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Amphibian populations are undergoing a major recession worldwide, likely triggered by global change components such as the global warming and pollutants, among which agrochemicals, in general, and fertilizers, in particular, play a central role given their relevance in agriculture. Potential synergies among these stressors could maximize their individual effects. In this work, we investigated the consequences of a controlled chronic exposure to increased temperature and a sublethal dose of ammonium during the larval stage of Pelophylax perezi frogs on the growth, development, and locomotor performance of tadpoles and the metamorphs they gave rise to. To that end, tadpoles were reared either in heated or nonheated tanks, with or without ammonium added. The parents of these tadpoles came from either a pine grove or an agrosystem. Survival was reduced in agrosystem tadpoles reared with ammonium. Increased temperature potentiated tadpole growth while giving way to smaller metamorphs. Faster growth could be a consequence of increased metabolism, whereas the smaller size could follow an accelerated development and metamorphosis, which reduced the growth period. Also, swimming speed was greater in tadpoles reared in heated tanks, while jumping distance was greater in metamorphs reared in nonheated tanks. The effects of temperature were more marked in agrosystem than in pine grove individuals, which could mirror reduced adaptability. Thus, the ability to withstand the effects of these stressors was lower in agrosystem tadpoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of agricultural land on biodiversity is widely recognized. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the role of different crop types in maintaining biodiversity within the agricultural landscape. By extracting biodiversity data from global datasets and classifying different crop types, we quantified the contribution of different crop types to biodiversity. Our results indicate that biodiversity levels vary widely among crop types. We found a general loss of biodiversity when natural vegetation is converted to agricultural land, and highest losses in fiber crops, cereals and oil crops, and least in other crops (such as coffee or cocoa) and in mixed crops. In general, perennial crops retain more biodiversity than annual crops. Losses of biodiversity can be mitigated through mixed cropping of multiple crop types, especially by combining annual and perennial crops. The negative impact of converting natural vegetation to agriculture is greater in tropical than in nontropical areas, and hence, the import of commodities from these biodiversity‐rich regions may be particularly detrimental. Given the ongoing increase in biodiversity losses from global intensification and expansion of agricultural land, maintaining or restoring natural vegetation, rating the crop‐type‐specific biodiversity, diversifying crops, and preferring perennial over annual crops, particularly in the tropics, need to be better considered and implemented in global agri‐environmental schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land usage, increasing climatic uncertainty, and dynamic development of the rate of natural population growth of the Eurasian beaver will lead to increasing benefits and disadvantages from beaver activity. During three growing seasons from 2020 to 2022, four cross-sections were marked on unused sub-irrigation systems with the periodic occurrence of beaver dams, located on organic soils in parts of the facility protected by the Habitats Directive (natural habitat 6510) in Central Poland. Periodic water table measurements in wells, the beds of adjacent ditches, and the riverbed were carried out. Identification of the states and structures of plant communities was done using the botanical-weight analysis of several samples with an area of 1 m2. Beaver dams increased water levels in the river, ditches, and groundwater depth in over 78% of events in 2020–2022 years. A large impact of precipitation on the hydraulic conditions in the meadow was observed. In the studied area, since a moderately moist habitat (6510) is protected within the Natura 2000 network, phenomena increasing soil moisture, in the absence of mowing of meadows and the occurrence of expansive herbaceous vegetation that tolerates increased moisture, may lead to the disappearance of these habitats, especially in the zone near the riverbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Justification and application of the analysis method of moose occurrence in Kyiv based on mass media data with further analysis of its spatial and chronological distribution. Methods. System analysis, cartographic, statistical. Results. As a result of the study of mass media data from the beginning of 2010 to October 2024, 26 separate cases of the occurrence of moose within the transformed environment of Kyiv were found and in the proximity of the city. The first case was reported in mass media in May 2015. Based on these data, a methodology was developed, a table and a map were compiled, which allowed for a spatial and chronological analysis of the appearance of moose in the transformed environment of Kyiv. Conclusions. Using the analysis method of moose occurrence in Kyiv, three natural nurseries of moose occurrence in the transformed environment of the city were identified: Svyatoshynskyi (Svyatoshynske forestry), Holosiivskyi (Holosiivskyi forest and Lisnyky sight) and Darnytskyi (Darnytske forestry). Moose can penetrate into the urban environment of Kyiv for more than 2 km, and in some cases - more than 6 km, overcoming significant natural and anthropogenic obstacles, in particular the Dnipro River with intensive river transport traffic. Two periods of increased moose occurrences were identified - 2017-2024 and 2023-2024. Preliminary assumptions regarding the reasons for the first period are the ban on moose hunting since 2017, and for the second period - a complete ban on hunting since 2022.

