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This study was carried out in the littoral zone of Lake Baikal during a large-scale ecological crisis that affected all parts of the ecosystem, including populations of endemic sponges of the Lubomirskiidae family. Sponges play an important role in biotic communities of the rocky littoral of the lake, ensuring the purity of the water and being a specialized biotope for a variety of diverse organisms. In the last decade, mass disease and mortality of sponges were reported in different basins of Lake Baikal, which can lead to irreversible changes in the structure of littoral communities. We studied the taxonomic richness, distribution, and abundance of the main groups of macroinvertebrates—amphipods and gastropods living on diseased, branched sponges Lubomirskia baikalensis in three basins of Lake Baikal (2015, 2020, 2021, 2022) and made historical comparisons. The taxonomic richness of amphipods, including 35 species and subspecies, as well as 5 taxa defined by genus, increased and had 20 taxa more than 30 years ago. Totally 22 gastropod species and subspecies were found on the sponge, 20 of them for the first time. The species composition, dominant species complex and quantitative characteristics of sponge-associated amphipods and gastropods varied in different lake basins evidenced by underwater observations. The abundance of all macroinvertebrate groups as well as dominant amphipod and gastropod groups per unit weight of sponges decreased from south to north. The abundance of the invertebrates associated with diseased sponges was similar to the records of the pre-crisis period. Baikal sponges host invertebrates from several ecological groups with different feeding strategies (collectors, grazers and filter feeders) providing temporary refuge for most of them. In order to restore the abundance of sponges and preserve the populations of key invertebrate species, we propose to set up sponge "farms" in the least polluted areas of Lake Baikal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The concept of productivity is central to performance management and decision-making, although it is complex and multifaceted. This paper aims to describe a methodology based on the use of Big Data in a cluster analysis combined with a data envelopment analysis (DEA) that provides accurate and reliable productivity measures in a large network of retailers. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is described using a case study of a leading kitchen furniture producer. More specifically, Big Data is used in a two-step analysis prior to the DEA to automatically cluster a large number of retailers into groups that are homogeneous in terms of structural and environmental factors and assess a within-the-group level of productivity of the retailers. Findings: The proposed methodology helps reduce the heterogeneity among the units analysed, which is a major concern in DEA applications. The data-driven factorial and clustering technique allows for maximum within-group homogeneity and between-group heterogeneity by reducing subjective bias and dimensionality, which is embedded with the use of Big Data. Practical implications: The use of Big Data in clustering applied to productivity analysis can provide managers with data-driven information about the structural and socio-economic characteristics of retailers' catchment areas, which is important in establishing potential productivity performance and optimizing resource allocation. The improved productivity indexes enable the setting of targets that are coherent with retailers' potential, which increases motivation and commitment. Originality/value: This article proposes an innovative technique to enhance the accuracy of productivity measures through the use of Big Data clustering and DEA. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no attempts have been made to benefit from the use of Big Data in the literature on retail store productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life cycles of bats are constrained by availability of resources such as food and shelter. Disruptions limiting otherwise naturally regulated access to these resources ultimately affect the fitness of bat populations and may eventually lead to local extinctions. We sampled bats before and after an Amazonian mega-dam water filling and retrieved data on their reproductive phenology, testing if and how sex ratio, seasonal abundance, and reproductive patterns respond to impacts of the newly operating hydroelectric dam. We analyzed data from 3,298 bat captures of 49 species. Females outnumbered males, previously and after the dam implementation, and we observed seasonal variations in the abundance of bats, which was lower after the implementation of the dam for most species. All species had at least 1 reproductive peak of pregnancy and/or lactation beginning at a variable time across seasons. Most species and functional ensembles were reproductively bimodal, with exceptions being the polymodal Artibeus obscurus and unimodal Phylostomus elongatus. Operations of the hydroelectric dam affected the abundance of both sexes equally, and effects were stronger in the rainy season, altering the timing of reproduction for females, delaying and shortening pregnancy and lactation. These changes expressed in female reproductive activity may be related to the shortfall of resources because of loss of irreplaceable vegetation caused by the dam filling. As we cannot predict the roles of variation of reproductive patterns observed after the filling in the long run we reinforce the importance of long-term, continuous monitoring and management to safeguard the reestablishment of reproductive patterns of females in order to repopulate and keep bat populations healthy in remaining areas along following dam construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation is a crucial hydro-meteorological variable for the protection and sustainability of water resources, and it has been significantly affected by climate change. Hence, it is essential to evaluate the effects of climate change on precipitation for effective water resource planning and development. This study aimed to evaluate trends of monthly precipitation in the Lower Mekong Delta River Basin (LMDRB) in southern Vietnam using innovative trend analysis methods. Monthly total precipitation data of eight stations in the basin observed from 1989 to 2018 were used. Mann-Kendall (MK) test, Innovative Polygon Trend Analysis (IPTA), and Improved Visualization of Innovative Trend Analyses (IV-ITA) methods were applied after homogeneity tests to the time series of the stations determined to be homogeneous. The IPTA method examined possible monthly precipitation transitions and seasonal changes, while the IV-ITA method examined the trend of the low and high precipitation categories. The IPTA method was more sensitive than the MK Test method in trend detection as it detected a trend in 85% (approximately 50% increase and 35% decrease) of the 84 (12*7) months. In almost all stations, an increasing trend was observed in September and December at low values, while a significant decrease was observed in April at high values. Continued increases and decreases in precipitation due to climate change impacts will significantly affect rice production in the LMDRB. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of climate change on precipitation in the basin, which could help in effective water resource planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper undertakes an analysis of Nigeria's quota-based policy for equitable higher education (HE) access with reference to the catchment criterion. HE access demand in Nigeria has far outweighed supply. With a large and diverse population and a growing HE sector, the policy sets out a range of overlapping eligibility criteria as integral to the layered processes of university application. In this paper, we examine the catchment criterion and discuss its work in achieving the national policy aims of equitable access. Drawing on the accounts of applicants, students and lecturers in focus groups and in-depth interviews, we explore how the criterion contributes to tensions around HE access. We point to the ways that depictions of a catchment population revivify historic and perhaps mythical settlement patterns that do not reflect the ethnic heterogeneity among regional residents in current times. On the one hand, the labels of 'region', 'state' or 'catchment area' homogenise distinct ethnic groups and on the other, their operation within the policy for equitable access produces profound levels of stratification, discrimination and exclusion. This leads us to conclude by proposing policy reform that more explicitly recognises the intra-national ethnic multiplicity and diversity as a means to addressing equitable access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze River basin plays a crucial role in China's economy, and the impacts of drought and flood in the basin are becoming more uncertain due to climate change. Thus, a study was conducted to analyse the flood–drought rating sequence for the Yangtze River basin in 1470–2022. The frequency of flood and drought occurrences during the flood season followed a normal distribution. Extreme drought and flood accounted for 2–4% of occurrences. Partial and extreme floods increased notably in the 19th and 