Search Results (1,487)

The Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus is an invasive alien species (IAS) that has become established in many European countries. Because of its invasive status and its frequent interactions with native species, understanding the behavioural tolerance of this species to human disturbance is relevant for both conservation and management. Here, we analysed Flight Initiation Distances (FID) of T. aethiopicus recorded between 2012 and 2025 across the northern Adriatic coast. The dataset (n = 72) included approaches on foot and by boat in six habitat types (artificial saltmarshes, farmlands, brackish ponds, freshwater wetlands, saltmarshes, tidal flats). Mean FID was 41 m (SD = ± 24); it was affected mainly by group size, whereas habitat, season and approach mode had no clear effect. A cross-species analysis of mean FID versus body mass indicated that, for its size, T. aethiopicus has a much shorter FID than expected from the allometric relationship observed in 20 other waterbirds species for which FID was also collected (n = 1505) at the same sites. The results suggest partial habituation to anthropized environments and a limited flight response compared to native species. These findings may support management actions aimed at monitoring and controlling the expansion of the species while mitigating disturbance to native assemblages. Full article

African grasses deliberately introduced for cattle forage have become among the most destructive invaders of tropical wetlands globally, yet invasion mechanisms and management strategies remain poorly understood. We conducted field experiments examining competition dynamics between the invasive African grass Echinochloa pyramidalis and native wetland species in La Mancha, Mexico—a Ramsar site of international importance. Experiment 1 tested invasion potential within native Sagittaria lancifolia zones using four treatments: control, herbicide removal, E. pyramidalis transplant, and combined removal + transplant. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant treatment and time effects on invasion success, with vegetation removal facilitating invasion (relative importance value increasing from 0 to 149.4 ± 26.6 after 18 months) while transplants alone failed to establish (RIV < 7.0). Sagittaria maintained 35–48% biomass across treatments, demonstrating coexistence capacity. Experiment 2 examined natural invasion of the vegetation ecotone over 49 months. Mixed-effects models revealed that E. pyramidalis increased dominance in its zone (β = 9.98, z = 4.77, p < 0.001) but showed minimal expansion into the adjacent Sagittaria habitat, indicating propagule limitation rather than competitive exclusion as the invasion constraint. Sagittaria removal within E. pyramidalis zones significantly reduced invasion temporal increase (β = −6.44, z = −2.18, p = 0.030), suggesting biotic resistance. Results demonstrate that E. pyramidalis possesses invasion potential but requires disturbance to overcome establishment barriers. These findings support prevention-based management prioritizing disturbance limitation in intact wetlands and demonstrate that hydrological management maintaining permanent flooding (>30 cm depth) can effectively control established invasions by exploiting C4 photosynthetic limitations. Conservation implications for Mexican coastal wetlands—which lack legal protection equivalent to mangroves despite comparable ecosystem services—are discussed. These findings inform evidence-based management of African grass invasions in tropical wetlands worldwide. Full article

Background: Juniperus macrocarpa Sm. is a key shrub species of the Mediterranean coastal dune systems. The species, considered vulnerable, often shows fragmented or declining populations due to coastal erosion and human pressure. However, along a protected stretch of the northern Tuscany coast it displays an opposite trend, with an apparent expansion of the species. Methods: To assess recent population dynamics, we compared high-resolution aerial imagery from 2013 with UAV orthophotos from 2023 across two dune systems of the Migliarino–San Rossore–Massaciuccoli Regional Park (Italy). The dune profile was divided into three belts (B1: shifting dune; B2: consolidated grassland dune; B3: consolidated juniper dune). A total of 368 plots (10 × 10 m) were analyzed to quantify temporal changes in individual abundance and vegetation cover. Results: Over the ten-year period, total abundance increased from 99 to 342 individuals (+245%) at Lecciona and from 117 to 324 individuals (+177%) at Marina di Vecchiano. Mean cover per plot increased significantly at both sites (overall p < 0.001), with the strongest proportional increases recorded in the seaward belts (B1: up to +1220% in abundance and +4500% in cover) revealing a clear shift from an inner-dune concentration in 2013 to a more homogeneous spatial distribution across the entire dune system in 2023. Conclusions: Under conditions of low anthropogenic disturbance, shoreline stability, or geomorphological progradation, J. macrocarpa is able to expand well beyond its recognized ecological niche. These findings demonstrate the central role of geomorphological and disturbance regimes in driving coastal dune vegetation dynamics and highlight the need for adaptive, site-specific management strategies for the long-term conservation of priority habitat 2250/EUNIS N1B. Full article

