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Tuta absoluta Meyr. is an invasive alien species that entered the territory of Ukraine as a result of anthropogenic factors in 2010 with a shipment of infected tomatoes from Turkey. Visual inspection and pheromone traps were used to detect and register the South American tomato moth, which were installed according to the generally accepted methodology. The analysis of the current state of distribution of the South American tomato moth in Ukraine and the world was carried out according to the data of the Department of Phytosanitary Safety in the fields of seed and nursery production of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Rights Protection. To achieve the goals, the ways and reasons for penetration were determined T. absoluta to Ukraine. Setting the quarantine status of harmful organisms in Ukraine in 2023 using lists A-1 and A-2 of the "List of regulated harmful organisms". The quarantine status of the American tomato moth has been established in Ukraine in 2023. As the results of study we determined the dynamics of the distribution and number of the pest from 2015 to 2023; and the area of pest infestation in Ukraine and in each infected region; the number of infected regions, districts, cities, settlements, homesteads, farms of all forms of ownership from 2015 to 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field protective forest belts which were created 50-70 years ago in the Forest Steppe of Ukraine have reached a critical age and do not have proper maintenance. Together with the intense impact on their condition of measures of agricultural intensification, atmospheric anthropogenic pollution and global warming, they have significantly lost their environmental protection and stabilizing agro-ecosystem functions. The purpose of our research was to assess the current ecological condition of the field protective forest belts of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine based on the indicators of tree resistance to environmental changes. The ecological condition of field protective forest belts was determined by the following indicators: the proportion of felled trees in forest belts, the proportion of dry trees, the proportion of drying trees, the presence of grass cover, the spread of necrosis on a leaf, the proportion of necrosis on a leaf, the spread of chlorosis on a leaf, the proportion of chlorosis on a leaf, the proportion of trampled vegetation in the forest belts. Our research has established that the greatest diversity of species was characteristic to the openwork protective forest belts, and the least - to the blowing ones. All the main forest belts were more biodiverse than the additional ones. In 80% of forest belts, common ash is the main species, and in only 20% - is common maple. The largest share of felled trees (35%) and drying trees (35%) was found in the main blowing forest strip. We installed a slightly smaller proportion of drying and felled trees in the main openwork forest strip. And the least cut and drying trees were found in the dense field protection forest strip. The highest spread of necrosis: 40% of hornbeam leaves and 35% of maple leaves, as well as chlorosis: 18% of hornbeam leaves and 25% of maple leaves was found in the additional openwork forest strip. Also, a high percentage of the spread of necrosis and chlorosis was detected on the leaves of the common ash of the additional blowing forest strip, 18% and 25%, respectively. Necrosis and chlorosis were the least evident on the leaves of trees in the dense of forest belt. Premature yellowing of the leaves was detected only in ordinary hornbeam of the additional openwork forest belts in the amount of 15% of the leaves. Also, this type of the tree had the highest percentage of twisted leaves - 20%. The largest proportion of leaves with spots was found on common ash trees of the main openwork forest belt - 60% and common maple trees of the dense forest belt. The obtained results will make it possible to choose the right measures for the protection and preservation of field protective forest belts and to determine the most resistant and vulnerable tree species to environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological management zoning is crucial for maintaining regional ecological security and realizing differentiated urban ecological governance. However, the existing zoning methods are overly focused on ecological functional attributes and fail to adequately consider the impacts of human activities, resulting in an insufficiently rational allocation of resources. Taking Guizhou Province as an example, using multi-source data and spatial analysis tools, this study proposed an ecological management zoning framework based on the coupling analysis of the blue-green infrastructure (BGI) network and gray infrastructure (GI) network. The results indicated that (1) the BGI network in the study area included 179 sources, with a total area of 54,228.80 km2, and 232 corridors. (2) There were 53 sources in the GI network, totaling 709.19 km2, and the corridors of the first, second, and third levels were 11,469.31 km, 6703.54 km, and 5341.30 km, respectively. (3) There were 606 barrier points identified, mainly distributed in the central part of the study area, and the total area of the disturbance zone was 1132.50 km2, which had the largest distribution in Qiandongnan, followed by Qiannan. (4) At the county scale, five ecological management zones were identified in the study area based on four indicators, namely, the source area ratio of BGI network, corridor density of BGI network disturbance zone area ratio, and density of barrier point. Then, we proposed targeted optimizations and restorations for each zone. This study organically linked ecological functional attributes and anthropogenic impacts to identify ecological management zones, which will provide new perspectives on synergies between ecological protection and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There will be a significant increase in anthropogenic load on the soils of the Prinevskaya lowland in the nearest decade due to the fact that a significant territory is occupied by St. Petersburg. The main objective is a study of the sanitary-hygienic state and soil diversity of the Prinevskaya lowland in case of a high degree of agricultural soil development there and the significant role of the lithological factor. Soils were studied at the following land use and land cover: agricultural and fallow soils of agrolandscapes; forest soils; and soils of industrial areas. Studies were carried out using morphological descriptions and analyses of chemical, physical, and biological properties. The most vulnerable land use are forest and agricultural and fallow zones, where active accumulation of priority toxicants of anthropogenic origin can occur. Geochemical peculiarities of studied soils are deficit of Mn, Cu, Mo, and Zn in soil-forming rock materials and accumulation of strontium and lead in arable horizons. The soils examined show minimal contamination with trace elements, as verified by a range of individual and combined ecotoxicological indicators. Urban development planning, particularly in St. Petersburg, should prioritize the preservation of biodiversity and soil resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities, particularly land reclamation and industrialization, have severely damaged South Korea's intertidal zones, resulting in a decline in biodiversity. In our study, we assessed the macrobenthic community in the intertidal zone of Anmyeon Island, South Korea, and used remote sensing to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic activities on the adjacent land areas. Spearman and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) indicated that the remote-sensing ecological index (RSEI) is a viable indicator for assessing the dissimilarity of macrobenthic communities in these zones. Moreover, biota–environment matching (BIO–ENV) and distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA) demonstrated that land cover types significantly influence the macrobenthic communities in nearby intertidal zones. Our study suggested that urbanization and agricultural activities have affected the terrestrial ecological environment and the adjacent intertidal communities. Consequently, the protection of these zones should extend beyond their borders to include the management of anthropogenic activities on adjacent lands. Our research contributes valuable insights to help inform conservation strategies and the policy-making necessary to safeguard South Korea's intertidal zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One group of elements attracting more and more attention are so-called technology-critical elements (TCEs). In comparison with legacy pollutants, the anthropogenic impact of TCEs on the environment might still be minor, but various applications introduce them to the most remote places in the world including the marine environment. One area prone to pollution is the Baltic Sea, partly due to the lack of water exchange with the North Sea. In this study, a sediment core from the German Baltic Sea was used to analyze a total of 42 elemental mass fractions. Based on radiometric dating of 210Pb and 137Cs, results were classified in a recent (2020–2000) and a past period (< 1920), calculating background concentrations based on the Median + 2 Median Absolute Deviation (M2MAD) and the Tukey Inner Fence (TIF). Six legacy pollutants (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) and six TCEs (Ga, Ge, Nb, La, Gd, Ta) are discussed in detail. Anthropogenic impacts of both groups were assessed, and local enrichment factors were calculated showing an increase for the legacy pollutants (past period (≤ 0.8); recent period (≥ 1.2)), but also a minor increase for Ga, Ge and Nb (past period (0.9); recent period (1.1)). Values ≥ 1.5, indicating anthropogenic impact, were found for Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, but also for Ge. Proposed background values may be considered as baseline for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prolonged armed conflict in Colombia, spanning over the last five decades, has significantly impacted its agricultural areas and led to the widespread displacement and disruption of farming activities. The agricultural sector is crucial for Colombia as it contributes to food security, the economy, and the Nation's employment rate. However, the agricultural