20th centuries, while droughts became more frequent after the 20th century. Furthermore, the Three Gorges Reservoir area's storage capacity did not significantly impact flood season precipitation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and the reservoir area. This comprehensive study serves to uncover evolutionary patterns and trends of drought and flood, providing valuable insights for effectively managing water resources in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change detection processes using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were applied to monitor and estimate the water volume in the Mosul Dam reservoir during a period in which it was inaccessible due to ISIS occupation of the Province of Mosul. A total of 17 scenes of LANDSAT 8 images have been captured and the calculated areas have been used to estimate the water level (WL) and water volume (V) in the reservoir using the volume–area–elevation curve that was developed in 2011. The results indicated that WL ranged between a minimum of 308.5 m and a maximum of 321 m, while V ranged between 3.95 and 6.8 km3 for the minimum and maximum WL, respectively. For the blackout period with missing data, the monthly reservoir inflows (RIs) from the drainage watershed and the mean inflows were calculated and found to be compatible with the mean inflows of Mosul reservoir for the years 1986–2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentary fill of Gale crater on Mars is dominated by lacustrine strata that are the focus of investigations into surface processes, climate change and habitability early in the planet's history. This study focuses on the lower part of the explored portion of the Murray formation on Aeolis Mons (Mount Sharp) in the Pahrump Hills and Hartmann's Valley field areas. At Pahrump Hills, sedimentary features and geochemical attributes of exposed mudstones suggest accumulation in an underfilled lake basin in which lake levels, shorelines and salinities fluctuated greatly at various temporal scales. The immediately superjacent stratigraphic interval, designated by the rover team as the Hartmann's Valley member, has previously been interpreted as an aeolian‐deposited sandstone interval. This fresh examination of all available data, however, suggests that the Hartmann's Valley member is strongly dominated by the same mudstone facies that compose most of the underlying Pahrump Hills member. The one novel facies element encountered in the Hartmann's Valley member are undulose bedded to convex bodies of mudstone that are oriented roughly north–south, suggestive of sediment supply from a northern fluvial source. Mudstones analogous in scale and character to these undulose mudstones occur on Earth in multiple modern and ancient lacustrine successions, and are related to deposition of prodelta mud lobes. The mudstones of the Hartmann's Valley member record a continuation of the underfilled evaporitive lake system proposed previously for the underlying Pahrump Hills member but with somewhat more variable environmental conditions. Hartmann's Valley mudstones contain more abundant matrix CaSO4, suggesting more severe evaporitic conditions, whereas the interbedded undulose bedded mudstones signify intermittent freshening and buildout of mud‐dominated deltas into the lake. The textural similarities between Pahrump Hills and Hartmann's Valley strata suggest that the Gale lacustrine system operated at a stable depositional mode with similar environmental parameters during both stratigraphic intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, climate change has significantly impacted European river systems, reshaping streamflow patterns with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and water resources. This study investigates hydrological variability across 16 major European rivers. Cross-correlation analysis reveals strong climatic influences, with the Danube showing robust positive correlations with rivers such as the Elbe, Oder, Rhine, and Vistula, suggesting shared climatic drivers. In contrast, negative correlations between Central European rivers, like the Danube and Drava, and Southern European and UK rivers highlight the influence of distinct climatic regimes and geographical factors. To assess trends and identify abrupt changes in streamflow, the study applies the Mann-Kendall (MK), Seasonal Kendall (SK), and Regional Kendall (RK) tests, along with the Bayesian Estimator of Abrupt Change, Seasonal Change, and Trend (BEAST) algorithm. Hierarchical clustering analysis identifies four distinct groups: one cluster dominated by a strong negative trend in the Ebro River, another with a positive trend in the Thames, and two additional clusters representing Eastern and Western European rivers, with a few exceptions. The findings from the MK and SK tests reveal declining trends in rivers such as the Danube, Drava, and Nemunas, likely driven by long-term climatic shifts. In contrast, the Thames exhibits significant increases in streamflow, likely reflecting unique climatic conditions in Southern UK. The RK test further corroborates these observations, showing an overall pattern of declining streamflow across the studied rivers. BEAST analysis uncovers historical variability by identifying important transitions on long-term trends and abrupt changes in streamflow. Rivers like Danube, Loire, Drava, Nemunas and Vistula transitioned from positive to negative trends starting in the 1970s to 1990s. BEAST reveals also more complex dynamics in rivers like Rio Ebro and Thames, where both upward and downward abrupt changes reflect the impact of extreme weather events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate forecasting of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels is vital for river ecosystem health. A novel methodology, MVMD-TSA-GPR, combines Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition (MVMD), the Tunicate Swarm Algorithm (TSA), and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) to improve DO level predictions. This study also incorporated Generalized Additive Model and Regression Bagged Ensemble (RBE) for 1- and 3-month forecasts using monthly data (1974–2023) from 16 water quality parameters across five Mississippi River basin sites. Key predictors identified through cross-correlation include lagged values and parameters like water temperature, discharge, pH, total phosphorus, potassium, and sulfate, which significantly influence DO levels. The MVMD-TSA-GPR model outperformed others, especially at site 5, showing substantial improvements in accuracy with decreased RMSE values across various scenarios. Model ranking via the Taylor Diagram indicated MVMD-TSA-GPR had the highest performance, followed by MVMD-TSA-RBE and others. Notably, the GPR model's RMSE at site 3 decreased from 2.11 to 1.01 (109% reduction) for the 1-month forecast, while at site 4 for the 3-month forecast, it dropped from 1.85 to 1.04 (106% reduction). The results revealed that the MVMD-TSA-GPR model demonstrated the highest performance for DO (t + 1), achieving R = 0.90, PBIAS = 0.73%, and WI = 0.804, as well as for DO (t + 3), with R = 0.88, PBIAS = 0.54%, and WI = 0.779, at the Lower Mississippi site during the test phase. Additionally, the MVMD-TSA-RBE model excelled for DO (t + 1) in the Missouri River at the Hermann site, achieving R = 0.91, PBIAS = 0.86%, and WI = 0.805 during the test phase. These results underscore the effectiveness of the MVMD-TSA hybrid approach. Interpretative analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) revealed water temperature, pH, and potassium as key factors affecting DO levels. The speed and accuracy of MVMD-TSA-GPR make it a promising tool for monitoring river water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testate amoebae are unicellular organisms that occur worldwide in lacustrine habitats and have been widely used as proxies for palaeoreconstruction and bioindicators of contemporary ecosystems. Our knowledge of the environmental factors determining the spatial distribution of testate amoebae in stratified freshwater lakes remains limited.The objective of this study was to assess the correlations between studied environmental variables and spatial distribution and species structure of testate amoebae communities inhabiting different limnological zones within a single lake basin along the depth gradient.In our study, we used a multistation approach within one waterbody. We collected samples at five transects at five depths in four limnological zones, for a total of 69 samples from 24 sites. Redundancy and k‐means analysis distinguished four groups of samples associated with different environmental conditions.Our results indicate that the distribution of testate amoebae species was correlated with a variety of factors. Along the depth gradient, the distribution of communities was primarily correlated with temperature, electrical conductivity and blue–green algal phycoerythrin. Within the littoral zone, the distribution of species either correlated with the sand content in sediments or was determined by the stochastic beginning of community assembly. In deepwater habitats, the distribution of species was correlated with the dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and concentration of the blue–green algal phycoerythrin.We assume that bottom sediments in single stratified freshwater lakes in shallow and deep water zones represent two distinct biotopes for the formation of communities of testate amoebae, and assessing habitat and community differences in stratified lakes requires a multistation sampling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become an undeniable global challenge, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of historical and future climatic trends. