been carried out in the prediction of wetland water level using machine-learning techniques. Therefore, there is a clear need to assess what is available in the literature and then present it in a comprehensive review. Therefore, this review paper focuses on the state of the art of water-level prediction techniques of wetlands using machine-learning techniques. Nonlinear climatic parameters such as precipitation, evaporation, and inflows are some of the main factors deciding water levels; therefore, identifying the relationships between these parameters is complex. Therefore, machine-learning techniques are widely used to present nonlinear relationships and to predict water levels. The state-of-the-art literature summarizes that artificial neural networks (ANNs) are some of the most effective tools in wetland water-level prediction. This review can be effectively used in any future research work on wetland water-level prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities often compromise the water quality of natural water systems, rendering it unfit for domestic and agricultural use. This paper evaluates the effects of anthropogenic activities on the water quality of Ngong River in Nairobi County, Kenya. It aimed to assess the river's physico-chemical parameters, identify major anthropogenic activities that act as pollutant sources and establish the relationship between the anthropogenic activities and water quality along the Ngong River. Twelve water samples were systematically collected in each of the twelve study sites in April and August 2021 and analyzed in the laboratory for various water quality parameters. The accumulation factor (AF) indicated that E. coli, total coliforms, BOD and COD were found to significantly build up downstream of Ngong River. The ANOVA test results showed that all the physicochemical parameters studied (BOD, E. coli, pH, total suspended solids, total coliforms, turbidity, conductivity, nitrates, oil and grease and TDS), except COD, were not significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) for the different sites. Measured heavy metals, such as lead (Pb) levels at different sampled points, were all found to be below the detectable limit (0.001 ppm) for both seasons. Cadmium (Cd) was detectable during the dry season with the highest levels (0.113 ppm) being recorded at Ngong Forest Boundary. The findings of this study revealed that anthropogenic activities, such as raw sewage disposal, industrial activities, solid waste dumping and small-scale agriculture, had adverse effects on Ngong River's water quality. The study recommends a need to closely monitor anthropogenic activities along Ngong River to reduce their probable pollution of the water in the River basin. This will ensure the sustainability of the water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, climate change, which is predominantly caused by human activities, has emerged as a major global concern. This paper examines in depth the profound and multifarious effects of climate change on ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide. It further investigates the complex connections between climate change and ecosystems, focusing on terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats. Notably, we emphasize the unique challenges confronting ecosystems in Southeast Asia, a region of ecological significance where the ocean economy is fundamental to human livelihoods. Climate change threatens ecosystem services in numerous ways, including the provision of food and water, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, and cultural importance. We emphasize the potential transformation of ecosystems from carbon sinks to carbon sources, which has implications for climate control. Moreover, changes in disease vectors and altered landscapes raise concerns for human health and cultural traditions. We emphasize the importance of international cooperation, as exemplified by the Paris Agreement, in mitigating climate change collectively. In addition, we advocate for the inclusion of indigenous communities and traditional ecological knowledge in conservation and restoration initiatives. This paper concludes by emphasizing the profound interdependence between ecosystems and human well-being and the urgency of taking action. HIGHLIGHTS Climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, ecosystem services.; Future management.;

Climate change and human activities have already caused degradation in a large fraction of vegetation on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Many studies report that climate variability instead of overgrazing has been the primary cause for large‐scale vegetation cover changes on the QTP, for example, Lehnert et al., 2016, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24367. However, it remains unclear how human activities (mainly livestock grazing) regulate vegetation dynamics under climate change. This paper takes the AVHRR/GIMMS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as an indicator to analyze the growth status of vegetation zones in the QTP, which has highly sensitive to climate change. The spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation growth between 1981 and 2015 were analyzed. The dual effects of climate change and human activities were examined by correlation analyses of data from 87 meteorological stations and economic statistical data of the QTP. Results show that: (a) The vegetation in central and southwestern QTP with high altitudes was improving due to the warm‐humid climate trend. An increase in temperature and a reduction in the harsh frigid climate at high altitudes due to global warming has resulted in expansions of the vegetated areas, with the NDVI showing a concordant increase. (b) The degraded areas were mainly confined to the northern and eastern QTP, which have high human and livestock population densities. In comparison to gently changing climate regimes, anthropogenic activities such as chronic concentration of population and livestock in the valleys with a less harsh climate exerts a much stronger pressure on vegetation. The study indicates that the anthropogenic pressures are much more intensive than the impact of climate change and are critical for the conservation and sustainable management of the QTP vegetation. Plain Language Summary: Vegetation dynamics and its type are considered to be critical indicators of different climate regimes and have received significant attention from ecologists and climatologists. However, studies on the shift in vegetation toward higher altitudes and higher latitudes with climate warming from the vegetation zone redistribution perspective