CPVG (Utility-scale photovoltaic generation) is expanding rapidly worldwide, yet its cumulative ecological effects remain insufficiently quantified. This review synthesizes current evidence to clarify how CPVG influences ecosystems through linked mechanisms of energy redistribution, biogeochemical cycling disturbance, and ecological responses. CPVG alters surface radiation balance, modifies microclimate, and disrupts carbon–nitrogen–water fluxes, thereby driving vegetation shifts, soil degradation, and biodiversity decline. These impacts accumulate across temporal scales—from short-term construction disturbances to long-term operational feedbacks—and propagate spatially from local to regional and watershed levels. Ecological outcomes differ substantially among deserts, grasslands, and agroecosystems due to contrasting resilience and limiting factors. Based on these mechanisms, we propose a multi-scale cumulative impact assessment framework integrating indicator development, multi-source monitoring, coupled modelling, and ecological risk tiering. A full-chain mitigation pathway is further outlined, emphasizing optimized siting, disturbance reduction, adaptive management, and targeted restoration. This study provides a systematic foundation for evaluating and regulating CPVG’s cumulative ecological impacts, supporting more sustainable solar deployment. Full article

Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass) is one of the most invasive plant species in the eastern United States, posing a consistent problem to practitioners working in stream restoration and often necessitating treatment using non-selective herbicides to reduce invasion. Herbicide use frequently results in collateral damage to desirable native species and can lead to reinvasion after treatment. This study evaluated alternatives to herbicide referred to collectively as cultural controls, the use of which draws conceptually from the interaction of stress and disturbance in plant communities that predicts reduced invasion and increased competitive success of native species with higher levels of environmental stress. We tested several preventative cultural approaches, including (intended stressor in parentheses): (1) canopy shade (light limitation), (2) sawdust soil amendments (short-term nitrogen limitation), (3) wood mulch soil amendments (longer-term nitrogen limitation), and (4) double seeding rates (native species competition), as well as a combination of these treatments. Over a two-year field study within a restored stream corridor, we found that high carbon: nitrogen ratio soil amendments such as sawdust were the most effective at attenuating M. vimineum invasion and that shade promoted native species competition with this invader. Our results suggest a set of best practices that stream restoration practitioners could consider during the design and construction phases of a stream restoration project, particularly on sites with increased risk of M. vimineum incursion. Full article

Tropical cyclones can rapidly alter watershed chemistry by shifting hydrologic pathways and mobilizing stored nutrients, yet these disturbances often remain undetected when storms cause little visible flooding or geomorphic damage. During Hurricane Helene 2024, intense rainfall across the Oconee River watershed in Georgia generated sharp increases in discharge that triggered substantial nutrient export despite minimal physical alteration to the landscape. High-frequency measurements of nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate in urban, forested, and recreational settings revealed pronounced and synchronous post-storm increases in all three solutes. Nitrate showed the strongest and most persistent response, with mean concentrations increasing from approximately 1–3 mg/L during pre-storm conditions to 6–14 mg/L post-storm across sites, and remaining elevated for several months after hydrologic conditions returned to baseline. Phosphate concentrations increased sharply during the post-storm period, rising from pre-storm means of ≤0.3 mg/L to a post-storm average of 1.5 mg/L, but declined more rapidly during recovery, consistent with sediment-associated mobilization and subsequent attenuation. Sulfate concentrations also increased substantially across the watershed, with post-storm mean values commonly exceeding 20 mg/L and maximum concentrations reaching 41 mg/L, indicating sustained dissolved-phase release and enhanced temporal variability. Recovery trajectories differed by solute: phosphate returned to baseline within weeks, nitrate declined gradually, and sulfate remained elevated throughout the winter. These findings demonstrate that substantial chemical perturbations can occur even in the absence of visible storm impacts, underscoring the importance of event-based, high-resolution monitoring to detect transient but consequential shifts in watershed biogeochemistry. They also highlight the need to better resolve solute-specific pathways that govern nutrient mobilization during extreme rainfall in mixed-use watersheds with legacy nutrient stores and engineered drainage networks. Full article