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of extreme rainfall and hydrological events and their impact on Burundi from 1983 until 2023. This research estimates the annual mean, seasonal, and monthly trends along with trends in extreme indices for precipitation and discharge. Statistical methods used include the linear regression analysis, the Modified Mann–Kendall test, and the Moran's I test for spatial correlation. The findings revealed moderate trends in annual and seasonal rainfall with an overall decrease in the annual mean rainfall trend. Seasonal patterns showed a divergence between the wet and dry seasons. Extreme precipitation indicators, represented by the maximum 1-day rainfall, the number of rainfall events over 10 mm, and the 99th percentile, were projected to increase. Despite the size of the study area, the spatial correlation was weak for all the analyses. Regarding discharge, the Congo River basin showed an increase in annual mean, seasonal, and monthly trends. The Nile River Basin exhibited no significant trend. Extreme discharge indicators, represented by the minimum daily discharge each month, the minimum discharge for 7 days each year, and the frequency of the 10th percentile, exhibited significant positive trends in the Congo Basin. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the impacts of climate change in Burundi and demonstrates the urgency for proactive measures to ensure the long-term resilience and sustainability of this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate hourly streamflow prediction is crucial for managing water resources, particularly in smaller basins with short response times. This study evaluates six deep learning (DL) models, including Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and their hybrids (CNN-LSTM, CNN-GRU, CNN-Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)), across two basins in Northwest Spain over a ten-year period. Findings reveal that GRU models excel, achieving Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) scores of approximately 0.96 and 0.98 for the Groba and Anllóns catchments, respectively, at 1-hour lead times. Hybrid models did not enhance performance, which declines at longer lead times due to basin-specific characteristics such as area and slope, particularly in smaller basins where NSE dropped from 0.969 to 0.24. The inclusion of future rainfall data in the input sequences has improved the results, especially for longer lead times from 0.24 to 0.70 in the Groba basin and from 0.81 to 0.92 in the Anllóns basin for a 12-hour lead time. This research provides a foundation for future exploration of DL in streamflow forecasting, in which other data sources and model structures can be utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panagrolaimidae members are bacterivorous with global distribution. There is no information on this species' morphology and molecular characterization in South Africa. During a survey of Molepo dam, Limpopo Province, a population of Propanagrolaimus nematodes belonging to the family Panagrolaimidae was recovered and determined utilizing conventional and molecular characters. Propanagrolaimus siweyae sp. n., was confirmed by morphological and molecular informations. Propanagrolaimus siweyae sp. n. is characterized by a body length 1026–1258 µm (a = 39.4–45.5, b = 5.4–6.5, c = 8.1–10.0, c' = 6.9–7.8, V = 53–57), post vulval uterine sac 25–53 µm, and tail length 108–158 µm long. The scan electron microscopy (SEM) photographs revealed a tessellated cuticle and six slightly separated lips. The discriminant analysis placed populations of P. siweyae sp. n. close to P. hygrophilus with clear separation from the mentioned species. Partial sequences of the 18S and 28S regions of the ribosomal DNA gene were amplified for P. siweyae sp. n. The phylogenetic analysis grouped P. siweyae sp. n. in a clade with 1.00 and 0.87 posterior probability values together with other Propanagrolaimus and Halicephalobus based on 18S and 28S rDNA, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed no correlation between Propanagrolaimus and water parameters. However, the result showed a high correlation with diatoms (r = 0.937) in Molepo dam (site MD-6). In contrast, The PCA showed salinity, pH, and temperature with no significant effect on nematodes in Molepo dam, Limpopo Province, South Africa. In conclusion, the usefulness of free-living nematodes as bioindicators is an advantage to studying pollution in aquatic systems. Limpopo Province is facing pollution in the river and dam systems. Therefore, finding a bioindicator is critical to examine the ecological role of free-living nematodes such as Propanagrolaimus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The goal of our study was to use a nested sampling design to compare the distribution of different groups of organisms with different dispersal modes and examine their responses in community composition to environmental heterogeneity at different spatial scales (local pool vs. riffle habitat, sections within a river and between rivers). Location: Upper Colorado River basin, Texas, USA. Taxon: Fishes, mussels and macroinvertebrates. Methods: We sampled 100 sites using a nested sampling design across five rivers (four tributaries and the mainstem), with four river sections and five sampling sites per section, each consisting of a pool and riffle habitat. Collected data on species abundances, local and landscape environmental variables and spatial variables were analysed using a combination of dissimilarity, redundancy and variation partitioning analysis. Results: At the river scale, environmental heterogeneity explained 28% and 34% of the variation in mussel and fish communities, respectively, and 15% for macroinvertebrates. Community changes between sections in the tributaries were highest for fishes, but similarly high for fishes and macroinvertebrates in the mainstem. Significant patterns for mussels were only detected in rivers with higher abundances. No significant differences in dissimilarity were found between mesohabitats, but a small significant effect of mesohabitat was detected for mussels with RDA after removing the river effect. Main Conclusions: Although the depauperate mussel communities made it more difficult to draw any conclusions, there were some indications that their distribution was driven by environmental heterogeneity across scales. Section and river scales were relevant for fish, whereas macroinvertebrates showed a weaker response to environmental heterogeneity at these scales. The combination of approaches detected more ecologically meaningful patterns than one analysis alone would have. This study highlights the complexity of riverine community dynamics and underscores the need for a multiscale approach to identify their distribution patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subways play an important role in supporting travel needs, yet whether the benefits of subway expansion can justify the substantial investments remains a much-debated question. Existing studies have arbitrarily defined the catchment area of a subway station using walking distance and have disproportionately focused on commuting trips, potentially underestimating broader subway effects. To address these limitations, this study employed the distance-band approach to accurately define the treatment area of subway stations while incorporating both local and network effects. Based on longitudinal mobile signaling data, we used the difference-in-differences approach to estimate the average treatment effects of 32 new subway stations on different types of home-based travels in Beijing, China. We found that the opening of new subway stations has led to significant increases in subway usage, trip duration, and trip distance within a 2000-m radius, and that commuting trips have been more affected than home-based non-commuting trips, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the new subway stations also enhanced the connectivity of the city-wide network, influencing the travel behavior of residents in the vicinity of existing subway stations. We further found that subway expansion is particularly beneficial for women, younger residents, and residents of low-rent neighborhoods. According to these findings, planning new subway stations in Beijing and other densely populated megacities requires an integrated approach that considers the relationships between the existing transport network and diverse travel demand. • Subway expansion significantly influences travel behavior within a 2000-m radius. • Commuting trips are more affected by subway expansion than non-commuting trips. • The connectivity levels of existing stations improve unevenly following subway expansion. • Subway expansion brings greater benefits for women, younger residents, and residents of low-rent neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Meiyu season, characterized by the northward progression of the East Asian summer monsoon in the Yangtze River Valley, is a critical