Search Results (6,095)

Viticulture is highly vulnerable to weather variability and climate change. Growers increasingly face risks associated with extreme weather events, water scarcity, and emerging pests and diseases. To address these challenges, this study presents the development and implementation of the first operational digital decision support platform (DSP) tailored to Montenegrin vineyards within the MONTEVITIS project. The platform integrates IoT sensor data, national meteorological records and high-resolution global climate datasets to provide real-time monitoring and climate projections for vineyard management. The system was piloted in four vineyards representing diverse microclimatic and soil conditions of Montenegro. Key functionalities include phenology, irrigation and disease alerts supported by a user-friendly dashboard, map-based visualisation tools and data export functions. The pilot deployment demonstrated that combining heterogeneous data streams increases the reliability of outputs and enables timely, site-specific recommendations. Challenges identified during implementation include connectivity limitations, gaps in data and variable levels of digital expertise among growers; however, lessons learned point to the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement and institutional support for sustained use. The MONTEVITIS experience demonstrates how digital agriculture tools can bridge tradition and innovation in viticulture. By fostering collaboration between growers, researchers and policy makers, the platform enables adaptive strategies for climate resilience and sustainable vineyard management. Although the platform has been successfully deployed and tested under pilot conditions, a comprehensive long-term validation of its performance and impact on vineyard decision-making remains part of ongoing future work. Full article

Corporations are under mounting pressure from diverse stakeholders to address their climate change commitments amidst rising environmental concerns. In response, companies are improving their governance structures to strengthen their climate commitments. This study explores the impact of green directors on the disclosure of climate change targets (CTD), prompted by the recent developments in corporate structures. The dataset for this study includes companies listed on China’s A-share market from 2010 to 2022. The findings indicate that the inclusion of directors with environmental backgrounds on boards enhances the level of CTD. Results also reveal that the entry of eco-conscious investors amplifies the impact of green directors on CTD. The mediation results identify corporate environmental attention as a key mechanism through which green directors drive CTD. The findings remain robust when considering different proxies, variations over time, and checks for endogeneity. Additionally, heterogeneity analysis suggests that the influence of green directors on CTD is pronounced for sensitive sector firms and those exhibiting low sustainability performance. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on corporate environmental governance and provides valuable insights for policymakers and corporate leaders seeking to enhance environmental transparency and accountability. Full article

Optimizing solar access is fundamental for developing ‘Sustainable Healthy Cities’ and ensuring occupant well-being in high-radiation climates like Egypt. This study establishes an environmental methodology to enhance urban sustainability by controlling solar exposure to facades to mitigate health risks and reduce energy demand. The methodology involved a verified simulation using Autodesk Revit with Insight, followed by a comparative analysis of 45 scenarios. These scenarios evaluated the impact of orientation, geometry, urban spacing, etc., on solar performance. Additionally, the paper discusses the prospective integration of Generative AI and algorithmic engines to automate solar access layouts, proposing a roadmap for future AI-driven sustainable urban planning. The results indicate that strategic adjustments in urban morphology significantly improve solar access levels, directly influencing indoor environmental quality. The findings serve as a scalable framework applicable to regions like Kafr El-Sheikh or adaptable to extreme climates like Aswan, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3 and 11). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that environmental simulation provides a pragmatic pathway for architects to achieve integrated sustainability and healthy urban standards. This research offers a foundation for future sustainability investigations into thermal comfort and non-linear interactions between urban variables to refine solar access strategies in diverse contextual conditions. Full article

Floodplains are key components of inland river systems of Australia with floodplain vegetation playing important roles in habitat provision, nutrient cycling, and supporting strong cultural values. These vegetation communities are highly dynamic, particularly in response to flooding. However, decades of water development and highly managed water resources are linked to wetland habitat decline in this region. We explored patterns of vegetation response to flooding over twenty years at the Narran Lakes Ramsar site, a terminal floodplain wetland system in the northern Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. We collated data from previous monitoring efforts and resampled permanent plots for understorey vegetation structure and composition. Three flood events were surveyed over a 20-year period, with each event surveyed on two occasions first, following initial drawdown (minimal standing water) and a second survey under dry or drier conditions (~6 months after the recession of floodwaters). Overall, we observed a high diversity of native plant species (~110 species) in understorey communities across the wetland and high compositional turnover both between flood events and within years (i.e., paired surveys). Notably, vegetation cover, but not species richness, was greatest in the 2023 survey following the largest of the three flood events investigated. Understorey composition was strongly driven by inundation regimes, particularly the duration of recent inundation, and the number of wet and dry years prior. Large flood events are critical for supporting vegetation resilience in these systems, increasingly so under a drier climate and with stretched water resources. Continued long-term monitoring of vegetation through flood cycles at the Narran Lakes will be critical to understanding ecological responses to longer-term changes in climate and hydrology to inform adaptive water management and maintain the values of this Ramsar site. Full article