are relatively scarce. Our results suggest that the degraded areas of vegetation were mainly confined to the northern and eastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which have high human and livestock population densities. In comparison to gently changing climate regimes, anthropogenic activities such as chronic concentration of population and livestock in the relatively less harsh valleys exerts a much stronger pressure on vegetation. Anthropogenic pressures were therefore found to be far more intensive than the impact of climate change and they were the big threats to the sustainability of the QTP. Key Points: The vegetation with high altitudes was improving due to the warm‐humid climate trendThe degraded vegetation areas were mainly confined to high human and livestock population densitiesAnthropogenic activities such as chronic concentration of population and livestock exerts a much stronger pressure on vegetation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Water Science / Shuikexue Jinzhan is the property of Editorial Board of Advances in Water Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The description of sound as a form of energetic pollutant is very complex as is also its impact on aquatic life. Human activities causing continuous and implosive underwater noise, such as marine traffic, maintenance of ships, coastal tourism, marine research, military, offshore energy platforms, generation of ocean energies and construction operations are expected to increase. The paper analyses current approach to minimise the impact of underwater noise and limit its emissions, examines regulatory approach and discusses the possibilities to control this type of pollution in order to ensure the preservation of natural underwater soundscape. The timely implementation and further development of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and its provisions related to underwater noise is of exceptional importance for the Adriatic Sea, which is facing increasing pressure from various industries generating underwater noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Over the past decades, many proxy materials (for example, lacustrine sediments, marine sediments, ice cores, loess, and tree rings) have been used to reconstruct palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental changes. A new proxy material, palaeo-notch sediment, was reported in 2006, and since then many studies have been published for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction using palaeo-notch sediments. In this paper, we introduced the palaeo-notch sediments in detail, and reviewed the state of knowledge on the Holocene climate changes, ecological responses to climate change and environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities based on the published research using palaeo-notch sediments. We also summarised five advantages of using palaeo-notch sediments for palaeoenvironmental studies. The palaeo-notch sediments may be available in the coastal regions from the Arctic, Antarctic and many other parts of the world. Therefore, sediments in palaeo-notches could provide valuable information for the study of palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment in coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Ecotoxicological Species Sensitivity Distributions, as used in EU and US, to derive environmental standards for contaminants, starts from the assumption that by protecting the majority of species (95% confidence interval) all species will be protected. Nevertheless, 5% of the species outside the confidence interval might become harmed; half of it being the most sensitive for the particular compound tested. With respect to protection of rare endemic species it is not clear, however, if contamination is a driving factor for endemicity. The aim of this paper is to explore whether endemic and rare species deserve extra protection from adverse environmental conditions. To this end, a brief overview of the various forms of endemism, their relation to environmental stress factors and the distribution of endemic species is discussed. Further, the sensitivities of these species towards environmental stress factors are analysed, in order to conclude if and how endemic species could be better protected against environmental stress factors. This was achieved by specifically focusing on the potential impacts of metalliferous soils, mining, the treatment of mined soil and the storage of treated mine waste. It is concluded that at present there are some signals about specific sensitivities, but the database is much too small for a definite conclusion about adverse environmental factors as a threat to endemic species. The data gap has to be filled in with experimental tests with endemic species. This is hampered by the protection status of these endemic, rare species. Recommendations and derived activities are proposed to address this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst groundwater is an important water supply, especially in northern China. With the rapid development of China’s economy, anthropogenic activities have had a significant impact on karst groundwater formation, circulation and other processes. In this paper, the Baotu spring basin, which is closely related to anthropogenic activities, was selected as the research object to carry out a study of water chemical characteristics and evolutionary processes. And, mathematical statistics, Piper trilinear diagram, Gibbs diagram, and ion ratio methods were used to analyze the characteristics and evolution processes of groundwater. The results of this study show that the hydrogeochemical components of karst groundwater are mainly controlled by the weathering of rocks, mainly by the dissolution of carbonate rocks and silicates with the dominant cation of Ca2+ and the dominant anion of HCO3−. Considering the role of anthropogenic activities, including agricultural and industrial activities, the evolution process of karst groundwater is mainly controlled by hydrogeochemical effects such as mineral dissolution and filtration, the mixing of multiple water bodies, anthropogenic activities (domestic sewage, industrial and agricultural wastes), oxidation–reduction and cation alternating adsorption. Moreover, the influence of anthropogenic activities on the formation and evolution of karst groundwater gradually increases, leading to the rise in nitrate content in karst groundwater and accelerating carbonate rock dissolution. The research results of this paper can provide a favorable reference for environmental protection and research on karst groundwater in areas of intensive anthropogenic activity.