sector is challenged by the environment and its natural resources, especially water in water abstraction and soil in terms of degradation and land cover change. Additionally, climate change exacerbates these challenges by altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, and further stressing water and soil resources, making sustainable management even more critical. The Resource Nexus approach comes into play to cope with and mitigate such challenges. Combined with social equity to advance the sustainability of agriculture, the Nexus approach demonstrates pathways towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger)in synergies with other SDGs, like SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This paper addresses the dual challenge of improving natural resources management and population vulnerability reduction in the frame of environmental conflicts and population inequalities that severely affect the resilience of food systems. In line with principles of inclusion and gender equity, the methodology developed here aims to identify Colombia's productive regions that would benefit from enhanced management at the landscape level, the Resource Nexus approach. With the use of geographic information systems (GIS), this research spatially evaluates the (i) impact of land-use changes and the land-use fragmentation due to resource overuse, (ii) the provision of ecosystem services under different uses of natural resources and suggests ecosystem services planning as a methodology for municipal ecosystem-based management, (iii) climate change and the anthropogenic impacts on agricultural productivity in Colombia at the municipality scale. The results indicate significant environmental changes over the past few decades, including reduced natural forests and increased agricultural land. This shift has coincided with a decrease in freshwater availability. Additionally, there is a concerning trend of agricultural expansion into protected areas, highlighting the ongoing pressures on natural resources and the need for sustainable management practices. This study underscores the value of the science-policy interface to ensure increased social equity, economic growth, and resource conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to human-induced impacts, land use and land cover (LULC) in the Earth undergo a constant transformation, presenting a major concern in recent years. The goal of this study is to clarify the impact of anthropogenic LULC changes on hydrology and sediment load in the Alibeyköy Basin located in Istanbul, Türkiye. This basin is vulnerable to population growth and urbanization, necessitating attention and precaution, particularly due to the presence of a large airport which connects roads and expands residential areas with open-pit mining activities. That basin is expected to be an excellent example to demonstrate the impact of rapid anthropogenic activity on a drinking basin. We identified LULC classes both before the 2010 event and after the 2020 airport construction within the basin. We used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for simulating daily streamflows and sediment loads. These results indicated a 30% rise in surface runoff associated with the expansion of artificial surfaces. Changes in LULC from 2010 to 2020 significantly affected total sediment loading (+18%). According to the spatial examination, relatively high sediment loads in some subbasins were related to the open-pit mining activities. These findings emphasize the importance of sediment control in the Alibeyköy Basin for preserving water quality and ensuring the longevity of the dam in the future. Without precautions, increased runoff and sediment load would cause issues like biodiversity loss, health problems, or floods. Implementing effective policies for erosion control, supported by community participation, can help reduce these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the significant environmental and health risks associated with near-surface nitrogen dioxide (NO2), machine learning is frequently employed to estimate near-surface NO2 concentrations (SNO2) from satellite-derived tropospheric NO2 column densities (CNO2). However, data-driven methods often face challenges in explaining the complex relationships between these variables. In this study, the correlation between CNO2 and SNO2 is examined using vertical profile observations from China's MAX-DOAS network. Cloud cover and air convection substantially weaken (R = −0.68) and strengthen (R = 0.71) the CNO2-SNO2 correlation, respectively. Meteorological factors dominate the correlation (R2 = 0.58), which is 31% stronger in northern regions than in the southwest. Additionally, anthropogenic emissions impact SNO2, while topographical features shape regional climate patterns. At the Chongqing site, the negative impacts of unfavorable meteorological conditions, high emissions, and basin topography lead to significant contrasts and delays in daily CNO2 and SNO2 variations. This study enhances understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics and influencing mechanisms of CNO2 and SNO2, supporting improved air quality assessments and pollution exposure evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opportunistic species, including some gulls (Laridae), can benefit from urbanization and increased anthropogenic food resources. Knowledge of the level of exploitation of anthropogenic resources by gulls is crucial to understand how changes in food availability might affect their populations, which in turn may impact other species. The Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus is widely distributed in the southern hemisphere and consumes a wide variety of resources, from waste in landfills to seabirds. We assessed if proximity to landfills influenced the diet and trophic ecology of Kelp Gull incubating adults and chicks using a combination of conventional diet sampling (stomach contents, regurgitated pellets), and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of blood plasma in seven colonies over two consecutive years in South Africa. Kelp Gulls consumed a variety of resources, including marine (e.g. fish), coastal (e.g. molluscs), terrestrial natural (e.g. insects, mammals), or terrestrial anthropogenic (e.g. chicken, bread) items. Inter‐annual differences were most apparent among gulls breeding next to a seabird colony, whereas gulls breeding at other colonies were more consistent in diet and trophic ecology. At most colonies, chicks were fed more natural and higher trophic level food items than were consumed by incubating adults. Overall, distance to landfill did not strongly affect the diet and trophic ecology and our results suggest that the Kelp Gull's broad feeding ecology allows it to buffer changes in food availability by switching among food resources. However, such dietary changes triggered by human actions may impact other species, including threatened seabirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 210Pb-based method is used for absolute age determination in recent sediments (<150 years). Different assumptions are possible, leading to different models and chronologies. The evaluation of the capacities and limitations of the models in challenging sedimentary scenarios is of broad interest to the scientific community, and this is the aim of the present work. The performance of the classical models, CFCS and CRS, and the novel TERESA is assessed with a 2 m long, high-resolution core sampled in Maryport Harbour, UK, by using raw data from the literature. It was affected by dredging, shortening, and by the anthropogenic impacts of radionuclides released by the Sellafield nuclear plant and the phosphate industry in Whitehaven and was considered non-datable by the 210Pb method. A reference chronology from Sellafield-derived radionuclides serves to assess the 210Pb dating models. The study uses the mass depth scale and solves the estimation of the unsupported fraction of 210Pb needed for the models. The profile was very irregular, and a cluster analysis led to an ambiguous use of the piecewise CFCS model. The inventory was incomplete and in an unsteady state, but the CRS model can be tentatively applied with the reference SAR and the reference date methods, although also with ambiguous results. TERESA can explicitly handle 210Pbexc fluxes and sedimentation rates that vary over time and shows the best performance with insightful outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, extreme rainfall and related disasters, including floods and landslides, have led to significant property damage and loss of life globally. Southeast Asia (SEA) is particularly impacted by these rainfall-driven events. This study reviews research development and approaches to understand the current status of monsoonal extreme rainfall in SEA, with the importance of the impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors. Natural factors, including the individual and combined effects of various climatic phenomena, such as Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and cold surges (CSs), have significant impacts on rainfall patterns. Anthropogenic factors, including emissions and changes in land use, also play a crucial role in producing extremes. This review identifies key challenges, such as the uncertainty in both available rainfall datasets and climate models, emphasising the needs for climate model improvement and better adaptation to complex regional climatic and geographical environments. The findings enhance understanding and response strategies to extreme rainfall events and mitigate the associated negative impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southeastern coast of Bangladesh is forming the backbone of Bangladesh's Blue Economic Zone, where the shoreline types are constantly changing. This research examines the classification of Bangladesh's southeast coast, changes in shoreline types, and shoreline dynamics from 1990 to 2020. Field investigations, data from Google Earth, satellite images, and statistical analysis have all been carried out, where the transition matrix, sedimentation-erosion, LRR, EPR, and NSM are all used to examine the shifting of coastlines. According to the findings, the overall length of the investigated coastline in 1990 was 295.64 km, with only 11.12 km of human-induced coastline, but the total length of the coastline in 2020 was 281.38 km, with 67.39 km of human-induced coastline. Natural coasts