The diet of a single Maghreb Owl Strix mauritanica (family Strigidae) was examined within its natural habitat at Kahf Lakhal cave on Jbel Moussa, a mountain in northern Morocco. The two distinct batches of pellets collected contained a total of 190 prey items. Pellet analysis revealed a diet comprised of four primary taxonomic classes of prey: mammals, insects, birds and reptiles. We identified 29 prey species, representing 21 families. Mammals were the most prominent component, accounting for 49.5% of the diet items and included at least nine distinct species. Insects constituted 28.9% of the diet, representing at least eight species; birds comprised 20%, representing at least 11 species; and reptiles were represented by a single species (3.4%). Numerically, the most frequently captured prey species were the common bent-wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii (22.1%), black rat Rattus rattus (8.4%) and European rhinoceros beetle Oryctes nasicornis (7.9%). In biomass, black rats were the biggest component of the owl's diet (31.8%), followed by Barbary Partridges Alectoris barbara and hares Lepus sp. (each 11.9%); together these three species comprised more than half the estimated biomass of the prey types consumed by the owl. This investigation significantly improves our knowledge of the diet of the Maghreb Owl in the North African region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are concepts which have received little attention in scholarship and important aspects of real-life situations have not been addressed by believing communities. Politicians and policy makers have taken advantage of the laxity on the part of the sacred institution to both exploit and mismanage the natural habitat because the latter is preoccupied with matters of eternity at the detriment of the particularities of everyday life among communities. First, the inquiry will critically engage previous studies that have touched on ecotheology in South Africa (SA) to substantiate my arguments on the failure to address practical issues (hence, practical theology) affecting local communities and the environment. In other words, the study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) what is the contribution of the church in both the collection and disposition of garbage in our cities? (2) what is the relevance of Practical Theology as a field of study in addressing the increase of street loitering and deterioration of sanitary conditions in our major cities? (3) Is it not possible for a church or group of churches to adopt either a community or a street in an effort to maintain it? Second, the present study seeks to decolonize the myth of erecting massive mega churches as if to suggest that God abides in a building. It is argued that the extravagant expenditure by the church could be put to better use by way of awareness campaigns against poverty, poaching, and veldt fires. Ecotheology should encompass awareness on disposing garbage. The present research utilizes the theory of constructivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding human pressure has reduced natural habitats globally and motivated strategies to conserve remaining natural habitats. Decisions about conservation on private lands, however, are typically made by local stakeholders who are motivated by the elements of nature they most highly value. Thus, national prioritization for conservation should be complemented by local analysis of species or habitats that most influence local landowner decisions. We demonstrate within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem how quantitative mapping of wildlife species that are highly valued by local residents can be integrated with indices of ecosystem integrity to prioritize private lands for conservation. We found that natural vegetation cover (NVC) comprised 81% of the private lands. Some watersheds have lost 6% of NVC since 2001 and developed lands now cover >40% of their areas. Locations high in ecological value, elk habitat, and grizzly habitat occurred in different biophysical settings. Consequently, only 2% of the NVC supports high levels of all three biodiversity measures and 26% of this area was within conservation easements. The remaining areas of high biodiversity value that are unprotected are priorities for conservation. We suggest that national-scale conservation planning will be most effective on private lands if additional within-ecoregion analyses are done on the elements of biodiversity that are most valued by local people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The tropical rainforest biome plays a significant role in providing habitats for terrestrial biodiversity and delivering ecosystem service values, contributing to agricultural production. However, the increasing demand for tropical commodities with high economic value threatens this humid ecosystem and its biodiversity. To our knowledge, no studies have systematically mapped the relationship between the impacts of agricultural production on biodiversity and the effects of biodiversity on agricultural production in tropical rainforest areas. Methods: Since we were interested in systematically mapping the evidence measuring the impact of tropical agriculture on biodiversity (Map 1), and the vice versa relations, the influence of biodiversity on tropical agriculture production (Map 2), we developed a respective set of search strings, eligibility criteria, and subsequently performed independent searching, screening, and data coding processes. We searched articles from six peer-reviewed databases and 22 gray literature sources. Articles were screened based on the inclusion criteria at the title, abstract, and full-text levels. Individual articles that passed full-text screening were coded and synthesized to create heatmaps. Selected information of interest was also extracted and visualized in the graphics which were clustered based on the year of publication, geographical distribution, type of rainforest, exposure, outcome, farm commodity, and study comparators. Review findings: Two heatmaps were generated from a contrasting number of references, with heatmap 1 extracted from 222 studies and heatmap 2 derived from 10 times fewer references (n = 20). In heatmap 1, impacts of land conversion to aboveground biodiversity and wild species and ecosystem functions in natural ecosystems were the most common relationships examined, with 115 articles and 62 articles, respectively. Conversely, heatmap 2 showed evidence that focused predominantly on the examination of the links between the impacts of genetic resource diversity on environmental factors and soil management in tropical agricultural production, with four articles each exploring these relations. Conclusions: These systematic maps reveal that while studies investigating the impacts of tropical agricultural production on biodiversity were abundant, studies examining the impacts of biodiversity on tropical agricultural production were lacking despite both systematic maps experiencing an increasing trend of publication during 2000–2020. Map 1 emphasized the examination of the effects of land conversion on aboveground biodiversity, and on wild species and ecosystem functions. Map 2 highlighted the influence of crop genetic resources on environmental factors, and on soil management as the most frequently studied. The evidence cluster identified here can be the starting point for further systematic review study (to assess, for example, their cause–effect significance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat modification can indirectly effect reproduction and survival in social species by changing the group structure and social interactions. We assessed the impact of habitat modification on the fitness and life history traits of a cooperative breeder, the Arabian babbler (Argya squamiceps). We collected spatial, reproductive and social data on 572 individuals belonging to 21 social groups over 6 years and combined it with remote sensing to characterize group territories in an arid landscape. In modified resource‐rich habitats, groups bred more and had greater productivity, but individuals lived shorter lives than in natural habitats. Habitat modification favoured a faster pace‐of‐life with lower dispersal and dominance acquisition ages, which might be driven by higher mortality providing opportunities for the dominant breeding positions. Thus, habitat modification might indirectly impact fitness through changes in social structures. This study shows that trade‐offs in novel anthropogenic opportunities might offset survival costs by increased productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are concepts which have received little attention in scholarship and important aspects of real-life situations have not been addressed by believing communities. Politicians and policy makers have taken advantage of the laxity on the part of the sacred institution to both exploit and mismanage the natural habitat because the latter is preoccupied with matters of eternity at the detriment of the particularities of everyday life among communities. First, the inquiry will critically engage previous studies that have touched on ecotheology in South Africa (SA) to substantiate my arguments on the failure to address practical issues (hence, practical theology) affecting local communities and the environment. In other words, the study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) what is the contribution of the church in both the collection and disposition of garbage in our cities? (2) what is the relevance of Practical Theology as a field of study in addressing the increase of street loitering and deterioration of sanitary conditions in our major cities? (3) Is it not possible for a church or group of churches to adopt either a community or a street in an effort to maintain it? Second, the present study seeks to decolonize the myth of erecting massive mega churches as if to suggest that God abides in a building. It is argued that the extravagant expenditure by the church could be put to better use by way of awareness campaigns against poverty, poaching, and veldt fires. Ecotheology should encompass awareness on disposing garbage. The present research utilizes the theory of constructivism.