period of precipitation. This study assesses the prediction skills for various precipitation patterns during the Meiyu using S2S hindcast data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) from 2002 to 2021. Three primary spatial distribution patterns of precipitation have been identified: the Jiangnan, Yangtze River, and Huaihe River types. Significant difference exists in the model's simulation capabilities across these patterns, with the Yangtze River Rainy type showing the highest accuracy. The forecasting skill differs among the precipitation types, primarily due to the model's representation of key impact circulation systems and their impacts on precipitation. During Meiyu, the model effectively predicts low-latitude circulations but struggles with higher-latitude ones. Consequently, these differences in circulation simulation crucially affect the simulation outcomes for the various precipitation patterns. Meanwhile, the model's performance largely depends on its ability to accurately represent the relationship between key circulations and corresponding precipitation patterns. The model captures the relationship between circulation and precipitation well for the Yangtze River Rainy type. However, it inaccurately simulates this relationship for the Jiangnan Rainy type, leading to significant errors. Additionally, different sea surface temperature (SST) states have varying external forcing impacts. Elevated SST in the central Pacific during the preceding spring favors the formation of a circulation pattern conducive to heavy rainfall in the Yangtze River Basin. Due to the good simulation relationship between key circulation configurations and precipitation in the model, the external forcing relationship of the corresponding SST distribution in the model is well reflected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although understanding nutrient limitation of primary productivity in lakes is among the oldest research priorities in limnology, there have been few broad‐scale studies of the characteristics of phosphorus (P)‐, nitrogen (N)‐, and co‐limited lakes and their environmental context. By analyzing 3342 US lakes with concurrent P, N, and chlorophyll a (Chl a) samples, we showed that US lakes are predominantly co‐limited (43%) or P‐limited (41%). Majorities of lakes were P‐limited in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Southeast, and co‐limitation was most prevalent in the interior and western United States. N‐limitation (16%) was more prevalent than P‐limitation in the Great Basin and Central Plains. Nutrient limitation was related to lake, watershed, and regional variables, including Chl a concentration, watershed soil, and wet nitrate deposition. N and P concentrations interactively affected nutrient–chlorophyll relationships, which differed by nutrient limitation. Our study demonstrates the value of considering P, N, and environmental context in nutrient limitation and nutrient–chlorophyll relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In watersheds, which function as social–ecological systems (SESs), hydrological ecosystem services (HESs) are crucial flows connecting natural and social components. The internal and external drivers that shape HESs and watershed SES trajectories create complexities in watershed management. In this study, the adaptive cycle framework was adopted, and a qualitative method is proposed to analyze the impacts of drivers on the HES and the watershed SES trajectory. Empirical evidence from the Copalita-Huatulco watershed in Mexico was used to study the relationships between drivers and HESs. The results reveal changes in regional hydrodynamics due to natural shocks, cumulative social stressors, and SES-related human trajectories. The SES trajectory was in a growth phase when stressors dominated, a collapse when shocks occurred, and a conservation phase when human agency was strong. Understanding the impact of drivers on HESs and their integration into SES trajectories is a key element of HES resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of using geospatial technologies in cancer research to address health disparities and drive prevention efforts among specific populations. It highlights the formation of the Catchment Area Research and Data Science (CARDS) group to foster collaboration among cancer centers. The text provides examples of open-source projects and partnerships that have enhanced data accessibility and visualization for cancer research. It also emphasizes the need for greater data access, the development of new metrics, and measuring the impact of geospatial approaches in cancer research. [Extracted from the article]

Accelerated erosion caused by human activities is the major triggering factor for the loss of soil and water resources in Ethiopia. Soil erosion is commonly regarded as a major environmental problem that affects the sustainability of agricultural production and downstream reservoir. To facilitate urgent policy intervention in sustainable land management, evaluating the amount of annual soil loss is inevitable. In this study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographic Information System (GIS) are integrated to analyse the amount of soil loss in the Neshe Dam Watershed of Ethiopia. The total amount of soil loss from the watershed (33,376 hectares) is about 1,252,935 tons per year. Furthermore, the potential average annual soil loss for the whole watershed is anticipated at 37.54 t ha−1 yr−1. In terms of sub-watersheds, very high soil loss (56.62 t ha−1 yr−1) was observed in sub-watershed B accounts (for 16.3%) and the least (16.06 t ha−1 yr−1) observed in sub-watershed E accounts (for 23.6%). The study concluded that if proper measures are not taken now, the accelerated erosion in the watershed will jeopardize the sustainability of agricultural production within the watershed and energy generated from the dam in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for adequate data on the spatial and temporal variability of freshwater resources is a significant challenge to the water managers of the world in water resource planning and management. The problems will be acute in the coming years because of the increase in frequency and intensity of hydrologic extremes due to climate change. Therefore, streamflow prediction has become an important area of research because of its importance in flood mitigation, reservoir operation, and water resource management. In this paper, we have tested four Machine Learning models (ML models): Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) for streamflow prediction at daily and monthly time scales in three rivers draining in the different climatic and geological settings. The SVM, RF, LSTM, and MARS models have been trained and tested in the Suvarna, Aghanashini, and Kunderu River Basins in peninsular India. Model intercomparison was made to identify the best suitable model for streamflow prediction. The RF outperforms other models for daily streamflow, and MARS outperforms other models for monthly streamflow prediction in the Suvarna river with Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values of 0.676 and 0.924, respectively. SVM (NSE = 0.741) and RF (NSE = 0.826) are found to be the best models for daily and monthly streamflow prediction in the Aghanashini river. MARS outperformed other models in the case of high, severe, and extreme flow simulation with NSE values of 0.481, 0.374, and 0.455, respectively, in the Aghanashini river. Other hydrological variables (groundwater level data, antecedent soil moisture, potential evapotranspiration data) and a better spatial resolution of rainfall data can be used to develop more accurate machine-learning models for streamflow predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the dynamics and microphysical structures of a deep compact thunderstorm event driving cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning over the Nanjing area located within the Yangtze-Huai River Basin (YHRB) during the monsoon break period. The microphysical structures combined with the dynamics in the glaciated, mixed-phase, and warm-phase layers during the formative, intensifying, and mature stages of the thunderstorm were first investigated using C-band polarimetric radar and CG lightning observations. The results show that the mature phase of the thunderstorm produced a local cold pool, which collided with a southerly warm wind, resulting in a strong updraft. The strong updraft favored the lifting of raindrops to the mixed-phase region to form abundant supercooled liquid water and graupel. From the formative stage to the developing stage and further to the mature stage, increased ZH- and reduced ZDR-values within the mixed-phase region are found, especially within the strong updraft region (> 5 m s−1). This phenomenon suggests that supercooled raindrops evolved into large hydrometeors (graupel and hail), indicative of a strong riming process. The signatures within this region are consistent with a favorable environment for thunderstorm electrification and generate the most frequent lightning during the thunderstorm life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the new localities of Lemna minor, L. trisulca, and hybrid between L. minor and L. turionifera (L. × japonica) (Lemnaceae) in the north-west of the Murmansk region (north of 68.5° N), i.e., in the Pasvik State Nature Reserve and