Soil amendments are widely applied to improve soil fertility and structure, yet their performance in cold regions is constrained by low accumulated temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw (FT) cycles, and permafrost sensitivity. In this review, ‘cold regions’ refers to high-latitude and high-altitude areas characterized by long winters and seasonally frozen soils and/or permafrost. We screened the peer-reviewed literature using keyword-based searches supplemented by backward/forward citation tracking; studies were included when they assessed amendment treatments in cold region soils and reported measurable changes in physical, chemical, biological, or environmental indicators. Across organic, inorganic, biological, synthetic, and composite amendments, the most consistent benefits are improved aggregation and nutrient retention, stronger pH buffering, and the reduced mobility of potentially toxic elements. However, effectiveness is often site-specific and may be short-lived, and unintended risks—including greenhouse gas emissions, contaminant accumulation, and thermal disturbances—can offset gains. Cold-specific constraints are dominated by limited thermal regimes, FT disturbance, and the trade-off between surface warming for production and permafrost protection. We therefore propose integrated countermeasures: prescription-based amendment portfolios tailored to soils and seasons; the prioritization and screening of local resources; coupling with engineering and land surface strategies; a minimal cold region MRV loop; and the explicit balancing of agronomic benefits with environmental safeguards. These insights provide actionable pathways for sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration in cold regions under climate change. Full article

Depleted oil and gas reservoirs, owing to their large storage capacity and well-established infrastructure, are attractive sites for storing green energy carriers such as natural gas, hydrogen, and compressed air. During injection–production cycling in underground gas storage (UGS), variations in effective stress can cause repeated stress disturbances in the reservoir and surrounding rock, which may trigger borehole sand production. In this study, laboratory sand-production simulation tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of cyclic-loading stage, upper stress limit, and cycling frequency on borehole damage and sand-production behavior. The results show that sand production is stage-dependent. During the rapid-hardening and stable stages, the borehole remains largely intact and sand production is negligible. Once the failure and collapse stages are reached, borehole integrity deteriorates and sand production increases sharply, with fine particles becoming dominant. Cumulative sand production increases with the upper stress limit. Increasing the upper limit from 80% to 95% leads to a 2.53-fold increase in produced sand mass, together with a higher fine-sand fraction and a shift in the particle-size distribution (PSD) toward smaller sizes. The cycling frequency also plays an important role. When the frequency decreases, cumulative sand production increases and becomes 53.1% higher than the baseline at 0.001 Hz. Meanwhile, the median particle size (D50) decreases, indicating stronger particle breakage under low-frequency cycling. These findings provide guidance for designing injection–production schemes for UGS and for selecting appropriate sand-control completion strategies. Full article

California sage scrub is an endangered, shrub-dominated, southern California ecosystem threatened by increasing fire frequencies and type-conversion to non-native grasslands. Once non-native grasses become established, their presence promotes more frequent fires, perpetuating grass dominance. To better understand how fire influences soil seed bank assemblages, we examined soil seed banks in burned and adjacent unburned sage scrub at the Robert J. Bernard Field Station (BFS) in two areas that burned in September 2013 and May 2017. In contrast to a previous soil seed bank study in California sage scrub, we found that unburned soil seed banks in sage scrub at the BFS were primarily composed of native seeds (88% of sprouts in unburned areas were native), highlighting that soil seed bank dynamics differ among California sage scrub sites. Despite burned areas supporting elevated densities of non-native seeds (the majority of which included Festuca myuros, a non-native grass), soil seed banks in our burned areas retained native seeds (21% of sprouts in burned areas were native), including native shrub species, suggesting that not all sage scrub habitats are primed to transition to non-native grasslands following disturbances. However, elevated densities on non-native seedlings in burned areas highlight the vulnerability of sage scrub to fire disturbances and the subsequent establishment of non-native grasses. Full article