Background: Developing nations have to overcome a number of obstacles to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the five poorest nations in the world and faces several challenges in combating problems related to poverty, health, and sanitation while linking the environment to anthropogenic activities. Methods: This study analyzes anthropogenic activities and their impact on the environment while providing access to the public health of the Congolese population based on the objectives of sustainable development. Thirty‐five articles were selected for further analysis as well as relative data. Results: In 2022, 21 million cases of malaria were recorded by the national malaria control program, with 13,000 cases of death. The Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest typhoid incidence, with 315 cases per 100,000 people. A number of 31,342 cases of cholera were reported in 2023, according to multiple reports, with 230 deaths, mainly affecting children. In the same year, a triple epidemic of typhoid, shigellosis, and cholera was identified, with 2389 cases and 52 deaths. These observations cause a health emergency, which can be alleviated and resolved by the establishment of an adequate sanitation system. Waste can be recycled and returned to usable raw materials. Conclusion: Finally, it will be necessary to establish a water safety management plan to combat all diseases linked to the consumption of nonpotable water and improve national coverage on the treatment of recent cases to reduce and at best avoid observed cases of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of anthropogenic activities (agriculture, industry, and exploitation of water resources) during urbanization has posed significant challenges to the aquatic environment, particularly in karst regions. Karst aquifers are highly susceptible to surface contaminants and exhibit minimal natural remediation capabilities. Our understanding of the anthropogenic activities involved in these sensitive karst systems remains limited. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study, collecting 285 groundwater samples in Feicheng, northern China, from 1996 to 2015. The overexploitation of karst groundwater has resulted in several concerns. The whole dataset was classified into four groups according to land use. Water quality assessments revealed a yearly decline, particularly in industrial and agricultural areas. The water chemistry transitioned from Ca-Mg-HCO3 to Ca-Mg-HCO3-SO4. Such evolution was attributed to natural hydrogeochemical processes, atmospheric precipitation, and anthropogenic inputs. Natural factors included water-rock interactions (the mineral dissolution) and ion exchange. Absolute principal component scores with multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) were used to quantitatively estimate the sources of pollution. The results showed that hydrogeological settings (recharge, runoff, and discharge) were crucial in the hydrochemistry evolution of karst groundwater systems. In agricultural areas, it is recognized that much of the NO3− accumulation in aquifers came from upstream inputs in the groundwater system, not just irrigation and fertilization. Urban areas were affected by Cl− pollution, primarily due to domestic waste. Industrial regions of recharge zones were more susceptible to atmospheric precipitation and industrial waste, with pollutants infiltrating through rainfall and degrading water quality. Mining areas exhibit higher SO42− and lower pH due to the oxidation of sulfur-containing minerals. Therefore, the rapid response and low self-purification capacity of groundwater in karst regions necessitate caution in urban planning to mitigate impacts on these fragile systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical dry forests (TDF) have an enormously rich flora and fauna that offer various ecological services to the surrounding human societies. Biodiversity assessment is mandatory for implementing any sustainable forest management policy, which is why it is one of the important criteria and indicators currently used. Threats to TDF biodiversity are the primary challenges arising from environmental concerns caused by anthropogenic activity leading to global warming issues. The study aimed to investigate the vegetation assessment and several environmental and anthropogenic variables influencing forest biodiversity from 5 threatened forest sites of District Sialkot (Ghalotian, Kishan Garh, Daburgi Chanda Singh, Pir Kot, and Ghulab Garh), Pakistan. We collected 170 distinct plant species, including 135 dicots, 27 monocots, seven pteridophytes, and one bryophyte, categorized into 138 genera and 62 families, divided into 114 herbs, 32 trees, and 24 shrubs. The phytosociological analysis described the quantitative characteristics, including % frequency, % density, % cover, and importance Value Index (IVI) of all forest areas. Gulab Garh forest has the richest biodiversity forest area, and herbs are the dominant species that have been documented. Environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, organic matter, soil pH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, Cl-, and electric conductivity (EC) strongly affect forest vegetation investigated by principal coordinate analysis. Shannon and Simpson's diversity indexes reveal that all sites contain loamy and sandy soil and display a significant relationship between alpha diversity and richness. Increasing trends in temperature and decreasing trends in rainfall suggested that climate significantly affects the Sialkot region's plant biodiversity. SWOT analysis highlighted that population growth leads to increasing anthropogenic activities such as constructing housing societies and roads, inadequate farming, and excessive grazing, impacting the forest vegetation and altering TDF ecosystem properties/services and functioning. Our findings reinforce the vegetational assessment and importance of local forest biodiversity and significant environmental drivers that influence the plant species diversity in TDF areas. Future conservation strategies are suggested to reduce unlawful resource consumption, restore plant biodiversity in designated protected areas, and conserve rare species locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitional waters (TWs) are relevant ecological and economical ecosystems that include estuaries, deltas, bays, wetlands, marshes, coastal lakes, and coastal lagoons and play a central role in providing food, protecting coastal environments, and regulating nutrients. However, human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, tourism, and agriculture are threatening these ecosystems, which results in contamination and habitat degradation. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate contamination in TW to develop effective management and protection strategies. This study analyses the application of geospatial technologies (GTS) for monitoring and predicting contaminant distribution in TW. Cartography, interpolation, complex spatial methods, and remote sensing were applied to assess contamination profiles by heavy metals, and persistent organic compounds, and analyze contamination indices or some physicochemical water parameters. It is concluded that integrating environmental and demographic data with GTS would help to identify critical points of contamination and promote ecosystem resilience to ensure long-term health and human well-being. This review comprehensively analyzes the methods, indicators, and indices used to assess contamination in transitional waters in conjunction with GTS. It offers a valuable foundation for planning future research on pollution in these types of waters or other similar water bodies worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planetary Health emphasises the sustainability of natural systems for human well-being, linking human health directly with environmental health. This interdisciplinary concept has gained importance as anthropogenic activities have led to climate changes and health impacts. Despite efforts, a cohesive approach to planetary health from local to global levels remains lacking. The present review analysed 24 sources, including grey literature and published studies, identifying 40 interventions aimed at improving planetary health. The majority of research, primarily from the United States, focuses on reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Effective strategies highlighted include promoting active transportation, improving diets, increasing physical activity, and engaging with indigenous communities to protect both environmental and human health. However, a significant gap exists in integrating these interventions through a unified informatics tool, which could enhance coordination and implementation of planetary health measures globally. The review underscores the necessity for a more integrated approach and the development of a global database to consolidate and manage planetary health interventions effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the depletion of surface water resources within the Lake Urmia Basin (LUB), Iran, has emerged as a significant environmental concern. Both anthropogenic activities and climate change have influenced the availability and distribution of surface water resources in this area. This research endeavors to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on surface water resources across the LUB. Various critical climatic and anthropogenic factors affecting surface water bodies, such as air temperature (AT), cropland (CL), potential evapotranspiration (PET), snow cover, precipitation, built-up areas, and groundwater salinity, were analyzed from 2000 to 2021 using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. The JRC-Global surface water mapping layers V1.4, with a spatial resolution of 30 m, were employed to monitor surface water patterns. Additionally, the Mann–Kendall (MK) non-parametric trend test was utilized to identify statistically significant trends in the time series data. The results reveal negative correlations of −0.56, −0.89, −0.09, −0.99, and −0.79 between AT, CL, snow cover, built-up areas, and groundwater salinity with surface water resources, respectively. Conversely, positive correlations of 0.07 and 0.12 were observed between precipitation and PET and surface water resources, respectively. Notably, the findings indicate that approximately 40% of the surface water bodies in the LUB have remained permanent over the past four decades. However, there has been a loss of around 30% of permanent water resources, transitioning into seasonal water bodies, which now account for nearly 13% of the total. The results of our research also indicate that December and January are the months with the most water presence over the LUB from 1984 to 2021. This is because these months align with winter in the LUB, during which there is no water consumption for the agriculture sector. The driest months in the study area are August, September, and October, with the presence of water almost at zero percent. These months coincide with the summer and autumn seasons in the study area. In summary, the results underscore the significant impact of human activities on surface water resources compared to climatic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the potential impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the transboundary river of Aoos/Vjosa, flowing through Greece and Albania, and proposes strategies for its protection. The paper analyzes the current state of the river and its ecosystems, identifies the key drivers of change, and examines the potential impacts of future climate scenarios and human activities. Using climate data and GIS mapping, the study highlights the importance of sustainable development and cross-border cooperation to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the river and its resources.