neighboring territories in the drainage basin of the Paz River, are presented. Lemna minor and L. trisulca were previously known for the region by several reports. In the north-west of the Murmansk region, two new localities of Lemna minor, one locality of L. × japonica, and ten localities of L. trisulca were found. In total, representatives of Lemna occurred in 18 studied sites: L. minor in two, L. × japonica in two, and L. trisulca in 16 (L. minor and L. trisulca grew together in two sites). In the studied rivers and lakes, the pH range of water varied from 6.0 to 7.6, i.e., was mainly neutral (the average value was 6.9). TDS varied in the range from 17 to 251 ppm (on average, 53 ppm). The localities of L. minor in the unnamed lake near Zapolyarnyi town and in Kuetsjarvi Lake are probably the northernmost in the world, while the locality of L. trisulca in the Paz River in Klistervatn Lake is the northernmost in European Russia. In the north of the Murmansk oblast, L. minor and L. × japonica were associated only with anthropogenic eutrophicated water bodies with increased water mineralization in comparison to the background value. These taxa can be considered as indicators of high trophicity in this region. The localities of L. trisulca are mainly anthropogenic transformed water bodies. The maximum abundance of this species is also recorded in the areas of increased trophic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flash flood after the breaching of South Lhonak Lake (glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF)) along with prolonged rainfall event in the first week of October 2023 significantly triggered numerous landslides along the side of the river, roads, and vulnerable slopes within the upper catchment of Teesta basin, Sikkim. In this paper, we present documentation on the occurrences of series of landslides just after the flood and heavy rainfall event in upper Teesta basin and try to find out the relevant causes. Primarily, flash flood due to glacial lake outburst and extensive rainfall accelerated series of landslides; however, the landslides are controlled by some other secondary factors including soil and slope condition, lithological diversity, geological discontinuities, and anthropogenic influences. The InSAR coherence analysis significantly shows the lowering of coherence value (decorrelation) in the moraine dam area within pre and post GLOF event which indicates breaching of the dam. The result of the slope stability assessment showed that majority slopes along the river Teesta are highly vulnerable with less safety factor and low cohesiveness of soil materials. Furthermore, the northern part of the MCT (Main Central Thrust) is composed by high-grade metamorphic rocks with exposed structures (high lineament density) that provoke landslides. Consequently, the result also highlighted that most of the slides along the side of Teesta occurred due to high water discharge and elevated gauge height after the GLOF event. Here, NH-10 (National Highway 10) runs on the high grade vulnerable litho-units and in between Dikchu and Chungthang, NH-10 is passing at the close proximity of river Teesta. So, different pockets of North Sikkim along the NH-10 were engulfed by high river discharge and gauge height due to large scale destruction of Chungthang Hydroelectric Power Plant constructed across the river Teesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 15, 2024, a wildfire occurred in Yajiang County, Sichuan Province, China, burned an area of 278.8 km2 and influenced 250 catchments in the burned area. On April 23 and May 10–11, 2024, two rainfall events struck the burned area, inducing 8 and 54 post-fire debris flows, respectively. This news investigates the characteristics of the burned area, involving the burn severity mapping, and geometry analysis on the burned catchments. Then, the characteristics of the debris flows following the fire are unravelled based on preliminary field investigations. It is expected that the debris flows after the wildfire, particularly in the first rainy season, with the high susceptibility and low rainfall threshold, will attract researchers' interest in monitoring and mitigating such unique debris flow disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streamflow, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature underpin stream fish habitat suitability, so climate change could cause widespread habitat deterioration. Identifying stream characteristics that mediate habitat resilience to heatwaves will allow conservation effort prioritisation. Here, a set of readily applied metrics were used to assess hydrological and oxythermal responses of neighbouring salmonid streams, with distinctive geologies, soil‐types, and localised riparian shading, to periods of anomalously warm conditions. During heatwaves, low flows, warm‐water temperatures, and diel oxygen variability, associated with biogenic production and respiration, predominated. In a low‐shade stream lacking significant catchment water storage, high daytime (>22°C) and night‐time (>19°C) water temperatures and low early morning O2 concentrations (<5 mg L−1) accumulated oxythermal stress for salmonids throughout summer. A stream with localised shading and a higher proportion of underlying aquifers and permeable soils throughout its watershed experienced considerably less cumulative oxythermal stress (O2 > 6 mg L−1; temperatures <19°C), whilst slower release of subsurface water bolstered base flows during dry spells. Our findings support conservation of shaded streams with permeable watersheds characterised by higher soil infiltration rates and aquifer storage capacity as salmonid sanctuaries under a warmer, drier summer climate. Preventing water quality and hydromorphological deterioration are paramount for safeguarding their role as climate refugia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a tephra deposit in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin, Bolivia, which was deposited by a major, previously unrecognized eruption sometime between AD 400 and 720. Archaeological data suggest these centuries were characterized by a substantial community migration to Tiwanaku, where social interaction networks gave birth to one of the Andes' first large complex societies. Here we provide an initial characterization of this tephra, based on samples from the archaeological site Khonkho Wankane. The same tephra is present at two other archaeological sites in the region. Given the great distance to the nearest active volcano, this tephra layer likely derives from a large-magnitude, Late-Holocene explosive eruption of a Central Andean volcano. We suggest that this major event be included in the human history of the region, given its inferred magnitude and wide dispersal area. Future research could confirm the Khonkho tephra at other sites, identify the source volcano, estimate its volume, and more precisely date the eruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific and accurate forecast of ecological environmental water consumption (EEWC) in the upper Yangtze River basin is of major prominence to the sustainable development of the basin and the formulation of eco-environmental protection policies. Firstly, a two parameter variable weight buffer operator is used to pre-processing the system shock behavior sequence. Then, an improved grey model IGM4 (λ, γ, tα) with four background values is established, introducing power exponential terms and linear correction terms to characterize data series with mixed linear and nonlinear relationships. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to find optimal parameters. Additionally, the model's effectiveness is evaluated by comparing the fitting values of models with other grey models. The final results demonstrate that the IGM4(λ, γ, tα) performs best with mean absolute percentage error only 0.0199%. Finally, model IGM4(λ, γ, tα) is utilized to predict the EEWC in the upper Yangtze River basin from 2023 to 2028. The reasonableness of the predicted results is analyzed, and related policy measures are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the arithmetic average chemical composition of main types of Pleistocene sediments in the Indian and Atlantic oceans, and average chemical composition of the Pleistocene in both oceans as well. As the base for comparison, we used data from the International project of deep-sea drilling reports (phases DSDP, ODP, IODP) and other references. It was revealed that the results of comparative analyses of the mean weighted chemical composition were determined by masses of the dry sediment matter. Domination of the Atlantic mass accumulation rates over the Indian Ocean ones was due to markedly larger catchment areas, influence of more significant humid climate, and enhanced primary production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Loneliness disproportionately affects people with mental disorders, but associations with mental health outcomes in groups affected remain less well understood. Method: A cohort of patients receiving mental healthcare on 30th June 2012 was assembled from a large mental health records database covering a south London catchment area. Recorded loneliness within the preceding 2 years was extracted using natural language processing and outcomes were measured between 30th June 2012 until 30th December 2019, except for survival which applied