Search Results (192)

Avian morphology is a product of complex interactions among ecology, behavioral traits, and phylogeny. The wing, as a primary aerodynamic structure, is particularly indicative of these selective pressures, which are especially pronounced in migratory species. This study investigates interspecific variation in wing morphology among three migratory warblers of the family Sylviidae: the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), and Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis). We combined traditional morphometric measurements (body mass, wing length, primary feather lengths, and wing area) with functional aerodynamic indices (wing loading, aspect ratio, Kipp’s index) and geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape. Data were collected during autumn migration on the Greek island of Antikythera, a key stopover site in the Mediterranean. Our analysis revealed distinct morphological adaptations: Garden Warblers possessed elongated, pointed wings with a high aspect ratio, indicative of selection for long-distance, energy-efficient flight. Conversely, Eurasian Blackcaps exhibited shorter, rounder wings, a morphology associated with high maneuverability and quicker takeoffs in dense habitats. Common Whitethroat displayed an intermediate wing morphology, balancing aerodynamic efficiency with maneuverability. These findings possibly demonstrate how wing morphology reflects a compromise shaped by selective pressures, including migratory distance, habitat structure, foraging behavior and predation risk. Full article

Hydropower plants remain strategic assets for grid stability and decarbonization, with hydraulic turbines governing conversion efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance. This systematic review synthesizes recent methodologies for evaluating and optimizing turbine operation and maintenance to enhance efficiency, reduce impacts, and extend service life. Following a PRISMA-aligned protocol, studies published between 2020 and 2025 were screened across Web of Science and Scopus, using predefined eligibility criteria and a two-stage selection process. The resulting evidence was thematically analyzed across three domains: lifecycle and circular-economy-oriented refurbishment strategies; digitalization and predictive maintenance approaches; and environmentally optimized operating regimes. Of the 115 screened records, 37 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that predictive monitoring, data-driven maintenance, and turbine selection tailored to local hydrology can significantly improve energy performance while reducing operation and maintenance costs. The literature also highlights the importance of ecological flow compliance and reduced aquatic impacts. Complementary case studies from Nepal, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, and Romania illustrate regional challenges and modernization pathways. Overall, the review underscores the need for integrated, multi-objective turbine management that aligns techno-economic, lifecycle, and ecological considerations to support hydropower competitiveness within the energy transition. Full article

Improving the mechanism for the value realization of ecological products constitutes a critical pathway to achieving the modernization of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Based on the logical mechanism of the supply–demand theory, this study identifies and summarizes the connotations, accounting, and value realization mechanisms of ecological products. On the basis of enriching the existing literature, this study employs panel data from 2011 to 2023 to measure the value of grassland ecological products in the Hexi Corridor and conduct a visual analysis of their spatial differentiation characteristics. It further explores the impact of social activities on value realization, performs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and proposes multiple configuration pathways for the value realization of grassland ecological products. The results indicate that: (1) the value realization of grassland ecological products in the Hexi Corridor is inadequate, with a significant gap between the actual value and the theoretical value; (2) significant differences are observed among environmental beautification products, ecological cultural products, and ecological space products, forming a distribution pattern of “higher in the west and lower in the east” centered on Jiuquan City; (3) the value realization of ecological products is closely associated with social activities, whereby a relatively homogenous industrial structure and low degree of opening-up exert a significant negative impact on it, and the value of ecological products cannot be effectively realized relying solely on the market mechanism; (4) based on institutional configuration and by applying dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), we select the primary conversion rate of ecological products as the outcome variable. Considering the actual conditions of various regions, four diversified configurational paths are proposed: namely, the conservation-driven path under ecological compensation, the development-driven path fueled by capital, the quality-upgrading path driven by the dual engines of capital and the environment, and the efficiency-enhancing path led by environmental governance. Full article