Acute disturbances caused by changing environmental conditions are increasingly affecting the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems. Notably, changing rainfall patterns are leading to increasing incidence of hyposalinity. This study explored interannual changes in the overall cover and composition of hard corals (order Scleractinia) in Pioneer Bay, Orpheus Island, which was subject to hyposalinity during unprecedented high rainfall in February 2025. Hard coral cover declined 66.60%, from 41.66% (±1.22 SE) in September 2024 to 13.92% (±0.92 SE) in October 2025, with coral loss mostly apparent on the reef flat and reef crest. Coral loss was not equally apportioned among different coral taxa (genera), possibly reflecting differential susceptibility to hyposalinity based on specific physiology and habitat associations. The most pronounced declines were recorded among Merulinidae, which were the predominant hard corals on the reef flat in 2024. Soft corals were similarly affected and exhibited major declines in abundance on the reef flat. Hyposalinity is rarely considered among the suite of climatic disturbances that impact on coral assemblages and reef ecosystems, but this research shows that the potential ecological effects are very extensive, adding to the diversity of acute disturbances that will influence the structure coral reef ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Full article

Pinyon–juniper (PJ) woodlands, one of the most extensive mature and old-growth woodland types in the Western United States, provide critical ecological, cultural, and economic benefits but face increasing threats from climate change, altered disturbance regimes, invasive species, and pests. We developed the PJ Woodland Climate Adaptation Management Menu, a decision support tool designed to guide adaptive, climate-informed management of PJ ecosystems, particularly within the Colorado Plateau ecoregion. The menu was created through an iterative, collaborative process involving literature review, integration of strategies from existing adaptation frameworks, and extensive input from scientists, land managers, and community partners during workshops and focus groups. The menu links specific, evidence-based approaches to each of six broad strategies, including soliciting community input, mitigating disturbance, enhancing and maintaining biodiversity, conserving ecotones, timing actions for optimal outcomes, and accepting climate-driven changes when appropriate. It is intended for use with the Adaptation Workbook to help managers connect local goals and climate vulnerabilities to tailored management tactics. Hypothetical scenarios demonstrate the menu’s application to contrasting PJ woodland conditions, from die-off events to old-growth maintenance. Lessons learned during development underscore the value of early stakeholder engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and balancing diverse ecological objectives. This menu offers a flexible, transferable framework to strengthen climate resilience in PJ woodlands and serves as a model that could improve adaptation planning in other dryland forest ecosystems. Full article

Although organisational climate is increasingly examined, explicit modelling of demographic interaction effects remains comparatively underrepresented. A search strategy was conducted (25 September 2025), and 358 records were identified and filtered in the Scopus and Covidence databases; subsequently, 60 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria following PRISMA-guided screening. R-project, reference to VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny were used to perform the bibliometric mapping to demonstrate three (3) large thematic clusters: (1) conceptual models with a focus on the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) framework; (2) growing cross-sector and post-COVID literature; and (3) small but growing incorporation of interactive demographic variables (age, gender, tenure) other than control-variable treatment. The results show that organisational climate is always placed at the forefront as an important predictor of satisfaction, but intersectional demographic modelling is underdeveloped and geographically biased to Western and Asian factors. Yet improvements have been made in theoretical integration; however, a lack of constructs, methodological conservatism, and geographic skewness limit theoretical cumulation and practical translation. The proposed multi-factor model is conceptually derived from bibliometric patterns and requires empirical validation using CFA, SEM, and multilevel modelling. However, organisations should integrate satisfaction policies that reflect diverse demographic and contextual realities, rather than adopting a general approach. The study advances the model of employee satisfaction research by offering practical evidence and a theoretical framework to support the sustainability of industrial and organisational psychology. Full article