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as rolled cover crops are increasingly adopted in rainfed vineyards to reduce soil degradation and drought risk, but their effectiveness depends on local soil physical conditions. We compared spontaneous inter-row vegetation managed by mowing (Control) with a cereal-based rolled cover crop (C-R) in two vineyards of the Oltrepò Pavese (Northern Italy) with contrasting texture, structure, and slope: Canevino (CNV) and Santa Maria della Versa (SMV). From 2021 to 2025, continuous soil moisture monitoring was combined with field measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) and bulk density, interpreted using temporal indicators (MRD, ITS) and a drought index (SWDI) calibrated to field moisture thresholds. During wet phases, average saturation at 50 cm was consistently higher at SMV (about 78 to 84 percent) than at CNV (about 68 to 75 percent). Under water-limited conditions, management contrasts were most evident at SMV: at 50 cm during the post-termination dry phase, saturation remained around 70 percent under C-R versus about 64 percent under the Control, and K_s was higher under C-R (8.32 × 10⁻⁶ m/s in topsoil) than under the Control (7.39 × 10⁻⁶ m/s). At CNV, SWDI at 50 cm indicated a moderate improvement in one agronomic year (median −1.2 under C-R versus −5.3 under the Control in 2021 to 2022), while a full tillage operation in 2024 defined a disturbed phase that was interpreted separately. SWDI occasionally suggested severe drought levels not fully matching field evidence, highlighting the need for site-calibrated reference thresholds in structured fine-textured soils. Overall, soil physical properties set the hydrological envelope, while rolled cover management can enhance buffering and preserve conductive pathways during dry phases; therefore, NbS performance should be evaluated with site-adapted monitoring and cautious inference from temporally autocorrelated time series. Full article

Nest-site selection in birds is a hierarchical process shaped by environmental filters operating across multiple spatial scales. In species that depend on burrows excavated by ecosystem engineers, understanding how these filters interact is essential for effective conservation. We evaluated nest-site selection by the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) within colonies of the Mexican prairie dog (Cynomys mexicanus) in the southern Chihuahuan Desert using a multiscale analytical framework spanning burrow, site, colony, and landscape levels. During the 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons, we located 56 successful nests and paired each with an inactive non-nest burrow within the same colony. Eighteen structural and environmental variables were measured and analyzed using binary logistic regression models, with model selection based on an information-theoretic approach (AICc) and prior screening for predictor collinearity. Nest-site selection was associated with greater internal burrow development and reduced external exposure at the burrow scale, proximity to satellite burrows and low-to-moderate vegetation structure at the site scale, higher densities of active prairie dog burrows at the colony scale, and reduced predation risk and agricultural disturbance at the landscape scale. The integrated multiscale model showed substantially greater support and discriminatory power than single-scale models, indicating that nest-site selection emerges from interactions among spatial scales rather than from isolated factors. These findings support hierarchical habitat-selection theory and underscore the importance of conserving functional Mexican prairie dog colonies and low-disturbance grassland landscapes to maintain suitable breeding habitats for Burrowing owls in the southern Chihuahuan Desert. Full article

Background/Objectives: The 10-session How to Eat intervention was developed to institute Eating Competence (EatC) and repair distorted eating attitudes and behaviors growing out of chronically restrained eating and/or repeated weight reduction dieting. How to Eat was conducted over a 12-year period as an employee wellness option at two locations in the midwestern United States. Methods: Participants in How to Eat were adult employees of their respective hospital or university who voluntarily enrolled after screening and assessment by each site facilitator. Pre- and post-measures were the 16-item EatC measure, the 26-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and body weight. Results: In the hospital setting, a total of 43 adults participated, with a mean (±SD) age of 47.5 ± 10.7 years, primarily female (95.3%) and white (90.7%). How to Eat was associated with a significant increase in EatC total scores (22.8 ± 6.5 to 34.3 ± 4.9) and a decrease in EAT-26 scores (10.7 ± 8.1 to 3.7 ± 2.9), both p < 0.001. In the university setting, a total of 52 adults participated, 89.4% female, with a mean (±SD) age of 39.3 ± 11.4 years. University participants were significantly younger, p < 0.001. How to Eat was also associated with a significant increase in EatC total scores (24.1 ± 7.0 to 36.6 ± 6.9) and EAT-26 scores (13.9 ± 8.8 to 3.2 ± 4.2), both p < 0.001. At both sites, changes in total EatC, Contextual skills, and EAT-26 scores had strong effect sizes. Mean body weight was ±5% pre/post-intervention at either site. Conclusions: How to Eat is associated with clinically significant improvements in measures of EatC and a decrease in eating disturbances among repeat dieters without significantly impacting body weight. Positive results from employee wellness settings support future experimental studies with more diverse samples and additional outcome measures. Full article