include bedrock, beach, estuary, mangrove, and muddy coastlines; human-induced coastlines include salt fields, constructions, revetment and seawall, ship breaking, and manmade forest coastline. Approximately 60% of the sandy, muddy, and bedrock coastline has been transformed into seawalls, salt fields, and construction shorelines between 1990 and 2020. The changing intensity of coastal length in the study area is highest during 2010–2020, with a value of 0.28%. The analysis shows that over the last 30 years, the study area has lost around 1.06 km2 per year and gained 2.35 km2 per year, for a total net increase of 38.74 km2. Human activities are hastening the process of coastline change, making it critical to protect healthy coastal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic impacts to estuaries are increasing globally, and often exceed the capacity of resource managers to effectively quantify environmental changes, design and implement effective restoration programs, or assess ecosystem response to specific restoration projects. We interviewed recreational fishers to document spatiotemporal fishing effort over a 40‐year period, analyzed commercial fishing landings, to qualitatively compare the data to seagrass monitoring estimates of aerial coverage and percent cover over a four‐decade period for the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (USA). Fisher effort and landings mirrored declines in seagrass percent cover, which preceded declines in seagrass aerial coverage resulting from large‐scale, harmful algal blooms. A super‐bloom was posited as the point of ecological collapse of the Indian River Lagoon. We recommend engaging stakeholders and incorporating local ecological knowledge into resource management programs to monitor and improve restoration outcomes by expanding the knowledge base from which decisions are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change, a long‐term perspective is essential to understand future trajectories of mountain vegetation. We analysed the sediment record of Golzerensee (1411 m a.s.l.), a mountain lake in the transitional zone between the montane and subalpine vegetation belt in Uri, Central Switzerland. We reconstructed past vegetation responses to anthropogenic impact, fire activity and climatic changes dating back to c. 14 550 cal. a BP using pollen, stomata, macrofossil and microcharcoal analyses. The tree line, composed of Betula and Pinus sylvestris, reached Golzerensee during the Allerød c. 13 200 years ago, but tundra vegetation re‐expanded during the Younger Dryas cooling (12 800–11 700 cal. a BP). With the rapid temperature increase at the onset of the Holocene, a closed forest established within a few decades around the study site. Concurrently, temperate taxa (Ulmus, Tilia, Acer, Corylus avellana) increased in the lowlands, likely reaching the elevation of the lake. Abies alba established locally during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) at 9600 cal. a BP and dominated closed, montane forests, delaying the westward expansion of Picea abies that established only from c. 7700 cal. a BP onwards. The concomitant occurrence of cultural indicator taxa, as well as an increase in charcoal influx and fungal dung spore concentrations suggest that human impact has facilitated the expansion of Picea abies by negatively affecting important competitors such as Abies alba through fire and browsing disturbance. With rising temperatures due to current climate change, Abies alba and other temperate species may regain their former relevance, leading to diverse mixed forests that were abundant during the HTM c. 10 000–5000 cal. a BP. However, future forest composition and landscape diversity will also be influenced by browsing disturbance and land use management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, a perennial medicinal plant found in the sub-alpine and alpine zones of the Himalayas (2800–4,500 m), is critically endangered due its overharvesting and habitat degradation. The present study aimed at quantifying the population status, distribution, impact of anthropogenic disturbances and ethnobotanical applications of D. hatagirea in the Paddar Valley of North-western Himalaya. The research findings indicate the total density and frequency of 0.83 plants m−2 and 29.9%, respectively, which is comparatively lower than its associated 99 species belonging to 37 families. Observed decline in density, frequency, Importance Value Index (IVI) and spatial extent between 2022 and 2024, underscore the impact of habitat loss, over grazing and exploitation on the species. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) shows that the environmental factors like soil type and moisture, slope and aspect influence the distribution of D. hatagirea across the study sites. Correlation analysis reveals a positive relationship between species density and elevation, with optimal growth occurring at 3500–4000 m on moist, northeast facing slopes (r = 0.987). The well-drained, sandy and loamy soil with average moisture content was found to be more suitable for the species growth as compared to clayey soil. Regarding ethnobotanical value the research findings revealed that out of the 102 informants surveyed, 75% were aware of its medicinal properties, primarily using the tuberous roots to treat stomach ailments and enhance libido. However, 45% of respondents identified unsustainable utilization as a major threat, while 27% pointed to additional pressures from immature plant harvesting for its illegal trade and livestock grazing. These findings provide essential insights for decision makers regarding policy development and the involvement of local community for the conservation of D. hatagirea and related medicinal species in this ecologically sensitive region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use/land cover in the Sudano‐Sahelian area of Cameroon has been disturbed since these 3 decades resulting from the influence of anthropogenic factors. This study aimed to assess floristic diversity and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the Pette forest massifs in the Pette Subdivision. The transect method (1000 × 20 m) was used for plant inventory, and Landsat images 5 TM (1990), 7 ETM+ (2005) and 8 OLI_TIRS (2020) were analysed to determine land cover. In total, 44 woody species belonging to 30 genera and 20 families were identified. The most frequent species (10.17%) was Grewia bicolor, and the species with high density was Acacia ataxacantha (56.87 stems·ha−1). The forest massifs were dominated by Anogeissus leiocarpus (36.01%), and the basal area was 234.77 m2·ha−1. The Shannon diversity index varies from 3.53 to 3.99 bits in Fadare and Tchakamadje forest massifs, respectively. The diameter and height distribution show an "L" shape reflecting juvenile vegetation. The analysis of Landsat images from 1990, 2005 and 2020 indicated an extension of agricultural lands (6234.54 ha in 1990 to 10,018.33 ha in 2020), bare soils/dwelling lands (14,049.90 ha in 1990 to 15,374.12 ha in 2020) and the degradation of shrub/tree savannah lands (74,312 ha in 1990 to 59,312.95 ha in 2020). The different forest massifs were rich, and anthropogenic activities were one of the main factors responsible for their degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Action‐oriented conservation sciences are crippled by 3 false assumptions. First, although it is recognized in theory that natural and anthropic components of ecosystems are tightly intertwined, in practice, many conservation policies and actions are still based on the assumption that human and nonhuman stakes should be dealt with in deeply different ways. Second, although the anchorage of environmental sciences in values is amply demonstrated, many conservation scientists still assume they will lose their scientific credentials if they actively participate in decision‐making. Finally, although there is much scientific evidence of the permeability—to both protected entities and threats—of static geographic frontiers delimiting protected areas, many conservation policies are still based on the assumption that these frontiers in themselves produce relevant protections. To overcome these false assumptions, it is useful to articulate them in terms of frontiers based on 2 ideas associated with the term. As a synonym of border, frontier materializes a limit whose crossing can have high stakes. As used in phrases such as frontiers of knowledge, the term also refers to the ever‐moving horizon of what should be overcome. These 2 ideas capture the reasons current attempts at overcoming the 3 assumptions remain unsatisfactory. They are also useful for elaborating a new vision of conservation to simultaneously break from the 3 assumptions. Instead of taking fixed geographic frontiers of protected areas for granted, conservation scientists should participate, along with stakeholders and Indigenous peoples, in the collective identification of the conservation problems that need to be addressed. For these problems, decision committees that include representatives of concerned humans and representatives of concerned nonhumans should be formed to determine the temporal and spatial scope of relevant conservation actions. The result would be multidimensional protected areas dynamically fine‐tuned to the conservation issues they address and to changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the chemical composition of snow as an indicator of atmospheric pollution at high latitudes is crucial for understanding the transport processes of pollutants in the atmosphere and assessing the anthropogenic impact on Arctic ecosystems. This study proposes a method for detecting and quantifying semi-volatile micropollutants in snow by combining stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) with thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (Orbitrap). Optimizing of SBSE conditions using 76 test priority atmospheric pollutants allowed detection limits to be achieved for most non-polar and weakly polar semi-volatile compounds at the levels ranging from 0.01 to 1 ng L–1. The method demonstrated the ability of detecting 62 analytes and achieving the highly sensitive determination of 32 analytes, with low labor costs using a minimum amount of sample (100 g). The SBSE-TD-GC–HRMS method for snow analysis was developed and validated. Tests on real samples from the Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land archipelagos detected 29 