Mangroves are important coastal wetland ecosystems with high ecological service values and strong carbon sequestration capacity, serving as a crucial barrier for coastal ecological security. However, current afforestation efforts often ignore environmental suitability differences among mangrove species, while the applicability value and ecological risks of exotic species (Laguncularia racemosa and Sonneratia apetala) for restoration remain poorly understood. Five native and two exotic mangrove species along China’s coasts were selected in this study. Using the MaxEnt model, we identified key environmental factors governing their distribution, predicted their current and future suitable habitats (under the SSP245 scenario in the 2070s), and quantified niche overlap between native and exotic mangroves. The results showed that temperature-related factors (air and sea temperature) are the core climatic drivers shaping the typical mangrove distribution, followed by sea surface salinity, with precipitation contributing little. Currently, niche overlap between native and the two exotic species is low (D.overlap: 0.129–0.340), indicating certain niche differentiation. Under the SSP245 scenario in the 2070s, except for Rhizophora stylosa, other studied species appear to experience expanded suitable habitat areas and a northward latitudinal distribution shift. Compared with Sonneratia apetala, Laguncularia racemosa exhibits a more pronounced expansion of suitable habitats in the future, with its overall suitable area second only to the native Kandelia obovata, indicating its stronger adaptive potential to climate change. Clarifying niche differentiation and constructing species-specific management frameworks may facilitate biological invasion control, mangrove restoration, and species diversity improvement. Full article

Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized as major drivers of human mobility, operating through both sudden-onset disasters and slow-onset processes such as sea-level rise, desertification and resource scarcity. Although estimates vary widely, projections suggest that millions of people may become displaced by 2050 because of climate change, predominantly within their own countries but also across international borders. This article examines the emerging phenomenon of “environmental migration” against the backdrop of international refugee law and broader human rights frameworks. It first maps the diverse environmental scenarios that trigger displacement before analyzing the existing international legal landscape. Particular attention is paid to the contested terminology surrounding “climate refugees”, “environmental migrants” and “environmentally displaced persons” and to the protection gaps that arise from current categorizations. This article argues that, while existing norms on human rights, disaster risk reduction and internal displacement offer partial safeguards, they do not provide coherent legal status or systematic protection for people displaced across borders by climate-related harms. It concludes that climate-related displacement should be addressed through a combination of evolving human rights-based climate litigation, enhanced use of existing instruments and the progressive elaboration of specific normative frameworks. Full article

Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major source of structural genomic diversity that influence adaptation, reproduction, and production traits in livestock. The Black Bengal goat, an economically important Indian breed known for its high fecundity, superior skin quality, and resilience to humid tropical climates, was studied to uncover its structural genomic landscape. We performed whole-genome CNV analysis using high-depth (10×) sequencing data from eight individuals. A total of 31,816 copy number variants (CNVs) were identified, predominantly duplications, with an average length of approximately 45 kb. These CNVs were combined into 8910 copy number variation regions (CNVRs) covering approximately 0.15 Gb (about 5.3% of the autosomal genome). CNVR hotspots were mainly located on chromosomes 1. Gene annotation showed that regions overlapping with CNVs and CNVRs contained over 1987 protein-coding genes that are involved in pathways related to immunity, reproduction, metabolism, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. The presence of copy number variations involving genes such as GDF9 and BMPR1B on chromosome 7 & 6, respectively, are important because it indicates that the breed has a high reproductive capacity due to dosage-sensitive duplications. Changes in the extracellular matrix and increased dermal strength have been linked to duplications of genes such as COL6A1, LAMC2, LAMB3, FMN1, and CLDN1. This helps explain the superior hide quality of the breed. This research offers a comprehensive map of CNVs and CNVRs within the genome of the Black Bengal goat. It demonstrates how these duplications lead to structural changes that enhance both reproductive performance and skin resilience. These findings provide a valuable genomic resource for future marker-assisted selection, comparative genomics, and conservation breeding programs aimed at preserving indigenous goat populations. Full article

