Search Results (5,777)

Green infrastructure (GI) is increasingly prioritised in landscape policy and planning due to its potential to benefit ecosystems and enhance wildlife conservation. However, due to the uneven distribution of protected areas (PAs) and the fragmentation of habitats more generally, multi-level policy strategies are needed to create an integrated GI network bridging national, regional and local scales. In the province of Almeria, southeastern Spain, protected areas are mainly threatened by two land use/land cover changes. On the one hand, there is the advance of intensive greenhouse agriculture, which, between 1984 and 2007, increased in surface area by more than 58%. On the other hand, there is the growth of artificial surfaces, including urban areas (+64%), construction sites (+194%) and road infrastructures (+135%). To address this challenge, we present a proposal for green infrastructure deployment in the province of Almeria. We combine Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) techniques to identify and evaluate suitability for key elements to be included in GI in two key ways. First, we identify the most suitable areas to form part of the GI in order to address vulnerability to degradation and fragmentation. Second, we propose 15 ecological corridors connecting the 35 protected areas of the province that act as core areas. The proposed GI network would extend along the western coast of the province and occupy the valleys of the main rivers. The river Almanzora plays a leading role. Due to its remoteness from the coast and its climatic conditions, it has not attracted intensive greenhouse agriculture and urban development, the main drivers of the transformation and fragmentation of traditional land uses. Around 50% of the area occupied by the proposed corridors would be located in places of medium and high suitability for the movement of species between core areas. Full article

Sea cucumbers are benthic marine invertebrate members of the phylum Echinodermata. Due to the absence of a rigid skeleton, these species have developed chemical defenses based on the production of saponins (triterpene glycosides). These secondary metabolites are bioactive molecules with a broad biological, ecological, and pharmaceutical spectrum. However, the saponin profiles of several species of sea cucumbers are not known yet. The present study aims to highlight the mixture of saponins in two sea cucumber species from the Algerian coast, namely Holothuria (Holothuria) algeriensis, which has been recently described in central and western Algerian waters, and Holothuria (Roweothuria) arguinensis, originating from the Atlantic Ocean and reported in Algeria for the first time in 2014. Saponin extracts from three individuals of H. (H.) algeriensis and two individuals of H. (R.) arguinensis were analyzed using mass spectrometry, i.e., Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), MALDI-High Resolution MS (MALDI-HRMS), Liquid Chromatography MS (LC-MS) and tandem MS (LC-MS/MS). These analyses allow us to detect 11 and 18 elemental compositions for H. (H.) algeriensis and H. (R.) arguinensis, respectively, each presenting several isomers. In total, 13 new saponin structures are proposed, of which four are common between the two species, six are specific to H. (H.) algeriensis and three to H. (R.) arguinensis. The saponin profiles of the two species were compared to those of other species of the same genus existing on the Algerian coast and the results showed that they share non-sulfated saponins with Holothuria (Panningothuria) forskali and Holothuria (Platyperona) sanctori and sulfated saponins with Holothuria (Holothuria) tubulosa and Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli. Full article

The NURSECOAST-II project addresses the challenge of managing wastewater in near-coastal tourist destinations around the Baltic Sea, particularly from small treatment plants (<2000 PE) that experience fluctuating flows due to seasonal tourism. These fluctuations make it difficult to meet environmental standards, potentially harming both the environment and tourism. The project has created a GIS-based inventory of small wastewater treatment plants within 100 km of the coast. This inventory includes crucial operational data like flow rates, pollutant levels, and treatment technologies. Initial findings reveal significant discrepancies in data management, regulations, and treatment standards across the Baltic Sea region countries, as EU legislation does not uniformly cover plants under 2000 PE. Key findings highlight that small treatment plants are often undocumented, their environmental impact underestimated, and regulations vary widely. Small plants can significantly contribute to nutrient pollution, affecting the Baltic Sea, particularly in local areas. The data gathered will support local authorities in identifying gaps and improving management strategies. This study stresses the need for harmonized data collection and reporting methods across countries and suggests establishing a unified database accessible to both specialists and the public. The status of the collected data depending on the type of data and country was as follows: 38.11% from Denmark, 46.14% from Estonia, 26.36% from Finland, 15.56% from Germany, 23.47% from Latvia, 34.77% from Lithuania, 14.51% from Poland, and 45.40% from Sweden. Ultimately, this project aims to enhance wastewater management, protect the environment, and improve tourist satisfaction in coastal regions. Full article