Barred loach Nemacheilus fasciatus are unable to reproduce naturally in captivity due to the lack of environmental cues and gonadal maturation occurs slower than in the wild. To optimize breeding procedures for this fish species, we determined whether hormone application via the gills was an effective process and assessed hormone dosage treatments. Oodev™ was used to induce gonadal maturation and Ovaprim™ was used to induce spawning via a topical gill approach. Multiple maturation parameters such as gonadal-somatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), fecundity, and egg diameter; and spawning parameters such as latency period, egg produce, fertilization rate (FR), hatching rate (HR), survival rate (SR) were recorded and compared between the hormone dosage treatments and control treatment. Both the Oodev™ gonadal maturation induction and Ovaprim™ spawning induction were effectively applied to barred loach via topical gill application. Gonadal maturation parameters were positively correlated with dosage and all were significantly different. Fry survival rate was not different between doses. The optimal dose of Oodev™ (0.75 µL/g fish) resulted in male GSI of 5.334 ± 0.320%, female GSI of 15.501 ± 0.675%, male HSI of 0.416 ± 0.023%, female HSI of 1.670 ± 0.104%, egg fecundity 4584.20 ± 493.216 eggs, egg diameter 0.964 ± 0.0151 mm. Ovaprim™ optimal dosage (3.00 µL/g female and 1.50 µL/g male) was resulted latency period 11.05 ± 0.52 hours, egg produced 3504.83 ± 358.57, FR 96.77 ± 0.88%, HR 83.62 ± 3.78%, and SR 91.44 ± 2.53%.

Changes in land usage, increasing climatic uncertainty, and dynamic development of the rate of natural population growth of the Eurasian beaver will lead to increasing benefits and disadvantages from beaver activity. During three growing seasons from 2020 to 2022, four cross-sections were marked on unused sub-irrigation systems with the periodic occurrence of beaver dams, located on organic soils in parts of the facility protected by the Habitats Directive (natural habitat 6510) in Central Poland. Periodic water table measurements in wells, the beds of adjacent ditches, and the riverbed were carried out. Identification of the states and structures of plant communities was done using the botanical-weight analysis of several samples with an area of 1 m2. Beaver dams increased water levels in the river, ditches, and groundwater depth in over 78% of events in 2020–2022 years. A large impact of precipitation on the hydraulic conditions in the meadow was observed. In the studied area, since a moderately moist habitat (6510) is protected within the Natura 2000 network, phenomena increasing soil moisture, in the absence of mowing of meadows and the occurrence of expansive herbaceous vegetation that tolerates increased moisture, may lead to the disappearance of these habitats, especially in the zone near the riverbed.

Barred loach Nemacheilus fasciatus are unable to reproduce naturally in captivity due to the lack of environmental cues and gonadal maturation occurs slower than in the wild. To optimize breeding procedures for this fish species, we determined whether hormone application via the gills was an effective process and assessed hormone dosage treatments. Oodev™ was used to induce gonadal maturation and Ovaprim™ was used to induce spawning via a topical gill approach. Multiple maturation parameters such as gonadal-somatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), fecundity, and egg diameter; and spawning parameters such as latency period, egg produce, fertilization rate (FR), hatching rate (HR), survival rate (SR) were recorded and compared between the hormone dosage treatments and control treatment. Both the Oodev™ gonadal maturation induction and Ovaprim™ spawning induction were effectively applied to barred loach via topical gill application. Gonadal maturation parameters were positively correlated with dosage and all were significantly different. Fry survival rate was not different between doses. The optimal dose of Oodev™ (0.75 µL/g fish) resulted in male GSI of 5.334 ± 0.320%, female GSI of 15.501 ± 0.675%, male HSI of 0.416 ± 0.023%, female HSI of 1.670 ± 0.104%, egg fecundity 4584.20 ± 493.216 eggs, egg diameter 0.964 ± 0.0151 mm. Ovaprim™ optimal dosage (3.00 µL/g female and 1.50 µL/g male) was resulted latency period 11.05 ± 0.52 hours, egg produced 3504.83 ± 358.57, FR 96.77 ± 0.88%, HR 83.62 ± 3.78%, and SR 91.44 ± 2.53%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change has caused the loss of agricultural biodiversity. As major natural enemies of pests in agroecosystems, spiders have important ecological functions in improving agricultural productivity and thus deserve attention. However, few studies have considered their responses to land use changes. Here, we investigated the structure and diversity of the spider community in four land use types, that is, fallow land, woodland, orchard, and cropland in Pengzhou City, China. The differences in species richness, total abundance, community composition, and spider abundances with three foraging strategies and their correlations with environmental factors and agricultural intensity were compared between land use types. The results showed that the total abundance of spiders in fallow land was 71%, 157%, and 214% higher than that in orchard, cropland, and woodland, respectively. Similarly, fallow land maintained the highest species richness. Shannon–Wiener index, community structure heterogeneity, and number of spider species sampled in a single land use type were highest in woodland. Further, spiders with different foraging strategies showed distinctive responses to environmental factors and agricultural practices. The diversity of hunters was negatively correlated with the intensity of agricultural practices and canopy density, while web‐builders were positively correlated with canopy density. The diversity of burrowers was positively correlated with the vertical complexity of vegetation structure. Our study emphasizes the vital role of semi‐natural habitats, like fallow land and woodland, in maintaining spider diversity, and suggests optimizing land uses to provide wide‐open spaces and mitigate the effects of intensified agricultural activities for natural enemies of pests in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research was conducted to determine to the effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) doses and propagation season on rooting rates and some root parameters of Rhododendron species, R. ponticum L., R. luteum Sweet, R. ungernii Trautv, and R. caucasicum Pallas. Air layering technique and IBA doses (0, 500 ppm, and 1,500 ppm) were applied to each Rhododendron species in their natural habitat in autumn and spring. In the present investigation, dry root weight (mg), root length (cm), root volume (cm3), and root diameter (mm) were investigated as root quality parameters. The highest rooting efficiency (100%) was obtained from R. caucasicum and R. ungernii species. The rooting efficiencies of R. ponticum (between 6.67% to 66.67%) and R. luteum (between 0% to 53.33%) species were lower than the other two species. The heaviest dry root (266.10 mg), the largest root volume (1.49 cm3), and the thickest root diameter (0.05 cm) were obtained in autumn and 1,500 ppm IBA dose from R. caucasicum species. The longest roots, 349.21 cm, were formed in the R. ungernii species in the spring, during the air layering, in which 500 ppm IBA dose was applied.