To clarify the genetic background and biological characteristics of grape germplasm resources and provide theoretical support for germplasm innovation and new-variety breeding, we conducted systematic morphological identification and SSR molecular-marker analysis on 38 core grape germplasms (29 fresh-eating cultivars, 1 local cultivar, and 8 wild germplasms) from the National Southeast Mountainous Crop Germplasm Repository (Jiangxi·Yichun) and other regions. For morphological identification, 14 quantitative traits and 5 descriptive traits of leaves, floral organs and fruits were determined in strict accordance with the NY/T 2932-2016 Descriptors for Grape Germplasm Resources. For SSR molecular-marker analysis, eight pairs of internationally universal core primers were used for PCR amplification and fluorescence detection referring to the NY/T 3640-2020 Identification of Grape Cultivars Using SSR Markers, and genetic diversity analysis was conducted on 11 local and wild grape germplasms. The results revealed abundant phenotypic diversity among the tested germplasms: the functional leaves of cultivars were predominantly pentagonal and cuneate, while those of wild germplasms were mostly reniform and cordate, with 3–5 lobes for most germplasms; all germplasms were hermaphroditic, except for two wild accessions with unisexual flowers. Significant variations were observed in fruit traits, with the coefficient of variation (CV) of cluster weight and berry weight reaching 67.64% and 50.53%, respectively. The genetic plasticity of weight-related traits was much higher than that of shape- and length-related traits, and the average Shannon–Wiener index (H′) of 19 morphological traits was 3.47, indicating a high level of overall phenotypic diversity. SSR analysis showed that the eight primer pairs amplified a total of 42 genotypes (5.25 per primer pair on average). The population had a mean observed number of alleles (Na) of 5.28, a mean effective number of alleles (Ne) of 7.25, and a mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.74, demonstrating rich genetic diversity and high polymorphism of the tested loci. Cluster analysis divided the 11 local germplasms into four groups, which clearly reflected the genetic relationships among them, and genetic admixture was found in some germplasms due to unclear introduction traceability. In this study, fresh-eating grape cultivars suitable for the climatic conditions of Jiangxi Province were screened, the utilization value of local germplasm resources was clarified, and a two-dimensional evaluation system based on phenotypic traits and SSR molecular markers was constructed. The findings provide basic data and a scientific basis for the precise evaluation, elite gene mining, and new-variety breeding of grape germplasm resources in Jiangxi Province. Full article

Global climate change has altered temperature regimes, hydrological stability, and redox dynamics in inland waters, yet the continental-scale impact of these alterations on sediment microbiomes remains poorly understood. Here, we compiled 562 publicly available 16S rRNA gene datasets from lake sediments across five major climatic zones in China to examine how climatic gradients influence microbial diversity, community assembly, and interaction networks, as well as their associated taxonomic composition and environmental responses. Sediment microbiomes showed clear spatial differentiation in both α- and β-diversity, accompanied by climatic zone-specific taxonomic signatures and biomarker taxa. Community assembly also varied markedly across climatic zones, with stochasticity and dispersal limitation dominating in colder regions, transitional assembly in the south temperate zone, and stronger selective or high-turnover dynamics in the warm subtropics. Importantly, random forest models revealed a clear transition from climate-dominated to anthropogenic-dominated control in sediment microbiome organization: microbial variation in the plateau and temperate regions was primarily associated with climatic and geographic constraints, whereas anthropogenic factors played a more important role in shaping community differentiation in the central subtropical zone. By integrating diversity patterns, taxonomic composition, assembly processes, and network topology, we further propose a three-stage conceptual pattern of sediment microbial community organization along climatic gradients, shifting from a persistence-dominated regime in the cold plateau regions, to an efficiency-dominated regime in the temperate zones, and finally to a plasticity-dominated regime in the warm subtropical regions. These findings would provide a continental-scale framework for understanding sediment microbiome responses to coupled climatic and anthropogenic forcing in inland waters, with implications for future water quality management and ecosystem conservation. Full article