pollutants from various classes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, phthalates, nitro- and chloro-organic compounds, and their derivatives, with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 50 ng kg–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a detailed description of the coastline of the Ushkan'i Islands, Lake Baikal, is given in order to assess the use of the shore by the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica Gm.) as haulouts and the role these haulouts play in the annual cycle of seals. To do this, video recordings obtained using the DJI UAV Mavic 2 Zoom (take-off weight 905 g) and Air 2 S (take-off weight 595 g), as well as long-term field observations, were used. A complete survey of the coastline of all four islands was carried out on May 29th and 30th, 2022 (at a water level of 456.40 m a.s.l.), and on August 12th and 24th (water level 456.79 and 456.83 m, respectively). Based on the lithological characteristics, about 30% of the coastline on Bolshoi Ushkanii Island, the largest one, is shown to be suitable for use by seals, but currently this is not the case. Among the three smaller islands, the favorite place for the formation of seal haulouts is Kruglyi Island, based on the total number of animals recorded on the island and in coastal waters, followed by the Tonkii Island and then Dolgii Island, the latter supporting a stationary video system transmitting information online. On all islands, the coordinates of specific haulout/rookery locations have been determined. Currently, about 35% of the length of the coastline of the three smaller Ushkan'i Islands are being used by seals for haulouts to one degree or another. Under current climatic conditions, the haulouts on the smaller Ushkan'i Islands seem to play extremely important roles for a significant part of the population (several thousand individuals visit them every season), since most other rookeries and locations that seals could use as such are highly susceptible to anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of studying the space use and seasonal movements of the Topozero territorial group of wild forest reindeer females in the Republic of Karelia are presented. Telemetry (GPS-collars) was used to assess the movements of the wild forest reindeer. Individual variations were noted in seasonal movements: two individuals were relatively sedentary, whereas the third moved over long distances during the year, with the distance between the extreme locations amounting to more than 70 km. The timing of the start of seasonal migrations varied between years. The use of the same summer habitats in different years was revealed, but the territories of the rut and winter pastures were different for the same animals. Movements of animals over fairly long distances have been noted, which is probably associated with the disturbance factor on the part of predators and/or humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) compounds in bottom sediments and surface waters of the Chernaya River in St. Petersburg in the spring-summer and autumn periods were determined. Analysis of water quality at the river source (sampling point S1) revealed a persistent anthropogenic impact on the water system associated with heavy metal pollution throughout the entire observation period. The ecological situation in bottom sediments was assessed. The most polluted areas were found near the source of the river, at point S1. According to the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination with cadmium and copper is assessed as moderate, while for mercury (Hg) this indicator ranges from moderate (spring) to severe (summer). In areas with high anthropogenic impact, the proportion of mobile forms of metals in bottom sediments increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine mammal populations, particularly the common dolphin Delphinus delphis in the North-East Atlantic, play an essential role as indicators of ecosystem health. Effective monitoring of these populations is essential for assessing anthropogenic impacts, especially in the context of current threats such as fisheries bycatch. The MOTHY drift model, initially designed for oil spills and then adapted to carcass drift, is being used in part of the North East Atlantic (Bay of Biscay, English Chanel, and North Sea) to estimate the bycatch mortality of common dolphins. This study presents the parametrization of the drift model to estimate the bycatch mortality of common dolphins in the Iberian Peninsula waters. By comparing the actual stranding location of tagged dolphin carcasses off the Galician coast with their stranding location predicted by the drift model, we determined the best setting for the environmental input parameters. The results reveal that a 4 arc-minutes bathymetry resolution, coupled with consideration for currents, optimally predicts stranding locations in the Iberian Peninsula coast. The model's accuracy in predicting stranding locations is 18.25 ± 14.77 km. This adaptation not only contributes to the ongoing assessment of the impacts of bycatch on common dolphin populations in the Iberian Peninsula, but also provides a standardized methodology for estimating bycatch mortality at the population level. This work can also be used as a basis for further applications for other small cetacean species in wider distribution areas, supporting comprehensive population-level assessments and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age of individuals has consequences not only for their fitness and behaviour but also for the functioning of the groups they form. Because social behaviour often changes with age, population age structure is expected to shape the social organization, the social environments individuals experience and the operation of social processes within populations. Although research has explored changes in individual social behaviour with age, particularly in controlled settings, there is limited understanding of how age structure governs sociality in wild populations. Here, we synthesize previous research into age-related effects on social processes in natural populations, and discuss the links between age structure, sociality and ecology, specifically focusing on how population age structure might influence social structure and functioning. We highlight the potential for using empirical data from natural populations in combination with social network approaches to uncover pathways linking individual social ageing, population age structure and societal functioning. We discuss the broader implications of these insights for understanding the social impacts of anthropogenic effects on animal population demography and for building a deeper understanding of societal ageing in general. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Understanding age and society using natural populations'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial and seasonal variability in the composition of major PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 μm) aerosol species in the United States were characterized using data from ground‐based aerosol monitoring networks. The IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) network and the Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) operate in mostly rural/remote or urban/suburban sites, respectively. The networks have similar sampling schedules and analysis methods. Regional, monthly, and annual mean concentrations from 2019 to 2022 were calculated for ammonium sulfate (AS), ammonium nitrate (AN), particulate organic matter (POM), elemental carbon (EC), fine dust (FD), and sea salt (SS), as well as their relative contributions to reconstructed PM2.5 mass (RCFM). Organic aerosols were the largest contributor to RCFM across the United States (>40% annually, up to 80% monthly), with significant impacts from biomass smoke on POM and EC concentrations, contributions, and seasonality. AS concentrations and contributions were similar in urban and rural regions and contributed <20% annually to RCFM, considerably less than two decades ago. In general, urban concentrations were greater for AN, POM, and EC, suggesting additional urban sources. Some species, such as POM, FD, and AN, exhibited strong seasonal variability due to episodic source impacts or seasonal formation conditions. Evaluating the urban and rural monthly variability of major aerosol species is necessary for understanding the impacts of emission sources, regional transport, and atmospheric processes governing aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere. Plain Language Summary: Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is made of up of many types of aerosols that can differ in urban and rural settings depending on sources, atmospheric processes, and transport. Combining data from large urban and rural ground‐based aerosol monitoring programs in the United States revealed differences in the seasonal and spatial variability of urban and rural aerosols. For example, nitrate, organic carbon, and elemental carbon concentrations were higher in urban areas due to additional urban sources, while sulfate levels in urban and rural regions were similar. Some species were highly seasonal due to their formation conditions occurring in specific seasons or influence from episodic emissions like wildfire smoke. Smoke strongly influenced aerosol composition across the western United States due to high fire years during the study period. Organic carbon is now the major contributor to both urban and rural PM in the United States, in part due to the successful regulatory activity that removed sulfate mass, and the increased contributions from wildfire smoke. Examining the seasonal and spatial variability in aerosol composition is necessary to understand the role of natural and anthropogenic source impacts on PM and to develop strategies to reduce PM in the atmosphere. Key Points: Particulate organic matter is the major contributor to PM2.5 mass across the United StatesSulfate aerosols contributed an average of 20% or less to PM2.5 mass annually in both urban and rural regionsOrganic aerosols, nitrate, and fine dust exhibited strong seasonal variability due to episodic sources and seasonal formation pathways [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures based on functional traits are often capable of indicating local environmental conditions and are thus considered promising tools for environmental monitoring and assessment programs. Benthic