Urban zones across the world have experienced a massive expansion in recent decades, affecting food production, carbon storage, and biodiversity, and further threatening the realization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (zero hunger), 13 (climate action), and 15 (life on land). These enormous impacts are even more worrying in coastal areas where urbanization has been continuously accelerated. However, we have a poor understanding about the magnitude of the reduction in natural habitat and crucial ecosystem services over time caused by urban expansion in coastal areas. Here we chose the coastal zone of eastern China using a high-resolution dataset of land-use/land-cover (LULC) to investigate the influences of urban growth on natural habitat and crucial ecosystem services from 1990 to 2018. The results showed that: (1) urban growth in China's coastal region resulted in an estimated reduction of 2061.14 km2 in natural habitat, 154.13 Tg C in carbon storage, 1.67 Tg C in cropland net primary production, and 148.02 × 103 in habitat quality; (2) cropland net primary production loss resulted in a 1.34 × 106 tons loss of crop production, which is comparable to meeting the basic food demands of 3.35 million hungry people for a year; (3) the overall degradation of habitat caused by urban expansion reached 1838.28 km2, with grade 1 degradation area accounting for the largest portion (801.18 km2), representing 43.58% of the total degradation; (4) the primary contributor to carbon storage loss (63.83%) was the large-scale conversion of cropland to urban areas, while habitat quality loss and degradation were primarily due to the occupation of forests by urban expansion (42.62%). Our results suggest that effective land-use planning must be implemented to coordinate urban growth, natural habitat protection, and cropland displacement in rapidly urbanizing coastal areas.

This research was conducted to determine to the effects of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) doses and propagation season on rooting rates and some root parameters of Rhododendron species, R. ponticum L., R. luteum Sweet, R. ungernii Trautv, and R. caucasicum Pallas. Air layering technique and IBA doses (0, 500 ppm, and 1,500 ppm) were applied to each Rhododendron species in their natural habitat in autumn and spring. In the present investigation, dry root weight (mg), root length (cm), root volume (cm³), and root diameter (mm) were investigated as root quality parameters. The highest rooting efficiency (100%) was obtained from R. caucasicum and R. ungernii species. The rooting efficiencies of R. ponticum (between 6.67% to 66.67%) and R. luteum (between 0% to 53.33%) species were lower than the other two species. The heaviest dry root (266.10 mg), the largest root volume (1.49 cm³), and the thickest root diameter (0.05 cm) were obtained in autumn and 1,500 ppm IBA dose from R. caucasicum species. The longest roots, 349.21 cm, were formed in the R. ungernii species in the spring, during the air layering, in which 500 ppm IBA dose was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues involved in ensuring the safety of juvenile fish evacuated from a fish protection facility to safe areas of their settled habitat remote from a hydroelectric power plant (HPP) are considered: the creation of such self-sufficient habitats at key points of the reservoir, regardless of the fish protection facility and its fish bypass; the development of technologies that prevent purposeful extended independent or forced movement of fish downstream to the HPP; how to help nature protect itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal and aromatic plants are rich in active substances that represent many medicines. Climatic factors and ontogenetic growth stages affect the quantity and quality of these costly materials. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the geographic origins and the different plant organs (leaves, flowers and stalks) of Salvia sharifii Rech. f. & Esfand., an endemic aromatic herb in the south of Iran, essential oil in three different natural habitats. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger type apparatus and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The highest essential oil content was obtained in flower (1.2%) and stalk (0.7%) of S. sharifii in Sirmand population. Also, in the latter plant organ, the highest essential oil content was observed in Abmah population (1.1%). Essential oils were characterized by the domination of sesquiterpenes (37.92-84.40%), followed by monoterpenes (13.42-58.86%). Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the essential oil identified 58 constituents that varied with plant origin and organ. Results revealed that the main essential oil constituents in S. sharifii were linalool, hexyl-2-methyl butyrate, caryophyllene, sclareol oxide, agarospirol and hexyl caprylate in different plant organs and natural habitats. The variations among natural populations of S. sharifii showed that add to the impact of plant inheritance, it conjointly encompasses a high adaptation potential so that a variety of climatic conditions like temperature, altitude and rainfall are among different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinjil Island was established as a Natural Habitat Breeding Facility for longtailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in 1997. Between February 1998 and January 2007, 603 (61 males and 542 females) simian retrovirus (SRV) free long-tailed macaques were introduced to the island on the south coast of West Java and function as a primate resource and conservation program. To date, 3256 progenies have been harvested and used as the animal model. Therefore, it is necessary to survey the current population of the long-tailed macaques to evaluate whether the population is still under the island’s carrying capacity. This research aims to identify the population estimate of long-tailed macaques currently occupying the island. The observation was conducted in July 2021 using line transect sampling starting from 07.00 AM and 01.00 PM. Twelve observations were conducted during the study using CD and ES transects. CD (Chuck Darsono) and ES (Emil Salim) are the two longest trails on the island and represent the names of the people who initiated the captive breeding of Tinjil Island. The estimated group density of the long-tailed macaques on Tinjil Island is 13.46 groups/km², while the estimated population density is 111.04 individuals/ km². The population estimated on the island is 627.38±23.53 individuals. The number indicates that the population is still under carrying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amphibians are subjected to a variety of natural and artificial stresses that can compromise physiological balance. This study explored the variations in oxidative stress markers in Cosmocercan parasitized and non-parasitized Amietophrynus regularis in diverse conditions. The toad specimens were collected from natural habitats and dumpsites of three (3) major areas of Lagos. 