Inclusive education requires not only classroom-level adaptations but also coordinated interdisciplinary practices that strengthen the institutional conditions supporting diverse learners. However, counselor–teacher collaboration in many schools remains informal and episodic, limiting its potential contribution to an inclusive school climate. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 12-week Structured Counselor–Teacher Collaboration (SCTC) program designed as a cyclical and replicable interdisciplinary model. A multi-site cluster quasi-experimental design with matched non-equivalent control groups was implemented in 12 public inclusive junior secondary schools in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (6 intervention; 6 control), involving 360 teachers (n = 180 per condition) and 24 school counselors as facilitators. Teachers completed the 35-item Inclusive School Climate Scale (ISCS) at pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using two-level linear mixed-effects modeling (teachers nested within schools) with pre-test scores as covariates. Results showed that the intervention significantly improved inclusive school climate compared with routine practice (B = 0.41, p < 0.001), yielding a moderate-to-large adjusted effect (Hedges’ g = 0.76). Dimension-level models indicated the largest gains in collaborative professional culture and perceived belonging. Implementation fidelity was high (82–91%). These findings suggest that institutionalizing structured counselor–teacher collaboration can serve as a promising approach for enhancing inclusive school climate in secondary school contexts. Full article

Pinus cembroides is among the pine species best adapted to arid and semi-arid ecosystems in the Americas, and its potential distribution is projected to expand under climate change. However, the success of this expansion will depend on belowground processes, particularly the role of soil fungal communities, which in subtropical forests are key for nutrient cycling and plant resilience to environmental stress. Yet their vertical stratification and responses to forest management remain poorly understood, especially in semi-arid systems. Here, we characterized fungal communities from mineral soil and litter associated with P. cembroides across a forest management gradient (mature forests, disturbed stands, and pine plantations) at the southern limit of the species’ distribution. We evaluated the influence of climatic, edaphic, vegetation structure, and microbial activity variables (soil moisture, precipitation, pH, tree density, vegetation cover, temperature and extracellular enzyme activity) on fungal community composition. We found strong vertical stratification between litter and mineral soil. When both substrates were analyzed together as an integrated soil profile, forest condition had no significant effect on alpha diversity; however, substrate-specific analyses revealed higher richness in mineral soil of mature forests compared to disturbed and plantation sites, while litter communities showed no significant differences among conditions. Litter communities were characterized by saprotrophic and endophytic fungi, whereas mineral soil communities were enriched in ectomycorrhizal and other root-associated taxa. Distance-based redundancy analysis indicated that fungal community composition was primarily associated with moisture content, precipitation, pH, tree density, and carbon-degrading enzyme activity. These results highlight the importance of substrate differentiation and environmental gradients in shaping fungal communities in semi-arid pine forests, and provide a baseline for understanding how management and climate change influence soil fungal diversity and ecosystem functioning. Full article

Indigenous pig breeds represent valuable reservoirs of genetic diversity but face increasing risks of genetic erosion due to uncontrolled crossbreeding with commercial lines. The Ashanti Dwarf Pig (ADP) of Ghana is an important local genetic resource well-adapted to tropical environments but poorly characterised at the genomic level. Using high-density SNP data from the ADPs and publicly available datasets from other African, European, and Asian pig populations, we examined genetic diversity, population structure, inbreeding, and selection signatures. After quality control, 59,124 SNPs across 875 individuals were retained. ADPs exhibited high polymorphism (~99%) and moderate heterozygosity but also elevated inbreeding (FIS = 0.15; FROH = 0.40), indicating recent inbreeding under free-range management. Population structure revealed that ADPs cluster closely with other African pigs and European breeds more than Chinese breeds. ADMIXTURE analysis, however, indicated recent introgression from both European and Chinese lines. Selection scans revealed candidate genes linked to metabolism-Zinc Finger Ran-Binding Protein 3 (ZRANB3), growth-Sortilin Related VPS10 Domain Containing Receptor 1 (SORCS1), reproduction–Sus Scrofa Chromosome 9 quantitative trait loci (SSC9 QTLs), and immunity-Tudor Domain-Containing Protein 3 and CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane Domain Containing 7 (TDRD3, CMTM7), reflecting adaptation to tropical production systems. Our results provide a comprehensive genomic characterisation of the ADP within a global context, revealing both genetic richness and vulnerability to genetic erosion. These findings underscore the importance of structured breeding and conservation strategies in preserving this unique African genetic resource and supporting sustainable pig production under changing climatic conditions. Full article