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are critical ecological components in arid lands. Their formation and stability hinge on the assembly and interactive networks of cyanobacteria-led bacterial communities. Yet, how different functional cyanobacteria shape the underlying microbial structure and assembly rules is poorly understood. Here, we cultivated artificial algal crusts using two representative cyanobacteria: the nitrogen-fixing Leptolyngbya sp. and the non-nitrogen-fixing Microcoleus vaginatus (M. vaginatus CM01). A total of six treatments were established based on the presence or absence of spraying with in situ BSCs leachate: a control group without inoculation of algae or bacteria (soil, S); a treatment group sprayed only with bacterial suspension (soil + bacteria, SB); a treatment group sprayed only with M. vaginatus CM01 (soil + M. vaginatus CM01, SM); a treatment group co-inoculated with both BSCs leachate and M. vaginatus CM01 (soil + M. vaginatus CM01 + bacteria, SMB); a treatment group inoculated only with Leptolyngbya sp. CT01 (soil + Leptolyngbya sp. CT01, SL); and a treatment group co-inoculated with Leptolyngbya sp. CT01 and biocrust leachate (soil + Leptolyngbya sp. CT01 + bacteria, SLB). By integrating 16S rRNA gene sequencing, neutral community modeling (NCM), and structural equation modeling (SEM), we dissected differences in Cyano-BSCs development, bacterial community composition, co-occurrence networks, and assembly mechanisms. Inoculation with M. vaginatus CM01 (SM, SMB) superiorly promoted Cyano-BSCs development: the SM group achieved the highest coverage (23.33%), while the SMB group showed marked increases in organic matter (OM, 4.10 g·kg⁻¹) and chlorophyll a (Chla, 13.40 μg·g⁻¹), alongside a >5-fold rise in bacterial, cyanobacterial, and nitrogen-fixation gene abundances versus controls. The mechanism centers on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by M. vaginatus, which homogenized the microenvironment, suppressed stochastic bacterial dispersal (NCM, SM: R² = 0.698), and enhanced deterministic selection. This process forged a highly cooperative network (89.74% positive links, average degree 34.71) that directionally enriched Cyanobacteria (relative abundance 40.40%). The Shannon index of Cyano-BSCs from the group (SMB) reached 7.72 ± 0.09, reflecting high microbial community diversity. SEM confirmed M. vaginatus directly regulated bacterial assembly (path coefficient = 0.59, p < 0.05) and indirectly improved the soil environment (path coefficient = 0.64, p < 0.05), establishing a “cyanobacteria-community-environment” feedback loop. Conversely, the Leptolyngbya sp. groups (SL, SLB), despite enriching nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi, exhibited low carbon fixation efficiency (notably 1.26 g·kg⁻¹ OM in SL) and lack of EPS; communities remained stochastic (NCM, SL: R² = 0.751) with no effective regulatory pathway—a pattern mirrored in S and SB groups. Our findings demonstrate that M. vaginatus acts as a core engineer of biological soil Cyano-BSCs formation via an “EPS-mediated habitat filtering—functional group enrichment—cooperative network assembly” cascade, enforcing deterministic community construction. Leptolyngbya sp., with limited niche-constructing ability, fails to exert comparable control. This work provides a targeted framework for the artificial restoration of Cyano-BSCs in arid zones. Full article

Direct solar photovoltaic to electrolyser systems offer a promising pathway for producing low-carbon hydrogen, yet their performance and scalability remain limited by challenges that arise when variable solar generation is coupled to electrochemical conversion, with unresolved implications for electrolyser lifetime and hydrogen production cost. This review synthesises recent advances in photovoltaic technologies, electrolyser development and emerging deployment configurations to evaluate the technical, operational and environmental factors that shape system feasibility. The assessment draws on findings from experimental studies, modelling frameworks and techno-economic analyses to examine photovoltaic efficiency losses, thermal and material degradation, high-resolution intermittency effects, electrolyser dynamics, degradation mechanisms and storage interactions, and their combined influence on usage-dependent lifetime and cost behaviour. The results show that fluctuating solar input reduces conversion efficiency, increases transient overpotentials and accelerates degradation in both photovoltaic modules and electrolyser stacks. Technology-specific trade-offs persist, with alkaline water electrolysis constrained by limited flexibility, proton exchange membrane electrolysis by reliance on scarce catalyst materials, and anion exchange membrane and solid oxide electrolysis systems requiring further validation under real-world variability. Floating photovoltaic systems and agrivoltaics expand deployment opportunities but introduce additional constraints related to water quality, ecological impacts and power variability. Overall, the review finds that system-level integration, dynamic modelling, degradation-aware design and coordinated storage strategies are essential to unlocking reliable and scalable solar-to-hydrogen production. Full article