macroinvertebrates exhibit a diverse array of functional traits that can be used for assessing ecological quality of freshwater ecosystems. However, the associations between functional structure of macroinvertebrates and anthropogenic disturbances remain inadequately understood, especially for floodplain lakes. In our study, we compared the response of taxonomic and functional trait composition of macroinvertebrates to anthropogenic eutrophication in lake ecosystems of the Yangtze River floodplain. We found that the relative abundance of Mollusca, Gastropods, Bithyniidae, Bivalvia and Ephemeroptera showed significant differences among four lake groups (river-connected, macrophyte-dominated, macrophyte-algal transitional and algal-dominated lakes) subjected to different disturbance levels from mesotrophic to highly eutrophic. Using a trait-based approach, we found 13 categories, belonging to seven traits, showed significant differences observed among lake groups. Regarding influence of environmental factors on macroinvertebrate assemblages, both taxonomic measures and functional traits were mainly affected by water quality factors associated with eutrophication. However, the number and specific key environmental factors varied between measures of functional traits and taxonomic composition. The taxonomic composition responded to more environmental factors (seven factors: Chl a, CODmn, TN, area, water depth, NH4+-N and conductivity), but showed lower explained variation (24.4%) compared with functional structure (three factors: aquatic vegetation coverage, conductivity and Chl a, 36.4% explained variation). Furthermore, spatial factors only affected taxonomic composition, but they were not correlated with functional composition. In general, our study showed that functional trait structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages responded more sensitively and reliably to eutrophication than measures based on taxonomic composition in floodplain lakes. Thus, we recommend the incorporation of macroinvertebrate functional trait information into biomonitoring programs for floodplain lakes and other aquatic ecosystems, as it can be considered as a more promising approach than taxonomy-based approaches in biomonitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their diversity and importance as ecological indicators and ecosystem service providers, the macroecology of bats in South Asia is poorly understood, and until recently studies on the ecological niches of these species have been rare. This study analyses the ecogeographic predictors of habitat suitability in South Asian bats by conducting ensemble ecological niche modelling using four algorithms (random forests, artificial neural networks, multivariate adaptive regression splines, and maximum entropy) to define suitability envelopes for 48 selected bat species, based on topographic, hydrographic, land-use, land-cover, and other anthropogenic impact factors. Anthropogenic impact variables showed high importance with Median Night-time Light being the biggest driver of habitat suitability for most of the study species with generally lower suitability of brighter areas. Projected suitable areas for individual species covered between 6.28% and 22.98% of the study area. Regions such as the Thar desert of northwestern India were consistently identified to have low suitability. The Western Ghats in India, the Himalayas in Bhutan, northern India, and Nepal, and Sri Lanka were identified as suitability hotspots for more than half the studied species overlapping with human-impacted habitats. This study offers insight into the impacts of anthropogenic pressure on the macroecology of bats in a megadiverse region and stresses the importance of analysing ecogeographic effects on ecological niches and habitat suitability, which can be vital to inform conservation planning and policymaking in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of continental gastropods as bioindicators of human impact within a subtropical region and contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of this group. Their limited ability to disperse makes them effective in reflecting local environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess species abundance in an ecological gradient from rural to protected urban localities in a coastal area of northwest Mexico. A qualitative human impact index was established by assigning grades of qualitative attributes for each locality and then contrasted with the frequency and abundance of the gastropod species. A total of 859 gastropods of 21 species were collected, with the first report for Sinaloa state on the non-native terrestrial species: Allopeas gracile and the freshwater species: Biomphalaria glabrata, Melanoides tuberculata, and Pomacea sp. Our results indicate that four terrestrial species were completely absent in areas with moderate impact; their absence may indicate sensitivity to environmental disturbances, which makes them potential bioindicators: Bulimulus sp., Euglandina turris, Orthalicus melanocheilus, and Tryonigens remondi. The native species showed low abundances and diversity in localities with moderate human impact index, contrasting with introduced species that exhibited high abundances; the distribution and abundance of subtropical continental gastropods reflect the environmental conditions associated with anthropogenic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age and growth patterns of fish provide important information about the effects of environmental disturbances, which can be used as comparative tools in subsequent studies that attempt to assess freshwater quality. The main goal of our study was to provide information on relevant biological aspects of a native fish species used as a bioindicator in an extensive area of South America. In particular, we evaluated the age and growth patterns of Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Poeciliidae) to establish reference species values and to compare them in different sites along an environmental quality gradient in a South American freshwater system. Water quality assessments indicated increasing environmental degradation downstream, reflecting anthropogenic impacts. The estimated ages of C. decemmaculatus along this quality gradient varied across sampling sites. The longest‐lived individuals were those from the reference site, also presenting the highest average age value (almost 2 years). The best model to describe the growth in length of the individuals was the Logistic model. According to the parameters estimated from the growth curves, individuals from the most disturbed site showed slower growth although they reached greater maximum lengths than fish from the other sites. These results suggest that fish would tolerate the adverse conditions of the most altered sites, allocating their energy differentially. Our study provides valuable information on the age and growth patterns of C. decemmaculatus, a species endemic to the Neotropical region and a useful bioindicator in ecotoxicological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human impacts on the environment and wildlife populations are increasing globally, threatening thousands of species with extinction. While wildlife‐based tourism is beneficial for educating tourists, generating income for conservation efforts, and providing local employment, more information is needed to understand how this industry may impact wildlife. In this study, we used motion‐activated cameras at 12 waterholes on a private game reserve in northern Namibia to determine if the presence of humans and permanent infrastructure affected mammal visits by examining their (1) number of visits, (2) time spent, and (3) diel activity patterns. Our results revealed no differences in the number of visits based on human presence for any of the 17 mammal species studied. However, giraffes (Giraffe camelopardalis) spent more time at waterholes before observer presence compared to during. Additionally, several species changed diel activity patterns when human observers were present. Notably, several carnivore and ungulate species increased overlap in their activity patterns during periods while humans were present relative to when humans were absent. These modifications of mammal temporal activity patterns due to human presence could eventually lead to changes in community structure and trophic dynamics because of altered predator–prey interactions. As humans continue to expand into wildlife habitats, and wildlife‐based tourism increases globally, it is imperative that we fully understand the effects of anthropogenic pressures on mammal behavior. Monitoring of wildlife behavioral changes in response to human activity is crucial to further develop wildlife tourism opportunities in a way that optimizes the impact of conservation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of ecosystem health is an urgent problem of environmental safety. S.E. Jørgensen and Yu.M. Svirezhev [15] have worked out the basics of the thermodynamic theory of ecosystems. It is shown that the exergy of solar radiation absorbed by an ecosystem is spent on carbon deposition and the removal of entropy from the ecosystem, generated by anthropogenic and natural impact. The criterion for the health of the ecosystem is the exergy contained in it. In this paper, the rate of ecosystem evapotranspiration is used for satellite mapping of ecosystem health. For this purpose, a thermodynamic impact index was introduced equal to the ratio of evapotranspiration of an impacted ecosystem to evapotranspiration of a healthy ecosystem. The ecosystem of specially protected areas or the ecosystem of a given species with the highest evapotranspiration value can be used as a healthy standard of ecosystem. A feature of this study is the introduction of technology for thermodynamic satellite mapping of ecosystem health in the "IKI-Monitoring" Center for Collective Use, including in the Vega-Science system, where, since 2001, a database of 8-day satellite composites of evapotranspiration (spatial resolution 500 × 500 m) for the entire territory of Russia has been collected in the automatic mode. The ecosystem of the Karelian Isthmus, as a representative territory of the catchment area of the Gulf of Finland, was chosen as the research object. Three examples of natural and anthropogenic effects on ecosystem demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed ecosystem health measure. It is shown that the sensitivity