The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is an Australian native bird species whose traditional habitat is inland wetlands. Environmental factors have seen the species steadily relocate to the eastern coast of Australia over the last few decades, primarily settling in cities. In 2016, McKiernan and Instone identified that 70% of Australian newspaper reports about the urban ibises from 1998 to 2012 presented the birds as either pests or victims. Since then, the ibis populations have grown, leading to the ibis being voted one of the top ten most commonly seen urban backyard birds in 2019. Media representation both reflects and shapes public perception and understanding, so it is timely for a contemporary investigation into how the ibis is represented in Australian newspapers. Has newspaper representation of the Australian White Ibis changed since 2013? If so, what new narratives have emerged? A content analysis of 68 Australian newspaper items from 2013 to 2024 was conducted with results showing a decrease in pest and victim narratives and the introduction of two new positive narratives-survivor and hero. This finding evidences changes in media representation pointing to potential changes in public understanding of the ibis and the possibility of improved relations between humans and the native bird species. Full article

Based on statistical analyses of long-term reanalysis data, we have investigated the interdecadal variations of autumn precipitation in central China (APC-d) and the associated atmospheric teleconnection. It reveals that the increased autumn rainfall in central China during the last decade is a portion of the APC-d, which exhibits a high correlation coefficient of 0.7 with the interdecadal variations of the Europe–China pattern (EC-d pattern) teleconnection. The EC-d pattern teleconnection presents in a “+-+” structure over Eurasia, putting central China into the periphery of a quasi-barotropic anticyclonic high-pressure anomaly. Driven by positive vorticity advection and the inflow of warmer and moist air from the south, central China experiences enhanced ascending motion and abundant water vapor supply, resulting in increased rainfall. Further analysis suggests that the EC-d pattern originates from the exit of the North Atlantic jet and propagates eastward. It is captured by the Asian westerly jet stream and proceeds towards East Asia through the wave–mean flow interaction. The wave train acquires effective potential energy from the mean flow by the baroclinic energy conversion and simultaneously obtains kinetic energy from the basic westerly jet zones across the North Atlantic and the East Asian coasts. The interdecadal variation of the mid-latitude North Atlantic sea surface temperature (MAT-d) exhibits a significant negative relationship with EC-d, serving as a modulating factor for the EC-d pattern teleconnection. Experiments with CMIP6 models predict that the interdecadal variations in APC-d, EC-d, and MAT-d will maintain stable high correlations for the rest of the 21st century. These findings may contribute to forecasting the interdecadal autumn dry–wet conditions in central China. Full article

To assess the contamination levels, sources, and ecological health risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the sediments of Al Lith on the Saudi Red Sea coast, 25 samples were collected and analyzed for Zn, V, Cr, Cu, Ni, As, Pb, and Fe using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The average concentrations of PTEs (μg/g) were obtained in the following order: Fe (14,259) > V (28.30) > Zn (22.74) > Cr (16.81) > Cu (12.41) > Ni (10.63) > As (2.66) > Pb (2.46). The average values of enrichment factor were in the following order: As (1.12) > Zn (0.75) > V (0.70) > Cr (0.69) > Cu (0.69) > Pb (0.67) > Ni (0.46). This indicated that the Al Lith sediments exhibited either no or minimal enrichment of PTEs, with concentrations below the low effect range. This suggests that the primary source of these PTEs is the minerals associated with the basement rocks of the Arabian Shield (sphalerite, vanadiferous magnetite, chromite, pentlandite, arsenopyrite, and galena) and that they are unlikely to pose a substantial risk to benthic communities. The hazard index (HI) values for the PTEs in both adults and children were below 1.0, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) values for Pb, As, and Cr in both adults and children were within acceptable or tolerable levels, posing no significant health threats. However, a few samples showed LCR values exceeding 1 × 10⁻⁴, which may indicate potential risks. Full article