This study establishes a municipal-level evaluation system for rural revitalization in China, grounded in the five-sphere integrated framework encompassing “prosperous industries, livable ecology, civilized rural customs, effective governance, and affluent life.” Employing methodologies including the entropy weight-coupling coordination model, LISA spatiotemporal analysis, and multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), it empirically investigates the evolution and driving mechanisms of rural revitalization development across 282 prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2023. The findings reveal: (1) Nationwide and regional rural revitalization levels demonstrate a consistent upward trajectory, progressing from a state of “Mild Disorder” to being “On the Verge of Disorder,” with a distinct gradient pattern of “Eastern Region > National Average > Central Region > Western Region.” (2) Significant global spatial correlation is observed, manifesting as polarization typified by “high–high” and “low–low” agglomeration, alongside notable volatility in Northeast and Southwest China. (3) Influencing factors display marked spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Agricultural production efficiency (North China) and technological innovation (nationwide, except the Yangtze River Delta) significantly foster rural revitalization. Conversely, economic development level (Northeast, Central, and Western China), government intervention (Northeast China), and industrial structure upgrading (Northwest China) exhibit constraining effects. The localized positive impacts of urbanization (border areas of Yunnan, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Jilin, and Tibet) and opening up (border ports) are increasingly evident. Building on these insights, the study proposes recommendations—such as implementing differentiated regional policies, innovating spatial governance models, and activating multidimensional drivers—to overcome the “low-level lock-in” predicament and advance comprehensive rural revitalization. Furthermore, this paper reveals the patterns of multidimensional system coupling and the spatial heterogeneity of driving mechanisms. These findings provide a reference for deepening the understanding of geographical complexity within global sustainable development theory. Full article

The aim of this article was to determine the impact of energy intensity, renewable energy consumption, and globalization on environmental degradation in SAARC countries. Utilizing both CO₂ emissions and the ecological footprint (EF) as environmental indicators, the research provides a comprehensive evaluation of sustainability trends. The analysis employs the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) technique to account for heterogeneity across different levels of environmental degradation. The study covered the period 2000–2021. The empirical results indicate that renewable energy usage significantly reduces both CO₂ emissions and EF, emphasizing the necessity of expanding clean energy sources in SAARC nations. Conversely, energy intensity exacerbates environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for efficiency improvements. Globalization exerts mixed effects, with economic integration increasing CO₂ emissions while reducing ecological footprint, suggesting a complex interplay between industrialization and sustainability. Additionally, economic growth consistently worsens environmental quality across all quantiles, reinforcing the challenge of balancing development with ecological preservation. The findings emphasize the necessity of policy interventions to promote renewable energy adoption, enhance energy efficiency, and leverage globalization for sustainable development. Future research should explore broader environmental indicators and adopt advanced econometric techniques to deepen insights into sustainable energy transitions in SAARC countries. Full article

The global ecological conditions are degrading rapidly, and even after the commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, G7 countries still struggle to meet basic environmental standards. This study offers a novel marginal contribution by analyzing how economic globalization (EG), economic growth intensity (EGI), financial innovation (FI), and environmental technology (ET) influenced environmental degradation (ED) in the G7 countries from 2000 to 2021. Using the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) alongside Driscoll and Kraay Standard Error (DKSE), this research provides a first-of-its-kind distributional mapping that accounts for cross-sectional dependency and heterogeneous slopes. Crucially, the findings reveal a “decoupling failure” in advanced economies, where the existing treatment mechanism for ET is insufficient to separate industrial growth from emissions due to institutional discrepancies. While FI is often viewed as a green catalyst, this study identifies it as a “double-edged sword,” showing that it significantly increases environmental degradation in higher quantiles due to carbon-intensive global supply chains. Conversely, EGI is discovered to be mitigatory, suggesting that enhancing financial efficiency and growth soundness can diminish ecological damage. This research fills a critical literature gap by reconciling the Pollution Haven Hypothesis and Green Finance Theory, providing empirical evidence that developed financial systems may inadvertently exacerbate damage if not specifically aligned with green mandates. Full article

This study presents a life cycle assessment of a low-cost pilot-scale wastewater treatment system that combines solar photocatalytic oxidation with Nature-based Solutions (NBSs) for a specially constructed wetland (CW). The prototype was designed and assessed for its efficiency in treating urban wastewater and its environmental impact on agricultural irrigation reuse. Evaluations were performed with the SimaPro software, applying the Impact ReCiPe Medpoint methodology, which includes characterization and selection of the relevant environmental issues steps. The results demonstrate the potential of this hybrid system for providing high-quality treated wastewater suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions. The analysis reveals that the operational phase, mainly driven by energy consumption for pumping, aeration, and photocatalytic processes, accounts for over 85–98% of the total global warming potential (GWP), primarily due to reliance on fossil-based electricity. Conversely, the construction phase significantly impacts land use and toxicity categories, with concrete and substrate production contributing around 95% to land occupation and 97% to human toxicity. The photocatalytic subsystem also contributes notably to embodied carbon at 42.4%, owing to energy-intensive manufacturing. The results underscore the importance of optimizing operational energy efficiency and selecting sustainable materials to mitigate environmental burdens. The integrated system demonstrates promising potential for producing high-quality treated effluent suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions, supporting sustainable water management. These findings provide important insights for reducing ecological impacts and advancing environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Full article