of the technology to ecosystem health disorders is so high that it allows mapping local ecosystem health disorders, the spatial dimensions of which are an order of magnitude smaller than the resolution of the used evapotranspiration satellite maps. It is concluded that the developed technology can be quickly applied by regional environmental authorities throughout Russia for operational synoptic analysis of the health of the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal landscape of the Chorrillos district is an ecosystem characterized by hosting the largest population of migratory and resident bird species in Lima, including the Protected Natural Area of the Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge (RVSPV). In response to wetland loss, this study aims to explore the process of natural landscape fragmentation in the Chorrillos district, including the RVSPV, from 1985 to 2021 to identify the impact of anthropogenic agents on structural connectivity. The methodology involves (i) an analysis of land cover and land use (LULC) using the MapBiomas Peru Collection 1.0 Platform, (ii) a patch accounting analysis, (iii) an analysis of Area Density in the Foreground (FAD), and (iv) an analysis of Morphological Spatial Patterns (MSPA) using the GuidosToolbox (Graphic User Interface for Image Object Description and Shapes—GTB) Version 3.304. The results indicate a hierarchy of disturbed patches, with the largest patch (RVSPV) displaying specific spatial processes that contribute to landscape transformation and persistence. The ecological function of the patches and habitat links demonstrate the benefits of connectivity and environmental exchange between fragments, aiming to counteract landscape loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesophotic zone represents one of our planet's largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing their structures at mesophotic depths remain poor. This lack of understanding limits our ability to predict anthropogenic impacts or conduct restoration operations in the mesophotic and the lower boundary of the euphotic zones. In this study, we performed a 24-month experiment in a natural environment to investigate three factors influencing the macrobenthic community structure of the mesophotic and the euphotic lower boundary: depth, substrate orientation and substrate material. Using a manned submersible, several recruitment panels of two different materials were deployed at 100, 200 and 400 meters in vertical and horizontal positions. All three factors contributed to structuring the macrofouling communities, but depth and substrate orientation displayed the strongest effects. This study not only advances our understanding of lower boundary euphotic and mesophotic macrofouling communities but also establishes a foundation for future research and restoration efforts of mesophotic environments in the Madeira archipelago, where mesophotic habitats are amongst the least studied marine habitats in the Northeast Atlantic. To inform deeper water conservation, restoration and ecology, a study explores factors affecting benthic community colonization. In two years, depth impacted species richness and coverage the most, followed by substrate orientation and material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface salinity (SSS) is a key parameter in the thermohaline circulation of global oceans. Near the megadeltas, inland streamflow through large catchments plays a crucial role in mediating salinity. While some regional studies have investigated how SSS is impacted through water cycle and climate components, a global scale quantification of inland streamflow contribution on SSS variability is lacking. Here, we utilized remote sensing and observation-driven datasets to quantify the statistical associations between SSS and streamflow (Qbasin) at 48 megadeltas worldwide. This study uncovers a robust negative association between Qbasin and SSS, with correlation coefficients (R) less than -0.6 for seasonal data found in 26 of the 48 megadeltas, and less than -0.4 for deseasoned data in 21 megadeltas. The anticorrelation relationship is more pronounced in large deltas, particularly near tropical climates and in river-influenced deltas. The study also underscores the significant roles of climate, morphological, and anthropogenic stratification in impacting the natural influence of freshwater discharge on SSS. By highlighting the interconnected impacts of alterations in terrestrial water cycle upstream and SSS, this work contributes to enhancing our understanding of global ocean and climate circulation patterns and in tackling environmental issues pertaining to marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the test monitoring site on the territory of the Oroshaemaya Experimental Station in the south of the Volga Upland (Volgograd oblast, Russia), the estimates of the baseline contents and stocks of soil organic carbon (Corg) and soil bulk density and characteristics of their spatial variability and vertical distribution patterns within the upper 40 cm encompassing the entire humus layer are presented. The specified indicators characterize arable land in crop rotation under dry and irrigated farming practices and a 50-year-old fallow at seven dynamic monitoring plots with light chestnut soils. The studied soils have two types of profile horizonation: P–BMK–BCAnc (agrochestnut soils) and Pca–BCAnc (carbonate-accumulative agrozems); they are silty loamy and develop from yellowish brown sandy silt loams. In the WRB system, they are classified as Haplic Kastanozems (Loamic, Aric). The map of the coefficients of multitemporal soil line, retrospective analysis of remote sensing data for 40 years, and the results of field soil survey have been used to select the monitoring plots. Each plot 30 × 30 m includes nine individual sampling points, at which soil sampling from thin (5 or 10 cm) layers has been performed to a depth of 40 cm. The coefficient of spatial variation in the Corg content increases from 5–10 to 30–40% with increasing depth of the layer. On the arable field, a uniform vertical distribution of Corg within the plow layer is substantiated. On the fallow land, an accumulative type of the vertical distribution of Corg with a maximum in the surface light-humus horizon with the formed sod layer is observed. The obtained estimates of the contents and stocks of Corg are comparable with the available materials on light chestnut soils of the Volga–Don interfluve. The chosen plots are representative for monitoring. For the layer of 0–30 cm, the minimum significant difference in Corg stocks is, on average, 3.4 t/ha with a variation from 2.7 to 4.6 t/ha. The Corg stocks at different dynamic monitoring plots are significantly affected by the vertical distribution of soil bulk density values, which depends on the character of anthropogenic impact on soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are considered as a complex process in which anthropogenic activity plays an important role. The purpose of this work is to describe the cause-and-effect relationships in the system "anthropogenic activity - landslides" using the example of mountainous regions of the Chechen Republic. The article is based on field studies and materials from the interpretation of high-resolution space images, which made it possible to identify about 1800 landslides in the territory of the Chechen Republic. They were characterized in terms of landscape position (coordinates, height, exposure, slope, vegetation composing rocks) and involvement in economic activity (forestry, pastures, agriculture, settlements, etc.). The results of the work made it possible to assess the mutual influence of landslides on settlement, on the one hand, and land use (in particular, road construction, irrigation, etc.) on the nature of landslides. A detailed analysis of the obtained database made it possible to identify 356 landslides that somehow fall within the analysis field of the "landslide - person" system. The analysis of the relationships was carried out based on the superposition of various layers of the created geoinformation system. Anthropogenic activity was assessed in three aspects: 1) spatial proximity of landslides and economic objects; 2) intensity and type of economic activity influencing landslide manifestations; 3) dynamics of land use over time, in particular, a sharp change from one type of use to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomics holds significant potential for conservationists, offering tools to monitor species risks, enhance conservation strategies, envision biodiverse futures, and advance climate justice. However, integrating genomics into conservation requires careful consideration of its impacts on biodiversity, the diversity of scientific researchers, and governance strategies for data usage. These factors must be balanced with the varied interests of affected communities and environmental concerns. We argue that conservationists should engage with diverse communities, particularly those historically marginalized and most vulnerable to climate change. This inclusive approach can ensure that genomic technologies are applied ethically and effectively, aligning conservation efforts with broader social and environmental justice goals. Engaging diverse stakeholders will help guide responsible genomic integration, fostering equitable and sustainable conservation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rural-urban gradient serves as a valuable context for investigating the impact of urbanization on biodiversity. While previous studies have demonstrated shifts in bird communities along this gradient, our understanding of the specific impacts of individual urban components such as man-made physical structures and anthropogenic noise along this gradient remains limited, and more so, in Afro-tropical environments. Method: Employing the point count method, we recorded birds and also determined the levels of anthropogenic noise and physical structures, across fifteen sites along the rural-urban gradient on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. We then investigated variations in bird communities along the urbanization gradient and assessed the influence of the two urban components -anthropogenic noise and physical structures, on bird populations. Results: There was a decline in bird abundance and species richness along the urbanization gradient. Similarly, species common to all the urbanization