Globally, the health of coastal water bodies continues to be threatened by climate change and mounting anthropogenic pressures related to population increase and associated development. Land use changes have increased the direct runoff of freshwater, nutrients, and other contaminants from watersheds into coastal systems. Exacerbated by increased temperatures, these changes have contributed to a worldwide decline in seagrass coverage and losses of critical habitat and ecosystem functions. For restricted estuaries and lagoons, the influx of nutrients is particularly damaging due to high water residence times and impaired flushing. The result is eutrophication and associated declines in water quality and ecosystem function. To mitigate degraded water quality, engineered ocean–estuary exchanges have been carried out and studied with examples in Australia, New Zealand, India, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United States of America. Based on successes including decreased nutrient concentrations, turbidity, and chlorophyll and increased faunal abundance in some past studies, this option is considered as a management tool for combatting worsening water quality in other estuaries including the Indian River Lagoon, a subtropical, lagoon-type estuary on the central east coast of Florida, USA. Decreased residence times, lower nutrients, higher dissolved oxygen (DO), higher salinity, lower temperature, and lower turbidity all combine for improved ecosystem health. In this review, the successes and failures of past projects intended to increase ocean–estuary exchanges, including biological and geochemical processes that contributed to observed outcomes, are evaluated. The primary indicators of water quality considered in this review include nutrient contents (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) and dissolved oxygen levels. Secondary indicators include changes in temperature and salinity pre- and post- engineering as well as turbidity, which can also impact seagrass growth and overall ecosystem health. Each of the sites investigated recorded improvements in water quality, though some were more pronounced and occurred over shorter time scales. Overall, enhanced ocean exchange in restricted, impaired water bodies resulted in system-specific response trajectories, with many experiencing a net positive outcome with respect to water quality and ecosystem health. Full article

Campanula fragilis Cirillo is a species distributed in central and southern Italy and includes two subspecies with uncertain taxonomic position and distribution. By means of nuclear and chloroplast markers, we attempted at testing the genetic distinctness of the two subspecies, as well as their possible correspondence with geographical or ecological patterns. After a revision of geographic occurrences based on herbarium data, we carried out species distribution modeling to assess the present and future distribution of this species under different ecological variables, also for conservation purposes. Our findings support the recognition of two weakly differentiated taxa, here accepted at subspecific rank, in agreement with the current taxonomic treatment. We found that C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii is monophyletic and limited to mountains and hills of central Italy. On the contrary, C. fragilis subsp. fragilis shows a higher genetic variability and a broader distribution in central and southern Italy, with a wider altitudinal range from coasts to mountain cliffs. We confirmed that both subspecies are narrowly calcicolous and have similar ecological requirements, but C. fragilis subsp. cavolinii occurs in colder habitats. Our results forecast a significant distribution contraction in the long term. Full article

A diffractive solar sail is an elegant concept for a propellantless spacecraft propulsion system that uses a large, thin, lightweight surface covered with a metamaterial film to convert solar radiation pressure into a net propulsive acceleration. The latter can be used to perform a typical orbit transfer both in a heliocentric and in a planetocentric mission scenario. In this sense, the diffractive sail, proposed by Swartzlander a few years ago, can be considered a sort of evolution of the more conventional reflective solar sail, which generally uses a metallized film to reflect the incident photons, studied in the scientific literature starting from the pioneering works of Tsander and Tsiolkovsky in the first decades of the last century. In the context of a diffractive sail, the use of a metamaterial film with a Littrow transmission grating allows for the propulsive acceleration magnitude to be reduced to zero (and then, the spacecraft to be inserted in a coasting arc during the transfer) without resorting to a sail attitude that is almost edgewise to the Sun, as in the case of a classical reflective solar sail. The aim of this work is to study the optimal (i.e., the rapid) transfer performance of a spacecraft propelled by a diffractive sail with a Littrow transmission grating (DSLT) in a three-dimensional heliocentric mission scenario, in which the space vehicle transfers between two assigned Keplerian orbits. Accordingly, this paper extends and generalizes the results recently obtained by the author in the context of a simplified, two-dimensional, heliocentric mission scenario. In particular, this work illustrates an analytical model of the thrust vector that can be used to study the performance of a DSLT-based spacecraft in a three-dimensional optimization context. The simplified thrust model is employed to simulate the rapid transfer in a set of heliocentric mission scenarios as a typical interplanetary transfer toward a terrestrial planet and a rendezvous with a periodic comet. Full article