The Arabian Gulf (hereafter 'the Gulf') is renowned for its unique ecological characteristics and distinct marine life. It offers a diverse range of ecosystems that have adapted to the impacts posed by natural stress and human activities. Regular biomonitoring and diversity assessments are necessary to document the health of the Gulf ecosystem and to implement appropriate measures for effective conservation and management. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA), a total pool of DNA isolated from environmental samples, has emerged as a highly effective tool for ecological studies. This review explores the opportunities, prospects, and challenges associated with employing eDNA metabarcoding in the ecological assessment and biomonitoring of the Gulf. It provides an overview of the status of the Gulf ecosystem and discusses the potential applications of eDNA metabarcoding in assessing biodiversity, monitoring invasive species, and evaluating ecosystem health. Additionally, the investigation addresses the challenges inherent in implementing this technique, considering environmental complexities, methodological intricacies, and data interpretation. Overall, this review emphasizes the immense potential of eDNA metabarcoding in advancing ecological assessment in the Gulf and calls for further research and collaboration to harness its benefits in this unique marine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, China has experienced substantial climate change and significant vegetation greenness due to the extensive implementation of artificial ecological restoration programs. However, the quantitative contributions of climatic and anthropogenic drivers to the national variations in associated evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP) over China at different climate zoning sub-regions remain unclear. Based on the analysis of climate factor and vegetation disturbance trends created by anthropogenic activities, this study constructed a remote sensing-based ecological model consisting of Penman–Monteith–Leuning (PML) and light use efficiency (LUE) components. The proposed model simulated the spatiotemporal changes in ET and GPP between 1999 and 2018 over China. The contributions of climatic factors and anthropogenic activities to ET and GPP variations were quantitatively calculated by ridge regression. The results show that (1) both interannual ET and GPP markedly increased, by 1.32 mm yr−1 and 8.01 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively; (2) vegetation changes due to anthropogenic disturbance made the dominant contribution to GPP variations over China, while the dominant factor influencing ET changes differed by sub-region due to the joint effects of vegetation and climate; (3) temperature and precipitation positively affected ET, while wind speed, humidity, and solar radiation negatively contributed to ET in most parts of Mainland China. These findings may provide a workable, scientific reference for further ecological restoration decision-making processes in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally aquatic ecosystems are reportedly overwhelmed by algal blooms due to excessive deposition of nutrients which ultimately cause hypoxia, leading to massive fish death. This study aimed at assessing the relationship between algae contents and dissolved oxygen (DO) in Lake Babati which is threatened by anthropogenic activities, whereas Lake Eyasi was used as a control. Algae contents (chlorophyll a), DO and surface water temperature were measured using standard methods. Results revealed that the mean algae content was significantly higher (4.47±0.88 mg/L) in Lake Babati than in Lake Eyasi (1.6±0.45 mg/L) (P < 0.05) and was beyond the standard permissible levels for domestic water supply and healthy ecosystem. Conversely, DO was significantly lower in Lake Babati than in Lake Eyasi (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in water temperature in the two lakes (P > 0.05). Furthermore, there was an inverse relationship between algae content and DO in Lakes Eyasi and Babati (r = -0.88 and r = -0.30, respectively) suggesting that algal bloom is partly responsible for lowering DO. Responsible authorities are advised to enforce management policies and regulations to control unsustainable activities around these lakes that contribute to nutrient loading resulting into overgrowth of algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete removal of bacterial and fungal communities found in natural water sources by drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) is a global issue of concern as many of these microbes are passed down to the end users through the drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). An overview of the bacterial and fungal communities present in natural water sources is provided. The abundance of the bacterial and fungal communities in the final water exiting DWTPs and tap water from DWDSs provides an insight into the treatment plants' effectiveness. Information on the different technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) used in the water treatment plants was collated to elucidate their role in drinking water treatment. Based on previous studies, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Nitrospirae, and Actinobacteria are the predominant bacterial phyla while Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium, Fusarium and Trichoderma are the predominant fungal phyla identified in the final water and tap water. Information on the performance of advanced treatment shows the positive impact of the technology in bacteria and fungi removal. Furthermore, the application of AI in water treatment for the determination of coagulant dosages and prediction of the disinfectant is also promising. Research gaps were identified, and future studies were recommended to address water treatment concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many freshwater ecosystems are facing ecological challenges such as influx of trace elements from human