categories (species present at least at one point in rural, suburban, and urban) also exhibited a decrease in abundance. The suburban area showed a greater similarity in bird community composition to the urban area than the rural area. Notably, as the level of urban development increased, numerous bird species associated with undisturbed sites gradually vanished. Both anthropogenic noise and physical structures exhibited significant negative effects on bird abundance and species richness. Interestingly, we did not find evidence to suggest that the impact of anthropogenic noise was dependent on the level of physical structures. Anthropogenic noise had a significant negative relationship with bird abundance and species richness at all levels of physical structures. Discussion: We provide evidence that bird abundance and species richness respond negatively to urbanization-related increase in anthropogenic noise and physical structures. That the impact of anthropogenic noise on birds was independent of physical structures suggests that birds in reserved areas, including urban green areas with fewer human activities may equally be affected by noise as are birds in human-dominated areas, if noise sources are near. Overall, our research underscores the detrimental consequences of anthropogenic habitat modification, particularly the alteration of structural and acoustic properties, and emphasizes the importance of preserving undisturbed habitats and implementing ecologically mindful urban planning strategies to safeguard bird communities in the Afro-tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bivalves play a key role in coastal ecosystems by supporting food web, modifying habitats, and their economic value for fisheries. Many bivalve species are under pressure, showing large variations in population sizes and distributions, with climate change and human activities considered as important drivers. The Dutch North Sea hosts high densities of bivalve species, dominated by the cut trough shell Spisula subtruncata , with strong interannual variations and a patchy distribution. To explore the causes of this variation, data of an extensive long-term spatial benthic monitoring program (1995-2021) was analysed using a Bayesian spatio-temporal hurdle model. We considered indicators related to human activities, biological processes, climate change and habitat preference as explanatory variables for the observed long-term temporal and spatial variations. Results revealed that medium sediment grain size was key determinant of S. subtruncata occurrence and density. Increasing sea water temperatures during winter and the post-settlement phase positively affected annual population densities, while strong north-westerly winds led to lower densities. These climate change related factors had an overall positive effect on this species in the region. Human activities like shellfish dredging and sand nourishment had no measurable impact. However, shrimp and flatfish beam trawling overlapped with S. subtruncata occurrence and were negatively related to densities, suggesting higher beam trawling intensity in these areas may negatively impacts densities. Overall, the effects were stronger at medium to finer sediments where the highest densities occurred, indicating a strong habitat-dependent effect. Despite identifying multiple drivers, unexplained annual variation suggests other not included factors like predation pressure, also play a role. More detailed studies on the combined effects of climate change-driven environmental stressors and human activities are needed to fully understand the population dynamics. This knowledge is essential for developing more adequate fisheries and coastal management strategies to sustain biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive mill wastewater, a byproduct of olive oil production, poses a major environmental challenge for Mediterranean countries like Morocco. These residues are rich in polyphenols with notable antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to investigate the impact of anthropogenic factors on the quality of certain wells in the Oued Amlil region of the Taza province, Morocco. It was carried out during two distinct periods by sampling water from six wells: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6. The first period occurred during the winter season of December 2022, when olive crushing operations for oil production were at their peak. The second period took place in the summer (August 2022), when the activities of the oil mills were stopped. The objective is to assess microbiological quality by determining the microbial load in total germs at 37°C (TG), Fecal Coliforms (FC), Total Coliforms (TC), and Fecal Streptococci (FS), as well as performing a polyphenol assay. The analysis results showed high concentrations of TG (Maximum value = 3100/100ml), FC (Maximum value = 910/100ml), TC (Maximum value = 7120/100ml), and FS (Maximum value = 7000/100ml) in wells P1, P2, and P5, although they are not located on the flow path of groundwater contaminated by the Innaouene River and the local olive oil mills. However, despite their location along this axis, wells P3, P4, and P6 show lower contamination levels. In order to identify similarities between different water sources and/or different points of contamination acquisition, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the collected data and showed a significant negative correlation between polyphenols and bacteriological parameters, confirming the hypothesis of polyphenols' bactericidal effect on fecal bacteria. In addition, the degree of contamination varies from one well to another depending on their location with the direction of flow of water in the groundwater and the proximity of sources of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthropogenic impact on the ozone layer is expressed in anomalies in the total ozone content (TOC) on a global scale, with periodic enhancements observed in high-latitude areas. In addition, there are significant variations in TOC time trends at different latitudes and seasons. The reliability of the TOC future trends projections using climate chemistry models must be constantly monitored and improved, exploiting comparisons against available measurements. In this study, the ability of the Earth's system model SOCOLv4.0 to predict TOC is evaluated by using more than 40 years of satellite measurements and meteorological reanalysis data. In general, the model overpredicts TOC in the Northern Hemisphere (by up to 16 DU) and significantly underpredicts it in the South Pole region (by up to 28 DU). The worst agreement was found in both polar regions, while the best was in the tropics (the mean difference constitutes 4.2 DU). The correlation between monthly means is in the range of 0.75–0.92. The SOCOLv4 model significantly overestimates air temperature above 1 hPa relative to MERRA2 and ERA5 reanalysis (by 10–20 K), particularly during polar nights, which may be one of the reasons for the inaccuracies in the simulation of polar ozone anomalies by the model. It is proposed that the SOCOLv4 model can be used for future projections of TOC under the changing scenarios of human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the consensus on decommissioning piped nitrous oxide from UK and Ireland operating theatre suites due to its inefficiency and environmental impact as a potent greenhouse gas. The joint statement by various medical associations calls for a shift to more efficient methods of supply and highlights the financial and environmental benefits of decommissioning piped nitrous oxide. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing the environmental impact of medical practices and the need for healthcare institutions to prioritize sustainability without compromising patient care. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Identifying the factors that drive the dynamics of invasive species is critical for predicting potential changes in recipient ecosystems and for implementing effective legislation on non-native species. The polychaetes Marenzelleria spp. are among the most successful alien species that have recently invaded European seas. Using ten years of observations on environmental variables and the distribution of biomass of this and other benthic invertebrates in the Neva estuary, we determined the main factors influencing the abundance and dynamics of this invasive species. Statistical analysis revealed that communities dominated by alien polychaetes were positively associated with water salinity and biotope depth while showing negative associations with water temperature, plankton primary production and chlorophyll concentration. Fluctuations in these variables, largely driven by climate change, may have contributed to the recent decline in the population of this invasive species in the estuary. Predicting which non-indigenous species (NISs) will establish persistent invasive populations and cause significant ecosystem changes remains an important environmental challenge. We analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of the entire zoobenthos and the biomass of Marenzelleria spp., one of the most successful invaders in the Baltic Sea, in the Neva estuary in 2014–2023. A considerable decrease in Marenzelleria biomass was observed in the second half of the study period, which was accompanied by a sharp increase in the dominance of opportunistic oligochaete and chironomid species. Our one-way analysis of variance showed that communities with high Marenzelleria biomass had significantly higher diversity and biomass of native benthic crustaceans compared to communities with low alien polychaetes biomass. A high biomass of Marenzelleria was observed in biotopes characterized by low temperatures, high salinity, low plankton primary production and chlorophyll concentration. The results of PCA and one-way ANOVA indicated that these factors significantly influenced the spatial and temporal dynamics of the polychaete biomass. More detailed studies of the responses of NISs to environmental variables are needed to better understand and anticipate their dynamics in different regions of the Baltic Sea in relation to climate warming and anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While numerous environmental factors contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), quantifying their relative contributions remains a fundamental challenge. Similarly, it is important to differentiate