The aim of this work is to develop a beneficial methodology for improving the ecological and economic efficiency of chemico-technological systems (CTS). The problem is formulated as a control with a vector objective function that includes economic and environmental components. A practical approach to enhancing the environmental and economic efficiency of CTS is presented. Some approaches to accident prevention including the application of a problem-oriented dynamic model are introduced. Extended Ecological–Technological Portfolios have been developed. These Portfolios represent simplified visual models aiming to increase the environmental and economic efficiency of the CTS. Portfolios allow for the identification of dependencies between technological faults and ecological criteria and enable the investigation of the impact of the concrete chemico-technological process on the environment. Based on the Portfolios, decisions can be made for improving the economic–ecological efficiency of CTS and the prevention of accidents. Ecological–Technological Matrices, which provide a generalized characterization of technological breakdowns, have been developed. A strategy for adjusting technological constraints, using Matrices and vector criteria, has been proposed. Portfolios and Matrices can be applied in data preparation to solve certain artificial intelligence tasks for increasing the environmental and economic efficiency of potentially hazardous CTS. Some examples are given, presenting the industrial control of ammonia synthesis, methane conversion, and chemical absorption of CO₂. Full article

Antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) monitoring in environmental systems increasingly relies on DNA-based molecular approaches; however, the extent to which DNA extraction strategies bias downstream resistome interpretation remains insufficiently understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of single versus successive DNA extraction on DNA recovery, microbial community composition, and the abundance and diversity of 385 genes related to antibiotic resistance including ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) across three contrasting matrices: water, sediment, and fish intestinal tissue. Successive extraction markedly increased DNA yield and detection of functional genes in water and sediment, particularly for low-abundance and particle-associated taxa. Enhanced recovery resulted in higher richness and abundance of ARGs and MGEs and strengthened correlations between intI1, ARGs, and bacterial taxa, indicating that single-cycle extraction may underestimate resistome magnitude and potential host associations in complex matrices. Conversely, fish intestinal tissue, used here as a representative biological matrix, showed limited benefit or even reduced gene abundance with repeated extraction, likely due to rapid depletion of extractable nucleic acids and DNA degradation. While successive extraction improves recovery efficiency, the potential inclusion of extracellular or relic DNA suggests caution in interpreting inflated ARG abundance. Overall, our findings demonstrate that DNA extraction is a matrix-dependent methodological driver that can reshape both quantitative outcomes and ecological inference. Matrix-specific optimization and careful protocol selection are therefore essential for improving data comparability and minimizing methodological underestimation in environmental resistome assessments. Full article

With the rapid development of the sharing economy and the progress of social ecological civilization, social media influencers (SMIs) have garnered significant from academia and practitioners for their pivotal role in fostering pro-environmental behavioral intentions within the tourism consumption context. Drawing on the two-step flow theory, social influence theory, and social learning theory, this study establishes an integrated analytical framework to elucidate how SMIs facilitate the balance between tourism development and ecosystem preservation by activating pro-environmental behavioral behavior. This study conceptualizes the SMIs’ multi-traits as a higher-order construct (a third-order reflective structure), which integrates content-determined and personality-determined attributes, viewing SMIs’ effectiveness as a coherent system of influence rather than a series of fragmented traits. Based on survey data collected from 598 Chinese social media users, the study utilized Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) to test the proposed model. The results demonstrate that SMIs’ multi-traits exert significant positive effects on parasocial relationships and wishful identification, which in turn enhance individuals’ willingness to mimic. This willingness to mimic serves as a core behavioral conversion mechanism, bridging digital influence on three pro-environmental behavioral intentions: general, specific and online advocacy intentions. Furthermore, robustness analyses reveal marked heterogeneity across education- and income-based groups, indicating that the efficacy of SMI traits and the psychological-to-behavioral conversion efficiency are contingent upon the recipients’ socioeconomic resources and cognitive capital. Overall, this study characterizes social media influencer marketing as a scalable, socially driven phenomenon that can effectively activate and promote pro-environmental behavioral intentions, providing valuable insights for environmental education and sustainable tourism development in the digital age. Full article