15 g wet weight of the liver, intestine, and parasites were separately prepared and analyzed for oxidative stress parameters including; SOD, CAT, GSH, and MDA activities according to well-established protocols. Result: Based on stations, there were significant differences in the SOD levels in the liver and intestine of infected and uninfected toads obtained at the dumpsite and the natural habitat at p < 0.001. Also, the concentration of SOD in the parasites (238.86 ± 7.72 min/mg prot.) recovered from the toads at the dumpsite was very much significantly higher than the concentration in those recovered from the toads in the natural habitat (p < 0.001). The study has shown that the level of SOD released by the antioxidant defense system in response to the oxidative stress in the organism makes it a reliable tool for ecotoxicological assessment. All the oxidative stress markers except for MDA showed significant differences at p < 0.05 between the host tissues and the parasites irrespective of sampling locations indicating both organisms were stressed either due to the host-parasite relationship or from other environmental contaminants. Conclusions: The toad's antioxidant defense system was typically sensitive and adaptable to environmental conditions, suggesting that it could be used in future research on effective ecotoxicological evaluation tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to inventory the abundance and species richness of wild bees and hoverflies in the Lac Saint-Pierre floodplain according to a land-use gradient. In 2019 and 2020, pollinators were sampled using pan-traps in three landscape types: Crop field margins, Perennial hayfields, and Natural habitats. Bee and hoverfly populations were dominated by a few species throughout the study area. Crop field margins contained greater floral availability and attracted more individuals and species of bees than other landscape types. Although hoverflies were not affected by either land-use type or flooding, the abundance and species richness of bees appeared to be reduced when spring flooding lasted longer, suggesting a mortality effect of flooding on their populations. Implications for insect conservation: Our results make a case for the key role of field margins in the conservation of pollinating insects in agricultural landscapes, especially in a floodplain context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the virome of the "Phytophthora palustris complex", a group of aquatic specialists geographically limited to Southeast and East Asia, the native origin of many destructive invasive forest Phytophthora spp. Based on high-throughput sequencing (RNAseq) of 112 isolates of "P. palustris" collected from rivers, mangroves, and ponds, and natural forests in subtropical and tropical areas in Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan, 52 putative viruses were identified, which, to varying degrees, were phylogenetically related to the families Botybirnaviridae, Narnaviridae, Tombusviridae, and Totiviridae, and the order Bunyavirales. The prevalence of all viruses in their hosts was investigated and confirmed by RT-PCR. The rich virus composition, high abundance, and distribution discovered in our study indicate that viruses are naturally infecting taxa from the "P. palustris complex" in their natural niche, and that they are predominant members of the host cellular environment. Certain Indonesian localities are the viruses' hotspots and particular "P. palustris" isolates show complex multiviral infections. This study defines the first bi-segmented bunya-like virus together with the first tombus-like and botybirna-like viruses in the genus Phytophthora and provides insights into the spread and evolution of RNA viruses in the natural populations of an oomycete species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the habitat of Houbara Bustard was evaluated in Lal Suhanra National Park (LSNP) of Cholistan desert, Pakistan using remote sensing data of LANDSAT-5 and MODIS hyper-temporal vegetation index data of 2000-2012 period. Trend analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was performed using seasonal Mann-Kendall test to understand the distribution and projected status of the habitat. Over 76% area of the LSNP comprising of sand dunes, sandy/open shrubs, sandy (barren) and open shrubs was identified as the most suitable habitat for Houbara. Majority of the LSNP area exhibited stable trend in land cover/vegetation activity, e.g. about 7% land cover indicated progressive and 4% regressive trend, while 89% land cover exhibited stability (significant at p

The negative impacts of industrial farming on honey bee health have been widely recognized regarding pesticide use and natural foraging habitat loss. An assessment of suitability of urban farms regarding honey bee health is necessary for sustainable development of agriculture and apiculture in urban settings. Urban farms that adopt organic farming practices with restrictions on synthetic pesticide use and conservation of natural habitat can potentially create an environment to mitigate these environmental stressors on honey bees. In this experiment, bee-collected pollen was taken from honey bee colonies that were located on five organically managed urban farms located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to evaluate pesticide exposure and forage use. We also explored the influence of hive equipment on honey bee health in a high desert climate. We found that honey bees on organic urban farms were not stressed by pesticides with limited pesticide types detected (2 out of 187), low residue levels (< 20 µg/kg) and low toxicity (either no, or low toxicity with LD50 at 1,450,300 µg/kg). Honey bees had access to diverse forage resources based on pollen barcoding data. When comparing hive equipment between 10-frame, 8-frame Langstroth and top bar hives, it was determined that 8-frame hives could significantly enhance honey bee health including colony survival and weight growth, comb construction and brood production. Our results suggest that organic urban farms are appropriate locations for securing honey bee health and food safety in a desert climate; while, the selection of hive equipment should be considered when mitigating environmental stress to colonies.