Land abandonment and recurrent wildfires are major drivers of landscape transformation in Mediterranean Europe, creating favorable conditions for the spread of non-native invasive woody species. Among these, Australian wattles (genus Acacia) are particularly widespread and problematic in Portugal. This work analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics of Acacia spp. in two municipalities of central Portugal (Sertã and Pedrógão-Grande) by combining multitemporal photointerpretation of aerial imagery (2004–2021), generalized additive models (GAMs), and local perception surveys. Results reveal a 417% increase in occupied area over the last two decades. Modeling outcomes indicate a temporal shift in invasion drivers: from an establishment phase (2004–2010), mainly constrained by altitude and proximity to primary introduction sites, to a disturbance-driven expansion phase (2010–2021), influenced by fire recurrence, slope, and land-use context. Spatial clustering persisted throughout, underscoring the role of founder populations. Surveys confirmed high public awareness of Acacia invasiveness and identified abandonment and wildfire as the main perceived triggers of spread. By integrating ecological and social dimensions, this study provides a socioecological perspective on Acacia spp. expansion in Mediterranean rural landscapes and highlights the urgent need for integrated, landscape-scale management strategies. Full article

Outdoor recreational activities, particularly cycling and mountain biking, are rapidly expanding in forested landscapes, raising concerns about their effects on wildlife. Although bike trails are increasingly common, their ecological impacts on large mammals remain insufficiently studied. We investigated how bike trail use influences the abundance and spatial behaviour of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in three contrasting forest environments in the Czech Republic. We surveyed roe deer raking and bedding sites and wild boar rooting along 734 transects positioned perpendicular to bike trails, monitored cyclist activity using automated counters, and recorded habitat characteristics. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effects of trail proximity, cycling intensity, and vegetation structure. Cycling intensity did not influence overall species abundance; however, roe deer consistently avoided resting close to trails, leading to a measurable loss of potential resting habitat. Roe deer raking decreased with higher cycling intensity at the most remote site, while wild boar rooting was driven primarily by vegetation structure. These findings demonstrate that even low-intensity recreation can alter wildlife behaviour. We recommend maintaining unmanaged buffer zones along trails to provide refuge and reduce disturbance. Our results offer guidance for sustainable trail planning in forest ecosystems. Our conclusions are based on sign surveys collected during one growing season and quantify spatial responses up to 100 m from trails; diel activity, detectability, and seasonal variation were not directly assessed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a common oral condition in older women and is characterized by a multifactorial etiology. To date, no standardized treatment strategy has been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topical application of capsaicin (0.025 mg/cm²) in the form of a mucoadhesive bilayer polymer reducing burning sensations in BMS. The study assessed levels of depression, sleep disturbances, and quality of life. Material and Methods: The proof-of-concept study included 29 patients with symptoms of BMS. The peripheral origin of BMS was confirmed by lingual nerve block. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Depression, sleep disturbances, and quality of life were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL). Results: A reduction in pain was observed in over 86% patients. Decrease in burning at treatment sites was recorded immediately after treatment and also at the 3-month follow-up. Gender, taste disturbances, depression, and age were found to have a significant effect on final NRS-11 scores. Conclusions: Significant reduction in pain intensity was achieved in nearly all treated patients, with adverse effects being rare. Full article