Achieving sustainable land restoration in southern Chinese ionic rare earth mining areas remains a significant challenge due to the extended duration and low efficiency of conventional remediation approaches. Although the hyperaccumulator Dicranopteris pedata possesses a remarkable capacity for rare earth element (REE) enrichment, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding how to effectively combine exogenous organic acids with agronomic practices like clipping to enhance its remediation efficiency in an environmentally sustainable manner. Crucially, the potential environmental risks associated with such synergistic strategies have not been systematically evaluated, hindering their practical application. To address this, our study focused on Dicranopteris pedata and employed integrated pot and soil column leaching experiments to systematically analyze the effects of different concentrations of citric acid and tartaric acid on REE migration and transformation within the soil–plant system. The results demonstrated that exogenous organic acids significantly reduced soil pH and promoted the conversion of REEs from the residual to the exchangeable fraction. Specifically, the 20 mmol·kg⁻¹ citric acid treatment increased the proportion of exchangeable REEs by 43.46%. Furthermore, organic acid treatments significantly altered the REE uptake patterns in Dicranopteris pedata, inhibiting the translocation and accumulation of REEs in the aboveground tissues. Soil column leaching experiments revealed that citric acid drove the migration of REEs to deeper soil layers, with the concentration peaking at 288.33 mg·kg⁻¹ at a depth of 6–8 cm; concomitantly, the REE content in the leachate reached its maximum on the 5th day. This study demonstrates that the combined application of 20 mmol·kg⁻¹ citric acid and 100% clipping management increased the annual REE accumulation in Dicranopteris pedata to 4.85 g·m⁻², thereby significantly shortening the theoretical remediation period from 25.0 years in the control to 12.1 years. Soil column leaching experiments indicated no significant secondary pollution risk associated with this strategy. These findings provide a feasible, low-risk, and sustainable technical strategy for the synergistically enhanced remediation of REE-contaminated soils, offering a promising path for ecological restoration and sustainable land management in degraded mining ecosystems. Full article

Droughts are recognized as one of the most devastating extreme climate events, leading to severe socioeconomic losses and ecological degradation globally under climate change. With global warming, the frequency and intensity of extreme droughts are increasing, posing critical challenges to water resource management. The Standardized Precipitation Conversion Index (SPCI) has demonstrated potential in drought monitoring; however, its applicability across diverse climatic zones and multiple temporal scales remains inadequately validated. This study addresses this gap by establishing a novel multi-scale inversion analysis using ERA5-based precipitable water vapor (PWV) and precipitation data. SPCI is selected for its advantage in eliminating climatic background biases through probability normalization, overcoming limitations of traditional indices such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). We systematically evaluated the spatiotemporal evolution of Precipitation Efficiency (PE) and SPCI across four climatic zones in China. Results show that the first two principal components explain over 85% of the spatiotemporal variability of PE, with PC1 independently contributing from 82.05% to 83.80%. This high variance contribution underscores that the spatiotemporal patterns of PE are dominated by a few key climatic drivers, validating the robustness of the principal component analysis. SPCI exhibits strong correlation with SPI, exceeding 0.95 in the Tropical Monsoon Zone (TMZ) at scales of 1–6 months, indicating its utility for short-to-medium-term drought monitoring. Distinct zonal differentiation in PE patterns is revealed, such as the bimodal annual cycle in the Tropical-Subtropical Monsoon Composite Zone (TSMCZ). This study evaluates the performance of the SPCI against the widely used SPI and SPEI across four major climatic zones in China. It validates the SPCI’s applicability across China’s complex climates, providing a scientific basis for region-specific drought early warning and water resource optimization. Full article

This study analyzes artificial intelligence development and green economic efficiency across 31 Chinese provinces using 2019–2021 panel data. We apply the entropy weight TOPSIS method to measure AI development levels. The entropy weight TOPSIS method measures AI development levels, the DEA-BCC model assesses green economic efficiency, and their coordination types are identified. Findings reveal a significant negative correlation between AI development and green economic efficiency. We explain this complex relationship through three mechanisms: short-term polarization effects, technology conversion lags, and spatial spillovers. Spatial analysis shows AI development forms high-high agglomerations in the Yangtze River Delta and Shandong. Green economic efficiency shows high-high clustering in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and selected western provinces. Using a “two-system” coupling framework, we identify four provincial categories. The “double-high” type should function as growth poles. The “high-low” type requires improved technology conversion efficiency. The “low-high” type can leverage ecological advantages. The “double-low” type needs enhanced factor inputs. We propose three targeted policy recommendations: establishing digital-green synergy platforms, implementing inter-provincial AI resource collaboration mechanisms, and developing locally adapted action plans. Full article