Aim: Agriculture is one of the greatest pressures on biodiversity. Regional studies have shown that the presence of natural habitat and landscape heterogeneity are beneficial for biodiversity in agriculture, but it remains unclear whether their importance varies geographically. Here, we use local biodiversity data to determine which local and landscape variables are most associated with biodiversity patterns and whether their association varies between tropical and non‐tropical regions. Location: Global terrestrial area in forest biomes. Major taxa studied: More than 21,000 species of vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and other taxa. Methods: We used generalized linear mixed‐effects models to analyse the relationships between either community total abundance or species richness (derived from the PREDICTS database) and a number of site‐level (predominant land use and land‐use intensity) and landscape‐level variables (distance to forest, the percentage of natural habitat in the surrounding landscape, landscape homogeneity, the number of land‐cover types in the landscape, and total fertilizer application). We compared the associations of these variables with biodiversity in tropical and non‐tropical regions. Results: In most cases, changes in biodiversity associated with landscape‐level variables were greater than those associated with local land use and land‐use intensity. Increased natural habitat availability was associated with the most consistent increases in biodiversity. Landscape homogeneity was also important but showed different directions of biodiversity change between regions. Associations with fertilizer application or the number of land‐cover types were generally weaker, although still of greater magnitude than for the local land‐use measures. Main conclusions: Our results highlight similarities and differences in the association of local‐ and landscape‐scale variables with local biodiversity in tropical and non‐tropical regions. Landscape natural habitat availability had a consistent positive association with biodiversity, highlighting the key role of landscape management in the maintenance of biodiversity in croplands. Landscape‐scale variables were almost always associated with greater changes in biodiversity than the local‐scale measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remnants of natural vegetation can act as reservoirs of natural enemies that control pest populations in crops, thus, optimizing agricultural production. Here, we assessed whether the conservation of native vegetation in agricultural landscapes affects the abundance and richness of mites in rubber tree plantations. For this purpose, we sampled 17 landscapes that encompassing rubber tree crops either adjacent or close to natural vegetation remnants. To infer the conservation status of vegetation remnants, we used five landscape variables. Then we used Linear Mixed Models (LMM) to test the effect of conservation status metrics on the abundance and richness of mites, density of Calacarus heveae and leaf damage. We collected 1,335 mites with phytophagous being the most abundant guild, followed by predatory and mycophagous mites. We found a negative effect of habitat fragmentation on the abundance of phytophagous mites. Predatory mites abundance in rubber tree crops was positively affected by both habitat heterogeneity and complexity, as well as by the aggregation index. Likewise, the abundance of mycophagous species was also positively correlated with habitat heterogeneity. Phytophagous and predatory species richness, C. heveae density, and symptoms of leaf damage by phytophagous were not affected by the landscape metrics tested herein. These results highlight the importance in keeping natural remnants in agricultural landscapes since native vegetation can serve as refuge and reservoir for predatory mites, which colonize crops, and can contribute to biological pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature influences population distribution, body size and metabolism, making it a driving ecological and evolutionary factor. Due to global climate change, sea surface temperatures are expected to increase by 1.8–3.5 °C and extreme weather is anticipated to be more intense and frequent by the end of the century. These changes will impact many organisms, especially those exposed to steep environmental gradients and living near their environmental tolerance limits, such as organisms living in intertidal zone habitats. Therefore, climate change is expected to have a large effect on intertidal zone species and such effects have already been demonstrated in several locations across the globe. During a one-year study, we examined how seasonal habitat temperature variation and body condition influence the temperature sensitivity of intertidal zone porcelain crabs. The temperatures that elicited avoidance behavior (i.e., escape temperatures) were measured in the field to capture the physiological state of crabs acclimatized to the natural habitat. Seasonal microhabitat temperature did not influence escape temperature, nor did maximum microhabitat temperatures during the 4 days prior to assay, indicating a lack of thermal plasticity for escape temperature. Escape temperatures were positively correlated with body condition and influenced by the presence of injuries. Overall, this research contributes to an understanding of thermal acclimatization of intertidal zone marine invertebrates and how they may behaviorally respond to thermal pressures brought on by climate change. • Use of field base experiments to make accurate inferences on the effects behavioral responses to of climate change. • Escape temperatures of Porcelain crabs were positively correlated with body condition. • Escape temperatures of Porcelain crabs were significantly lower in individuals with two or more missing limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A theoretical framework for mitigating NHQ decline via MFULU was developed. • A multi-scenario simulation framework was presented to analyze the mitigation. • Two ways of the mitigating effects of MFULU on NHQ decline were verified. • Three implications were provided for formulating land-sharing policies. Urban expansion threatens natural habitat quality (NHQ) and hinders the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. Whether and how multifunctional urban land use (MFULU) can mitigate NHQ decline under future urban expansion remains unclear. This study developed a theoretical framework for mitigating NHQ decline via MFULU, and examined the mitigation based on a multi-scenario simulation using the Patch-generating Land use Simulation model and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs model. Three future scenarios, each including MFULU and non-MFULU modes, were considered in the simulation: Business as Usual, Economic Development, and Ecological