In the winter of 2023/2024, the mass death of swans was observed on Lake Karakol on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. From 21 December 2023 to 25 January 2024, 1132 swan corpses (Cygnus olor, Cygnus cygnus) were collected and disposed of on the coast by veterinary services and ecologists. Biological samples were collected from 18 birds for analysis at different dates of the epizootic. It was found that the influenza outbreak was associated with a high concentration of migrating birds at Lake Karakol as a result of a sharp cold snap in the northern regions. At different dates of the epizootic, three avian influenza A/H5N1 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4.b were isolated from dead birds and identified as highly pathogenic viruses (HPAIs) based on the amino acid sequence of the hemagglutinin multi-base proteolytic cleavage site (PLREKRRRKR/G). A phylogenetic analysis showed that the viruses isolated from the swans had reassortations in the PB2, PB1, and NP genes between highly pathogenic (HP) and low-pathogenic (LP) avian influenza viruses. Avian influenza viruses A/Cygnus cygnus/Karakol lake/01/2024(H5N1) and A/Mute swan/Karakol lake/02/2024(H5N1) isolated on 10 January 2024 received PB2, PB1, and NP from LPAIV, while A/Mute swan/Mangystau/9809/2023(H5N1) isolated on 26 December 2023 received PB1 and NP from LPAIV, indicating that the H5N1 viruses in this study are new reassortants. All viruses showed amino acid substitutions in the PB2, PB1, NP, and NS1 segments, which are critical for enhanced virulence or adaptation in mammals. An analysis of the genomes of the isolated viruses showed that bird deaths during different periods of the epizootic were caused by different reassortant viruses. Kazakhstan is located at the crossroads of several migratory routes of migratory birds, and the possible participation of wild birds in the introduction of various pathogens into the regions of Kazakhstan requires further study. Full article

With the growth of the nations, the commercial and public services sectors have recently seen an increase in their electricity usage. This demonstrates how crucial it is to understand a building’s behavior in order to lower its usage. This requires on-site data collection by qualified professionals and specialized equipment, which represents high costs. However, multiple studies have demonstrated that it is possible to find electricity-saving strategies from the study of electricity usage, recorded in an hourly period or less, captured by smart meters. In this context, the present study applies a methodology to determine useful information on the operation and characteristics of public buildings on the Ecuadorian coast based on the data gathered over a period of five consecutive months from smart meters. The methodology consists of four steps: (1) data cleaning and filling, (2) time-series decomposition, (3) the generation of consumption profile and (4) the identification of the temperature influence. According to the results, the pre-cooling of spaces accounts for 5% of all electricity used in the commercial buildings, while prolonged shutdown uses 10%. Approximately USD 1100 per month would be spent on the main building and USD 78 on the agency as a result. Full article