a censoring point of 6th December 2020 according to data available at the time of extraction. The following mental healthcare outcomes: (i) time to first crisis episode; (ii) time to first emergency presentation; (iii) all-cause mortality; (iv) days active to service per year; and (v) face-to-face contacts per year. Results: Loneliness was recorded in 4,483 (16.7%) patients in the study population and fully adjusted models showed associations with subsequent crisis episode (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.07–1.29), emergency presentation (HR 1.30, 1.21–1.40), days active per year (IRR 1.04, 1.03–1.05), and face-to-face contacts per year (IRR 1.28, 1.27–1.30). Recorded loneliness in patients with substance misuse problems was particularly strongly associated with adverse outcomes, including risk of emergency presentation (HR 1.68, 1.29–2.18) and mortality (HR 1.29, 1.01–1.65). Conclusion: Patients receiving mental healthcare who are recorded as lonely have a higher risk of several adverse outcomes which may require a need for higher service input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hoplias malabaricus group comprises seven described species, including seven karyomorphs for H. malabaricus. However, the relationship between morphological and chromosomal data within the group remains unresolved. Most studies on the Hoplias malabaricus group from the Iguazu River ecoregion have primarily focused on its upper and middle sections, while the lower Iguazu River remains unstudied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated a population of H. malabaricus from the Capanema's River (lower Iguazu River basin), Brazil, using cytogenetic techniques and DNA barcode. Through these analyses, we identified the karyomorphs A and D living in sympatry in the lower Iguazu River basin. The karyomorph A, identified as native to the Iguazu River basin, had two cytotypes, designated as A1 and A2, which are differentiated by C-positive heterochromatin and rDNA distribution patterns. Conversely, this is the first record of karyomorph D for the Iguazu River basin, which was previously thought to be endemic to the Upper Paraná River basin and may therefore represent an introduced karyomorph. Interestingly, the cytotype A2 is very similar (same haplogroup) to sequences of Hoplias argentinensis, while the karyomorph D from the lower Iguazu River basin is similar to sequences identified as Hoplias misionera. These findings provided new insights into the diversity of Hoplias gr. malabaricus from the Neotropical region, achieved through cytogenetic and DNA barcode integration. The results also highlight the increased conservation risk for native species in the Iguazu River ecoregion, particularly considering the ecological position occupied by trahiras within the trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the impact of multiple large storage reservoirs while estimating streamflow using the SWAT model in Godavari River Basin (GRB), India. The SWAT model used gridded precipitation data with observed large reservoir inflow and outflow. Twelve large reservoir data are used to study their impact on streamflow estimation in GRB. The streamflow has been simulated at 15 gauging stations for two scenarios, with and without large storage reservoirs. The model is validated by comparing the simulated streamflow with the observed streamflow during the period 2006–2013, after calibrating the model from 1965 to 2005. The performance indicators, namely RMSE, Pbias, R2, and NSE have been used to evaluate the model. The sensitivity analysis revealed that out of several parameters, 16 model parameters and four reservoir parameters were the most influencing parameters. The SWAT model results revealed an underestimation of evapotranspiration (ET) and an overestimation of water yield when simulated without reservoirs. During calibration of the model, an R2 and NSE of 0.95 and 0.94, respectively, are achieved at the Polavaram gauge station, the outlet of GRB. Overall, the SWAT model performance on streamflow estimation improved by up to 21% (at Polavaram station) during the validation period after considering large reservoirs in GRB. Research highlights: Studied the impact of multiple large storage reservoirs in estimating streamflow using the SWAT model. A large Indian River Basin is studied for the first time. The results revealed the under-estimation of ET and over-estimation of the water yield in the SWAT model without reservoirs scenario. The streamflow simulation performance of the SWAT model is improved by 21% with reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 40-cm core of lake-bottom silt from Yercaud Lake (Eastern Ghats, south India) dates from 2500 years ago to the present, as confirmed by AMS radiocarbon dating. The average deposition rate varied from 0.024 to 0.008 cm/yr. Sediment particle size distribution, stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N), C/N, and total organic carbon (TOC) were investigated as indicators of environmental change. In the top 10 cm are the coarsest sediments, which range from silt to silty sand and have a TOC of up to 5%. Algal lacustrine organic matter is combined with terrestrial or wetland organic matter from vascular plants to form organic matter (OM) with a C/N ratio of 12–18. High C/N levels are associated with low 13C and high TOC contents, indicating periods of drier climate between 0–500 and 800–2000 years BP. Grain-size characteristics, which fluctuate independently of OM qualities, are likely to have changed because of intensive human use of the lake basin in the past 600 years. Climate changes observed in OM do not correspond to changes observed in other south Indian lakes where precipitation is primarily from the southwest monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on the devastating floods along the Kosi River in Bihar in July 2020, which were recorded by Sentinel-1A satellite images. Three flood-affected districts in Saharsa, Supaul, and Madhepura have been selected for this study. Pre- and post-flood images from the Sentinel-1A satellite were utilized to generate the flood-inundated map, and pre-flood Landsat-8 datasets were used to generate the land use and land cover maps. Finally, damage assessment was done by superimposing land use and land cover on a flood-inundated map. The results showed that Madhepura was the most affected district with 57.6% of its barren land experiencing inundation. Furthermore, a comparison of cloud cover percentages during the flood was undertaken using the Sentinel-1A, Sentinel-2B, and Landsat-8 datasets. The findings indicate Sentinel-1A has less than 1% cloud cover, making it suitable for flood monitoring. Due to urbanization and industrialization, land use/cover (LULC) varies rapidly, and the effect on the flood plain must be determined. TerrSet's Land Change Modeler uses cellular automata–Markov modeling to project LULC maps for 2030 and their implications for subsequent flooding. The findings indicate that Saharsa will see an increase in the built-up area of 2.7%, Supaul with a gain of 13.4%, and Madhepura will see a growth of 10.3%. The growth of built-up regions in the near future will encourage greater impermeable layers and more discharge. Therefore, land use planners, environmentalists, and lawmakers should consider these LULC changes in water resource planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with investigating the spatial variation of suspended sediment properties in the Sutlej river basin (SRB). Twenty sampling locations were selected in the Sutlej river and its tributaries, and sediment sampling was carried out during monsoon season. The suspended sediment properties, namely suspended sediment concentration (SSC), particle size distribution (PSD), shape, and mineralogy, were measured through dynamic imaging, laser diffraction, and x-ray diffraction techniques. It was found that there is a wide variation of SSC, whereas there is an insignificant variation of PSD, shape, and mineralogy in the SRB. The highest SSC (2841 mg/l) was observed in the Kiran tributary, whereas the lowest (131 mg/l) was in the Titang tributary. The highest SSC (1749 mg/l) in the Sutlej main stem was observed at Khab, the topmost sampling location. The mean particle size varies from 6.00 to 25.36 µm (5.53–7.53 Φ). Shape analysis showed high degree of sphericity varying from 0.81 to 0.88 and slight elongation varying from 0.70 to 0.8. Mineralogical analysis depicts the dominance of quartz (66.73–82.25%) in the SRB. International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 62364 (IEC 62364 (2019) Hydraulic machines—Guidelines for dealing with hydro-abrasive erosion in Kaplan, Francis, and Pelton turbines, 2nd edn. Geneva, Switzerland) based average shape and hardness factors for SRB were estimated as 1.36 and 0.85, respectively. The maximum particle load for SRB was estimated as 0.014 kg/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) for southwestern Kansas was investigated. Multiple sources of water for MAR were investigated, including rainfall-runoff from fields, use of low-flow or ephemeral rivers and streams, and use of a large regional river. Use of the Arkansas River was found to be the most viable source of water. Construction of infiltration basins in existing sand mines was found to be the best MAR alternative in this region. The requirement for the reclamation