Priority. Urban expansion led to less encroachment into natural habitats in MFULU modes than in non-MFULU modes. Additionally, natural habitats were less aggregated, and more irregular than in non-MFULU modes under all scenarios, especially those with moderate and higher NHQ levels. Natural habitats were more aggregated and regular in MFULU modes than in non-MFULU modes under all scenarios. These results verified MFULU's positive contributions in preserving natural habitats under the conservation effect of MFULU and improving the landscape patterns of natural habitats under the agglomeration effect of MFULU. The findings have implications for formulating land-sharing policies that realize win−win situations between sustainable urban development and a resilient ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper aims to present the evolution of coastal landscape, as well as the defining component of it, sand dunes. The current situation of sand dunes, their impact on ecosystems, the threats and difficulties they face, along with the importance of their conservation were analyzed. The introduction is based on the statistical data gathered from numerous international reports regarding the environment, specifically the sustainability of coastal and marine zones. The information was processed and compared during the materials and methods phase to the analyzed site, which is unique for Romania, hosting the only natural reserve of marine dunes in the country, the protected area “Marine Dunes of Agigea”. The analysis focused on the physical environment, land use, history and heritage, flora and fauna. As for the results and discussions, a synthesis of the analysis and a diagnosis, vision and mission were elaborated, while the conclusion of the paper is summing up a sustainable landscape planning and management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida L.) is an endangered endemic plant which is widely used in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. It is necessary to enhance the quantity and quality of its secondary metabolites in order to meet requirements of the industries. Objective: This study investigated the impact of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) on biochemical traits, essential oil yield and chemical compositions of Ferula assa-foetida in its natural habitat. Methods: We foliar sprayed the EBL at the concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 µM with three times during a week at fully matured leaves phase. One month after treatments application, leaf sampling and gum gathering of the plants was done and the mentioned parameters were measured. Results: ANOVA results indicated that 1 µM EBL showed the best results for chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, reduced sugar and protein contents (17.77, 13.08, 31.57, 7.50, 40.45 and 0.34 mg/g FW). The main components of the essential oil are α-pinene (8.82 %), β-pinene (11.57 %) and myrcene (1.12 %) that showed a significant increase at 1 µM of EBL. Although, EBL at 0.5 µM was proved to be the best treatment for leaf total phenol content (79.37 mg/g FW) and sulfurous compounds such as: (E)-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide (51.48 %), bis (1-methyl propyl) disulfide (0.9 %) and n-propyl sec-butyl disulfide (0.41 %). The highest amount of flavonoids (146.18; 162.56 mg/g FW) and essential oil yield (7.91 %; 8.16 %) were obtained at 0.5 and 1 µM EBL concentrations, respectively compared to the control (6 %). Conclusion: Our results indicated the promising and positive effects of EBL, as an environmental friendly strategy, to improve oleo-gum quantity and quality.

Anthropogenic impacts have reduced natural areas but increased the area of anthropogenic landscapes. There is debate about whether anthropogenic landscapes (e.g., farmlands, orchards, and fish ponds) provide alternatives to natural habitat and under what circumstances. We considered whether anthropogenic landscapes can mitigate population declines for waterbirds. We collected data on population trends and biological traits of 1203 populations of 579 species across the planet. Using Bayesian generalized linear mixed models, we tested whether the ability of a species to use an anthropogenic landscape can predict population trends of waterbird globally and of species of conservation concern. Anthropogenic landscapes benefited population maintenance of common but not less‐common species. Conversely, the use of anthropogenic landscapes was associated with population declines for threatened species. Our findings delineate some limitations to the ability of anthropogenic landscapes to mitigate population declines, suggesting that the maintenance of global waterbird populations depends on protecting remaining natural areas and improving the habitat quality in anthropogenic landscapes. Article impact statement: Protecting natural areas and improving the quality of anthropogenic landscapes as habitat are both needed to achieve effective conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal trade, such as birds, mammals and reptiles, is a common human activity. Among insects, few are as charismatic as bees. Their hives are commonly commercialized for multiple purposes, such as honey production, crop pollination and leisure. However, hive trade has the potential to adversely introduce species into novel places in a widespread way.Our main objectives were to evaluate the trade flow of stingless beehives in Brazil by comparing the geographical distances and climatic features between origin and destination as well as by determining the potential impact on endangered (EN) native bee species.We performed species distribution modelling to estimate their respective natural habitats. After that, we carried out a principal component analysis characterizing the climatic features found within their natural habitats and those where bees were negotiated. Subsequently, we applied hierarchical clustering followed by a Procrustes analysis to evaluate the contrast between the climatic niches of original and destination places. We also checked the conservation status of each species being commercialized and whether exotic species could be introduced within their areas.At least nine species of stingless bees were negotiated during the surveyed period. The hives were requested for almost 100 different localities. Over 40% of sellers and buyers were located outside the natural range of the stingless bee species being negotiated, and half of interested people were as far as 320 km. Climatic features vary considerably between natural habitat and traded regions. This implies that some species might suffer and perish due to intolerance to new climatic features. Nonetheless, species can be taken to new areas that are climatically suitable, creating a risk of biological introduction and invasion events. Finally, most hives