Coasts are the most densely populated regions in the world and are vulnerable to different natural and human factors, e.g., sea-level rise, coastal accretion and erosion processes, the intensification of sea storms and hurricanes, the presence of marine litter, chronic pollution and beach oil spill accidents, etc. Although coastal zones have been affected by local anthropic activities for decades, their impacts on coastal ecosystems is often unclear. Several papers are presented in this Special Issue detailing the interactions between natural processes and human impacts in coastal ecosystems all around the world. A better understanding of such natural and human impacts is therefore of great relevance to confidently predict their negative effects on coastal areas and thus promote different conservation strategies. The implementation of adequate management measures will help coastal communities adapt to future scenarios in the short and long term and prevent damage due to different pollution types, e.g., beach oil spill accidents, through the establishment of Environmental Sensitivity Maps. Full article

Data collected by C. Re. Di. Ma over a 3-year period (2020–2022) were considered to assess anthropic pressure on cetaceans living in the Ligurian sea. Out of a total of 37 stranded cetaceans, a complete post mortem examination was performed on 23 cases. Of these, 14 were further selected considering at least one of these conditions: (i) confirmed, probable, or suspected interaction with fishing activities through the application of a standardized diagnostic framework (7/14; 50%), (ii) toxicological stress through the evaluation of OCs hazardous levels (14/14; 100%), and (iii) terrestrial pathogen-associated disease (systemic infection and/or associated lesions) (7/14; 50%). For 9 animals out of a total of 14 selected, the cause of death was classified as natural (6/14; 42,8%), anthropic (3/14; 21,4%), or not determined (5/14; 35,7%) based on gross and histological pathology and ancillary testing. These findings extend our knowledge of the anthropic pressure to which cetaceans stranded along the Ligurian coastline are subjected from a multidisciplinary point of view. Full article

Port coasts are affected by waves and tidal currents, and sediment continues to silt up, leading to a reduction in the depth of water in the channel, blocking the channel and seriously affecting the safe operation of ports. The main cause of sediment deposition in ports is suspended sediment transport, and the characteristics of the vertical distribution of suspended sediment concentrations are the embodiment of the suspended sediment transport law. This paper is divided into three parts to study the vertical distribution characteristics of suspended sediment concentrations. Firstly, the shortcomings of the traditional diffusion model were analysed by using the finite mixing theory (FMT); secondly, the sediment mixing length coefficient κ_s model was introduced and combined with the sediment group settling velocity model to establish the vertical distribution model of suspended sediment concentrations under wave–current; finally, the effects of various factors on the vertical distribution of the suspended sediment concentration were investigated. The results show that the model in this paper has the characteristics of “low variance and low bias”, which solves the problem that κ_s is difficult to determine. When the model κ_s < κ_s′ (κ_s′ = 0.4), the concentration of suspended sediment predicted by κ_s′ is overestimated, and vice versa. As the sediment concentration increases, the interaction between particles increases and the vertical distribution of the suspended sediment concentration shows the pattern of “small top and large bottom”. The larger the particle size, the greater the sedimentation rate of the suspended sediment, and a large amount of sediment will be suspended near the bottom without mixing. The higher the wave height, the stronger the boundary layer turbulence and the movement of the water particles’ trajectory, and the smaller the difference in sediment concentration between the bottom and the sea surface. Full article

Dry rainforest communities are globally threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climatic change but are less well researched and more poorly conserved than mesic rainforests. In response to the increasing loss of biodiversity, the Australian Government joined other international signatory parties to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF emphasises the maintenance of connectivity and genetic diversity of whole ecosystems via landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Rainforest plant diversity, distinctiveness, and the current level of conservation of seasonal rainforest regional ecosystems of the Central Queensland Coast region in Australia were evaluated. Our three-marker DNA barcode dated phylogeny of rainforest plant taxa together with community species lists were used to calculate phylogenetic diversity (PD) estimates and species composition. Levels of rainforest ecosystem protection were assessed using Queensland government data. This study found selection pressures for moisture and geology significantly influence rainforest distribution and species diversity and evidence of a high degree of variability in terms of conservation. While some phylogenetically distinctive rainforest community types were well conserved, restricted or endangered communities were very poorly protected. Additionally, we found smaller dry rainforests in the Central Queensland Coast represent regional plant migration but are inadequately protected, highlighting the need for a revision of conservation objectives within the region. Full article