of sand mines set out by the State of Kansas fits the requirements of infiltration basins, and there exists a local ditch system that can convey Arkansas River flows to the basins with little need of new construction. The salinity of the Arkansas River is of concern. The negative impact of this could be reduced by selecting salt-tolerant crops. This investigation is relevant throughout the State of Kansas, leading to the possibility that another region would have more suitable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River basin is rich in sediment that provides a transport carrier for the transport and diffusion of pollutants. Molybdate ions contained in the tributaries of the Yellow River are dispersed with the water and sediment movement to the whole basin, which will result in water pollution and soil pollution within a certain range. The static adsorption method is adopted to study the adsorption of molybdate ions onto the Yellow River sediment, the adsorption model of molybdate on sediment can be obtained from the experimental data and kinetic analysis can be carried out to lay a good foundation for exploring molybdenum adsorption and removal in actual water flow. The effects of contact time, pollutant concentration, sediment concentration, and agitation frequency on the molybdenum adsorption onto sediment were investigated. In the process of sediment-molybdenum adsorption, the kinetics and isothermal adsorption conformed to the Lennard-Jones equation model and the Freundlich model, respectively. Simultaneously increasing the molybdenum concentration, sediment content, and agitation frequency enhances the adsorption of molybdate onto sediment particles. Higher concentrations within a specific range have a more pronounced effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the rapid urbanisation, the ecological environment of plateau lake basins faces significant challenges. To better coordinate the relationship between urbanisation development and ecological environment construction, this paper conducts an analysis and assessment of the ecological resilience and urbanisation coupling coordination in Dali Prefecture based on sociogeographical spatial data. Initially, an assessment model for ecological resilience is established using resilience theory. Subsequently, the urbanisation development level is evaluated based on panel data. Finally, a coupling coordination model is employed to calculate the coupling coordination between the two aspects. The results indicate: (1) a rapid increase in basin urbanisation from 2010 to 2019, particularly between 2010 and 2015; (2) a continuous expansion of lowvalue ecological resilience areas across the entire basin, with a predominance of townships experiencing fluctuating decreases or stagnation, leading to an overall negative trend in ecological resilience indices; (3) evident spatial and temporal disparities in coupling coordination between the two systems in the basin's villages and towns, primarily reflected in differences in coupling coordination types, with a few towns consistently exhibiting environmental lag. This study introduces a customised ecological resilience model for the Erhai Basin, enhancing comprehension of urbanisation-ecological resilience dynamics in plateau lake basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large-scale debris flow susceptibility assessments, there is often excessive manual intervention, low efficiency, and inadequate model accuracy. To address these issues, this paper integrates multiple data sources and proposes a Multi-channel and Multi-scale Residual Network (MMRNet) for automatic extraction of gully features. Firstly, MMRNet employs a multi-scale feature fusion module to capture both local and global features of gullies, enhancing the model's feature representation capabilities. It then uses an improved residual structure to fuse shallow features, compress features, and improve assessment efficiency. Additionally, channel rearrangement techniques are used to enhance feature flow. Finally, susceptibility prediction is made based on the similarity between the gully under evaluation and gullies where debris flows have occurred. The natural breakpoint method is used to classify susceptibility results into five levels. Experimental results show that the very high susceptibility zones for debris flows are mainly concentrated in areas with abundant river systems along the Nujiang River, covering 61.68% of the entire study area, with a debris flow proportion of 98.78%. The MMRNet model achieves an accuracy (ACC) of 81.6% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8320, indicating that this model is a high-performance method for debris flow susceptibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic Forest biome has lost a significant portion of its natural habitat and little research has studied how deforestation impacts the biome's local water balance. The objective of this research is to understand how the hydrological cycle of the region is affected by the change in land use. For this, the INLAND (Integrated Model of Surface Processes) surface model was calibrated and validated for the biome. Subsequently, changes in precipitation in the biome and the influence of deforestation on the surface components of the hydrological cycle were analyzed. To determine the influence of deforestation on the surface components of the hydrological cycle, two scenarios were simulated and compared, a deforestation scenario and a pasture scenario. The results showed that the total runoff in the deforestation scenario between 1951–1960 was, on average, 16.82% lower than the values found from 1971 to 1980. The use of modeling also made it possible to estimate the behavior of the difference between evapotranspiration and total runoff simulated with the occurrence of deforestation and with the area preserved in its entirety. It was observed that the biome has a certain resilience to deforestation up to a particular point, after which evapotranspiration decreases and the total runoff increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking and cycling are not just physical activities; they are essential transport modes for students in most rural parts of Africa. Therefore, calling for their promotion without critically examining accessibility in a context where the effect of distance-related land use variables and streets -a major active transport infrastructure - are assessed, leads to a futile agenda in the continent. This study seeks to address this by applying the three-step catchment floating method to assess education/school accessibility through walking and cycling in the Ayawaso East Municipal Assembly (AEMA) and Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TaMA) in Ghana. Additionally, the differences in accessibility, along with the association of street connectivity and land use variables such as the number and density of schools and catchment areas with education/school accessibility are determined by correlation and Mann–Whitney's U-tests. The findings revealed a poorly connected dendritic road network system at both locations and shortcomings in school and street network planning that have left some communities vulnerable to low education opportunities. Without policy and planning interventions to address school siting and improve street connectivity, walking and cycling will not only be hindered, but education for some communities, particularly in TaMA may be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Europe and other parts of the world have experienced numerous extreme floods and prolonged periods of very low water discharges. With the increasing length and availability of hydrological data time series, it is now possible to analyse a larger volume of data. This paper presents long-term of changes in seasonal and maximum discharges. This paper aims to comprehensively assess the hydrological regime changes of Slovak rivers, using data from 26 gauging stations based on 90 years of observation. The study's first part explores monthly flow changes within each year for selected Slovak rivers. The second part identifies changes in the maximum daily discharges, their long-term trends, and their occurrences. Additionally, we have compared the variability of the hydrological regime of the Slovak rivers with the variability of the hydrological regime of selected gauging stations on the Danube River and its tributaries, such as the Drava, Sajó, and Tisa rivers, to understand broader regional patterns. The findings show that the rivers selected exhibit relatively high intra-annual runoff variability, with various changes in the runoff regime curve based on the long-term monthly Pardé coefficient. For the Slovak region, maximum annual runoff variability is observed in the Krupinica and Plašťovce rivers (reaching a maximum of 12.1 during the period 1930–1960), while minimum annual runoff variability is observed in the Biely Váh River (2.205 for the period 1930–1960). The long-term trend analysis of the Burn index time series for maximum daily discharges over the entire period from 1930/31 to 2019/20, as well as the significance of trends during the summer-autumn and winter-spring seasons, shows that stations exhibited decreasing, stable, or increasing trends. The most significant increasing trend was observed at sixteen of the stations analyzed: at seventeen stations during the