were requested in places where equivalent bee species are under EN status.Synthesis and application. Even if managed in hives, exotic stingless bees are flying insects, meaning that they may interact and compete for resources with local bee populations. Therefore, stingless beehive displacement for non‐native places and at large spatial scales should be prevented in negotiations to safeguard their welfare and the sustainability of local populations in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study on forests and grasslands in three ecoregions (Humid Chaco, Espinal, and Paranaense) was conducted in two protected areas in northeastern Argentina: Iberá National Park and Mburucuyá National Park. The effects of habitat heterogeneity (vegetation cover) on terrestrial ant (Formicidae) assemblages were analyzed and compared. The habitat heterogeneity hypothesis—which predicts that when environmental structural complexity increases, the species richness will also increase—was tested. Two sites were selected in each ecoregion. A forest and a grassland were surveyed in each site, using unbaited pitfall traps from October 2013 to February 2014. Overall, 5,465 ants belonging to 37 species were collected, 32 of which were present in forests and 26 in grasslands. Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pheidole radoszkowskii Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were the most abundant species. Formicidae assemblages were compared in terms of abundance, species richness, and diversity between habitats and ecoregions. The results of this study support the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis, since we found a higher diversity of ants in more structured habitats (i.e., forest) in the three ecoregions analyzed. Also, the ant assemblages differed both between habitats and between ecoregions. Our findings provide the first assessment of terrestrial ant assemblages in natural habitats of the three ecoregions in Corrientes Province, Argentina. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land application of manure that contains antibiotics and resistant bacteria may facilitate the establishment of an environmental reservoir of antibiotic-resistant microbes, promoting their dissemination into agricultural and natural habitats. The main objective of this study was to search for acquired antibiotic resistance determinants in the gut microbiota of wild boar populations living in natural habitats.

Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal. (Asteraceae) is a species with high invasiveness capacity in Ukraine, especially in the Steppe zone. The first data on the finding of escaped plants in Europe were recorded in the 40's of the last century. There were three naturalization centres in Ukraine, from where the species began to spread. In the secondary range in Ukraine, G. squarrosa is characterized by high levels of seed productivity and germination, variable modes of dispersal, wide ecological and coenotic amplitudes and CSR-strategy. The trend continues with the spread of the species in western, north-western and northern directions, and today more than 300 localities confirming this trend are already known. In the past 20 years, 92 new localities have been recorded. G. squarrosa is a transformer, widespread in the southern regions of the Steppe zone. As a result, new plant communities are formed. In general, this species is recorded in communities of five vegetation classes. In terms of ecological indicators, the optimum of the species is in the Steppe zone. It can be predicted that, due to the potential ability of the species to adapt and under the influence of climatic change, there is a higher probability that the species will spread in the future in northern and western directions. The condition for such an expansion is disturbance of meadow-steppe fringe xeromesic communities, with decreased coenotic competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible birds' nests (EBNs) have traditionally been produced in Southeast Asia. Indonesian farmers construct buildings for swiftlets and harvest their nests. EBN farming does not directly degrade forest resources and is therefore considered a sustainable means of production, whereas the expansion of other agricultural activities often relies on the degradation of natural resources. This study examines the relationship between natural resources and agricultural livelihoods, focusing on Indonesian EBN farmers. Using survey data that we collected in 2017, combined with satellite information on the extent of the forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, we measured production efficiency and identified the natural and social factors that enhance production performance. The results show that a forest extent ranging between 2,000 and 6,000 meters from nesting building is positively associated with the production efficiency of EBN farming, perhaps because extensive forest could help swiftlets to collect food and build nests. Conversely, while EBN farming is a sustainable and profitable option, the initial costs of constructing buildings to house swiftlets may deter farmers from participating in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate food preferences and group activity patterns, a fragmented population of Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra was selected for observation in a semi-arid ecosystem of western Haryana. A field survey was conducted fortnightly, from dawn to dusk, between September 2019 and August 2020, covering every season. Scan sampling and quadrat methods were used to record data on group size and vegetation. Group sizes ranged from 3 to 72 individuals. Based on visual observation, blackbuck seasonally consumed 26 species belonging to 25 families with varied preferences, out of a total of 53 plant species documented from the study site. Some plant species with high medicinal and therapeutic values were preferred, including Artemisia scoparia, Cucumis callous, Ziziphus jujuba, and Ziziphus nummularia. Unlike most herbivores, Blackbuck also consumed the toxic and medicinally rich Calotropis procera. We suggest that zoos which house blackbuck include these preferred wild plant species in their diet. Observations on group activity were analyzed on hourly, monthly and seasonal bases, and converted into time percentages. Group foraging activity was at a maximum in the monsoon (62%) and minimum in winter (50%), followed by resting: maximum in winter (21%) and minimum (12%) in monsoon, largely influenced by food availability. Foraging/walking ratio was at a maximum (5.2) in monsoon and minimum (3.1) in winter, and was correlated with the number of group sightings (maximum in winter and minimum in monsoon) in nearby farmland, when the animals faced food scarcity in their natural habitat and fed on crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]