acute human health risks from environmental exposure, versus broader ecological risk of ARG evolution and spread across microbial taxa. Recent studies have proposed various methods for achieving such aims. Here, we introduce MetaCompare 2.0, which improves upon original MetaCompare pipeline by differentiating indicators of human health resistome risk (potential for human pathogens of acute resistance concern to acquire ARGs) from ecological resistome risk (overall mobility of ARGs and potential for pathogen acquisition). The updated pipeline's sensitivity was demonstrated by analyzing diverse publicly-available metagenomes from wastewater, surface water, soil, sediment, human gut, and synthetic microbial communities. MetaCompare 2.0 provided distinct rankings of the metagenomes according to both human health resistome risk and ecological resistome risk, with both scores trending higher when influenced by anthropogenic impact or other stress. We evaluated the robustness of the pipeline to sequence assembly methods, sequencing depth, contig count, and metagenomic library coverage bias. The risk scores were remarkably consistent despite variations in these technological aspects. We packaged the improved pipeline into a publicly-available web service (http://metacompare.cs.vt.edu/) that provides an easy-to-use interface for computing resistome risk scores and visualizing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anthropocene is seeing the human footprint rapidly spreading to all of Earth's ecosystems. The fast‐changing biotic and abiotic conditions experienced by all organisms are exerting new and strong selective pressures, and there is a growing list of examples of human‐induced evolution in response to anthropogenic impacts. No organism is exempt from these novel selective pressures. Here, we synthesise current knowledge on human‐induced evolution in eukaryotic parasites of animals, and present a multidisciplinary framework for its study and monitoring. Parasites generally have short generation times and huge fecundity, features that predispose them for rapid evolution. We begin by reviewing evidence that parasites often have substantial standing genetic variation, and examples of their rapid evolution both under conditions of livestock production and in serial passage experiments. We then present a two‐step conceptual overview of the causal chain linking anthropogenic impacts to parasite evolution. First, we review the major anthropogenic factors impacting parasites, and identify the selective pressures they exert on parasites through increased mortality of either infective stages or adult parasites, or through changes in host density, quality or immunity. Second, we discuss what new phenotypic traits are likely to be favoured by the new selective pressures resulting from altered parasite mortality or host changes; we focus mostly on parasite virulence and basic life‐history traits, as these most directly influence the transmission success of parasites and the pathology they induce. To illustrate the kinds of evolutionary changes in parasites anticipated in the Anthropocene, we present a few scenarios, either already documented or hypothetical but plausible, involving parasite taxa in livestock, aquaculture and natural systems. Finally, we offer several approaches for investigations and real‐time monitoring of rapid, human‐induced evolution in parasites, ranging from controlled experiments to the use of state‐of‐the‐art genomic tools. The implications of fast‐evolving parasites in the Anthropocene for disease emergence and the dynamics of infections in domestic animals and wildlife are concerning. Broader recognition that it is not only the conditions for parasite transmission that are changing, but the parasites themselves, is needed to meet better the challenges ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the decline of native migratory and resident fishes due to various human-driven factors such as habitat alteration, over-exploitation, and climate change. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous monitoring to assess fish populations and their limiting factors for conservation. The Special Issue covers topics like drought, non-native species, and genetic analyses, aiming to improve fish-assemblage monitoring and ecological understanding globally. The document concludes by highlighting the need for holistic ecosystem-health assessments and adaptive management to protect aquatic biodiversity effectively. [Extracted from the article]

Global ecosystems face mercury contamination, yet long-term data are scarce, hindering understanding of ecosystem responses to atmospheric Hg input changes. To bridge the data gap and assess ecosystem responses, we compiled and compared a mercury accumulation database from peat, lake, ice and marine deposits worldwide with atmospheric mercury deposition modelled by GEOS-Chem, focusing on trends, magnitudes, spatial–temporal distributions and impact factors. The mercury fluxes in all four deposits showed a 5- to 9-fold increase over 1700–2012, with lake and peat mercury fluxes that generally mirrored atmospheric deposition trends. Significant decreases in lake and peat mercury fluxes post-1950 in Europe evidenced effective environmental policies, whereas rises in East Asia, Africa and Oceania highlighted coal-use impacts, inter alia. Conversely, mercury fluxes in marine and high-altitude ecosystems did not align well with atmospheric deposition, emphasizing natural influences over anthropogenic impacts. Our study underscores the importance of these key regions and ecosystems for future mercury management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are a group of insects containing many migratory species that provide critical ecosystem services including pollination, decomposition and biological control. Their migratory behaviour remains largely overlooked and unacknowledged, but an influx of contemporary research is beginning to shift this.The goal of this review is to summarise and synthesise the past 150+ years of global hover fly migration research from over 50 papers in multiple languages. Here, we provide comprehensive evidence for hover fly migration through the lens of the methodologies used for studying these phenomena, the biological mechanisms for migration and the associated ecological and economic impacts. We also include an inventory of all recognised migratory species and discuss taxonomic patterns.In total, we compiled accounts of 46 species that are considered migratory, most of which were sourced from Europe. Recent reports, however, have also described hover fly migration in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Approximately 70% of these species are from the subfamily Syrphinae, which are important biological control agents.The migratory behaviour of hover flies has substantial impacts on ecosystem services and may be linked to long‐distance gene flow for many angiosperms via pollen transportation. These insects are also likely redistributing biological control services at a continental scale on an annual basis, which has major repercussions for the management of crop pests such as aphids. The sensitivity of hover fly migration to anthropogenic impacts is not well known, but shifting climatic conditions, pollution and increased habitat fragmentation are likely impactful and should be further explored.Despite recent advances and increased interest in the subject, hover fly migration remains understudied and many major knowledge gaps continue to persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densely populated coastal zones are significantly impacted by anthropogenic pressures, particularly urbanized semi‐enclosed bays with long residence times of waters and nutrients. Eutrophication is a primary issue resulting from human settlement in coastal zone, as it drastically modifies the structure of biological communities, particularly the phytoplankton. The aim of this study is to assess whether eutrophication functions as an environmental filter on the phytoplankton community along an 80 km gradient of eutrophication in two contrasting bays, Sepetiba and Ilha Grande. By categorizing phytoplankton species based on characteristic traits and comparing them with in situ environmental data, we assess the distribution of phytoplankton functional groups. Sampling was conducted in November 2021 and April 2022 from the semienclosed, mesohaline, and shallow Sepetiba Bay to the more open and marine oligotrophic Ilha Grande Bay. During the two sampling campaigns, functional groups including strict autotrophs (diatoms and filamentous cyanobacteria) and both constitutive and non‐constitutive mixotrophs (dinoflagellates) were represented by different abundance of species along this gradient. Classical diversity indices and Beta‐Turnover analyses indicate significant community differences between the bays, with species replacement driving differentiation rather than species loss between the sampled points. However, with increased eutrophication in Sepetiba Bay, a decrease in the dispersion of functional traits was observed, suggesting that eutrophication acts as an environmental filter promoting trait convergence and the selection of specialist organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the work was to determine trends in land cover dynamics in a case study of a small town for the period from 1991 to 2021 using GIS technologies to find measures to prevent negative anthropogenic impacts. The object of the study is the territory of the small town of Kaharlyk, Kyiv region, Ukraine, and its landscaping system. Dynamic processes in the town were monitored using freely available Landsat time series. The land cover was classified into five categories: forest, grassland, cropland, urban (buildings) and wetland (water). Using the Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis, the dynamics of connectivity of elements of the urban forest was determined. Despite the relatively high rates of provision of the population with green infrastructure and a large forested area, the urban forests have an insular (fragmentary) nature and low connectivity. This does not contribute to the creation of a cohesive network and ecological framework of the town. It was established that there were no significant changes in the land cover of the town, however, some negative trends emerged, which should be taken into account in future urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]