activities, and sediments behave as a sink for trace elements in these environments. Trace element contamination in river sediments is a major environmental concern due to its devastating effect on benthic organisms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of trace elements in sediments on the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Blyde and Mohlapitsi rivers of the Olifants River Basin, South Africa. Sediment samples and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from six sites along each river. The results showed variations in the concentration of the trace elements in the sediment and the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates among the different sites and between the two rivers. Both rivers recorded high taxa richness and sensitive taxa were well represented in most parts of the rivers, an indication that the rivers are not highly disturbed. There were insignificant correlations between most of the trace elements and the abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrates, though some taxa showed significant correlations with the trace elements. Despite the low impact of the trace elements on the distribution and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates, ecological health of the rivers and structural distribution of macroinvertebrates may be affected in the future due to increasing human activities in the catchments. It is therefore recommended that effluents from human activities should be controlled to prevent a further degradation of the rivers to protect macroinvertebrates and other aquatic biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large marginal sandbanks in tidal rivers experience periodic splitting processes. In this paper, the morphodynamic evolution of Jingjiang Beach, a sandbank on the Yangtze tidal river, has been investigated based on measured data. The results show that the duration of the splitting process in the middle and lower sections of Jingjiang Beach is 4–6 years. The periodical evolution occurred both in flood season and dry season, with a slight difference in the initial stage of splitting. This paper focuses on the evolution characteristics related to strong human activities since 2003. Ever since the second stage of the 12.5 m Deepwater Channel Project (DCP), the volumes above the 10 m and 12.5 m isobaths of Jingjiang Beach have been generally decreasing. The elevation data in recent years have demonstrated that the upper section, and nearshore side of the middle section, of Jingjiang Beach have tended to be stable. Moreover, the migration distance for a splitting sand body at the tail of Jingjiang Beach appears to have shortened. With the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the number of days with discharge less than 15,000 m3/s has shown a decreasing trend; thus, the development scale of Jingjiang Beach could decline in the future.

The bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in coaster waters directly affects the ecosystem and human beings. Thus, the objectives of this study are to evaluate the interaction between fish and coastal water and assess the long-term implications of human consumption of some major organs obtained from Tilapia brevimanus and Euthynnus alletteratus. The study determined the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in twenty coaster water samples collected from two points and in the muscle, gills, and intestine of ten pieces of Tilapia brevimanus and ten pieces of Euthynnus alletteratus using a Perkin Elmer Model 306 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Furthermore, the accumulation of these metals and the assessment of the long-term implications of human consumption of the designated organs of the two species types were performed. The statistical significance level of the obtained results was determined using the T-test analysis tool, which revealed that the distribution of the metals varies in different organs of the fish species. The levels of pollutants were higher in Tilapia brevimanus organs than in Euthynnus alletteratus. The contents of As, Cd, Cr, and Pb in the gills were higher than those in the muscle. Also, the metal pollution index in the organs followed the order of intestine > gills > muscle for both Tilapia brevimanus and Euthynnus alletteratus, posing serious health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater storage (GWS) in confined aquifer systems is often influenced by climate variability and anthropogenic activities, and it is vital to quantify their contributions for the purpose of groundwater management and surface water allocation plans. In this study, we characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of the GWS in confined aquifer systems across Hengshui, North China Plain, and investigate its relationships with changing climate conditions and human activities through the integration of InSAR-derived surface displacements with hydraulic head observations and precipitation data, during 2004–2010 and 2016–2020. Our results indicate that the GWS in confined aquifer systems decreased markedly by 4.59 ± 0.35 km3 with an accelerating trend during the study period. The GWS variations show a strong correlation with precipitation during irrigation periods (March to July), and hence, the climate and anthropogenic-driven GWS variations can be separated from each other with a linear model. We find that the GWS depletion caused by climate variability and anthropogenic activities were −0.31 ± 0.10 km3 and −4.28 ± 0.40 km3, respectively, during the study period. The mean contribution of anthropogenic activities to the GWS variations was −71.9%, implying that the GWS variations in confined aquifer systems were primarily anthropogenic driven. It is also found that the well observations alone poorly characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of the GWS due to their limited spatial density, and the integrated InSAR/well approach appears to be promising for overcoming this challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]