summer-autumn season and at nine stations during the winter-spring season over the period from 1930/31 to 2019/20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study a network of three eddy covariance stations rotated between five measurement sites is used to measure evaporation (E) within the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory (HOAL) in Petzenkirchen, Austria for 8 years. Discharge measurements at the tributaries and outlet of the main catchment allow for E to be estimated for 6 subcatchments using the water balance method. Year to year variability in monthly E measured by the eddy covariance stations is found to be driven primarily by net radiation and temperature and annual E by net radiation. Year to year variability in the water balance-based E estimate was driven by precipitation. The two methods are found to be consistent, when storage and leakage are accounted for. Daily and seasonal patterns can be seen resulting from the agricultural land use cycle, due to the variations in land cover during the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, information plays a critical role in shaping individual behaviors toward the environment. Drawing on the externality theory, this study examined how information sources influence rural residents' willingness and behaviors toward domestic waste sorting in three cities of Jiangsu Province, China. Using survey data from 1,058 rural residents in the Taihu Lake Basin, we demonstrate that information sources significantly promote waste sorting behaviors by reducing information asymmetry. This, in turn, reduces domestic waste and increases recycling and resource recovery, all of which are central to a circular economy. Moreover, we found a substitution effect between official and unofficial sources of information. Further heterogeneity analysis revealed that only authorized information from the government significantly contributes to waste sorting behaviors among rural residents, especially among those who doubt its environmental benefits. These findings underscore the importance of leveraging information tools to guide green behavior and promote a truly circular economic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2015 occurred the largest environmental disaster in the world mining industry – the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The dam's tailings buried and contaminated large areas of the Doce River catchment, its estuary, and the surrounding Atlantic Rainforest. Despite the severity and extent of this disturbance, our knowledge about tailings dam failure impacts in terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity and their ecosystem functions remain limited. We investigated the impacts of the dam failure on surrounding Atlantic Rainforest ant communities and their interactions with seeds, two years and four months after the failure. Ant composition changed, as some species were lost and replaced by others. While species richness and number of individuals remained unaffected, 26 species were lost from the affected communities, leading to the phylogenetic impoverishment of the community. The tailings also altered ant-seed interactions, increasing the time ants took to locate a seed and the distance of seed removal. As ants are well-established bioindicators, these impacts likely extend to other faunal groups. The cascading effects of such impacts on forest regeneration are still unclear, as are the potential effects of the observed changes in ant communities on other ecosystem functions ants perform. Implications for insect conservation: Our study shows how a large-scale human-induced impact can affect ant communities and their key role in seed dispersal. Understanding how severe and extensive disturbances affect biological communities is key for devising remediation and recovery strategies in disturbed areas. This knowledge aids in restoring the native flora and fauna in these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regions characterized by snow and glaciers, the selection of appropriate methodologies and the use of suitable hydrological models are imperative due to heightened vulnerability to the impacts of global climate change. This study focuses on the Tamor River basin (TRB) in the Eastern Himalaya of Nepal, aiming to employ an advanced hydrological model to enhance understanding and prediction. We used the SPHY-cryo-hydro-climate-impact model to simulate the daily discharge and to estimate the contribution of different runoff components both annually and seasonally. The model was chosen based on physical processes representation, the ability to simulate snow and glacier melt, and the computational efficiency to project the daily discharge simulations in changing climate. Utilizing meteorological data with high temporal (daily) and spatial (250 m × 250 m grid cell size) resolution from 1995 to 2012, the model undergoes calibration (1996–2004) and validation (2005–2012) using a manual approach due to the limited parameters requiring calibration. The model's performance is evaluated using goodness of fit (GoF) functions, including NSE, KGE, and VD, with satisfactory results (NSE ≥ 70%, VD < 10%, KGE > 0.7) for both calibration and validation periods at two monitoring stations (690 and 684). The study reveals that snow and ice melt significantly contribute to pre-monsoon flow (March, April, and May), constituting approximately 35% of the total flow, while their influence diminishes during post-monsoon seasons (October and November). Sensitivity analyses indicate the model's responsiveness to both temperature and precipitation forcings, with temperature exerting a more pronounced impact, particularly on temperature-dependent melt modules and the state of precipitation at higher elevations. However, uncertainties persist in the model outputs, primarily attributed to input forcings, model structure, and parameters derived from literature rather than field measurements. The observed discrepancy between flow duration curves suggests that calibrated parameters remain partially optimized and subject to uncertainty. This study underscores the complexity of hydrological modeling in snow and glacier-dominated regions and emphasizes the need for continued refinement to enhance predictive accuracy amid evolving climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological accidents triggered by natural hazards, which are commonly referred to as Natech events, are rare occurrences yet carry the potential for significant damage. Specifically, the release of hazardous chemicals into the aquatic environment and community water systems poses a grave threat to human health and society. Accordingly, we must conduct assessments that consider the potential consequences of these accidents. In this study, we examined the criteria for implementing spill protection measures to mitigate river spills of chemical substances using information on the amount of chemical substances and their toxicity. The countermeasure options readily available to employees at industrial plants and chemical storage sites where a chemical spill might originate included emergency shut-off valves, bunds and related spill containment structures, and other spill prevention measures. In this case study, a combination of countermeasure options was evaluated to examine the effectiveness of spill mitigation in the Yodo River located in the Kyoto Prefecture of Japan. Results of the case study showed that bunds were emerged as the most useful countermeasure option, reducing the probability of accidents occurring and impact of accidents. We also defined a methodology for calculating the chemical storage volumes appropriate for different countermeasures to ensure that the concentration of chemicals that could reach the water intake does not exceed the standard values. We believe that these methodologies can help chemical-handling companies make decisions when countermeasure options for responding to a chemical spill into a river. Chemical-handling companies can estimate the risk to downstream water treatment plants in the chemical spill, which can also help them consider mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anadromous fishes rely on abundant prey in the ocean to grow large quickly, but prey limitation leads to interspecific competition. When species interactions are difficult to observe, growth can be studied to detect otherwise cryptic signals of competition. We describe a previously undocumented 2-year cycle in the lengths of adult natural-origin steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) returning to spawn in the Snake River Basin. Returning steelhead were 38 mm shorter on odd return years, not accounting for sex, stock, and years of ocean residence. The well-known cycle in abundance of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from eastern Kamchatka and North America had statistically significant negative effects on returning steelhead lengths that depended on sex and the number of years of ocean residence. These results suggest that competition for limited resources occurs well after initial ocean entry and that interactions during later stages of ocean residence can be influential. Interspecific competition has implications for future returns of steelhead from the ocean, especially as metabolic demands for steelhead increase as the ocean warms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]