Search Results (1,431)

This study presents the scientific and methodological foundation of Spain’s first national framework for the ethical management of community cat populations: the Action Plan for the Management of Community Cat Colonies (PACF), launched in 2025 under the mandate of Law 7/2023. This pioneering legislation introduces a standardized, nationwide obligation for trap–neuter–return (TNR)-based management of free-roaming cats, defined as animals living freely, territorially attached, and with limited socialization toward humans. The PACF aims to support municipalities in implementing this mandate through evidence-based strategies that integrate animal welfare, biodiversity protection, and public health objectives. Using standardized data submitted by 1128 municipalities (13.9% of Spain’s total), we estimated a baseline population of 1.81 million community cats distributed across 125,000 colonies. These data were stratified by municipal population size and applied to national census figures to generate a model-ready demographic structure. We then implemented a stochastic simulation using Vortex software to project long-term population dynamics over a 25-year horizon. The model integrated eight demographic–environmental scenarios defined by a combination of urban–rural classification and ecological reproductive potential based on photoperiod and winter temperature. Parameters included reproductive output, mortality, sterilization coverage, abandonment and adoption rates, stochastic catastrophic events, and territorial carrying capacity. Under current sterilization rates (~20%), our projections indicate that Spain’s community cat population could surpass 5 million individuals by 2050, saturating ecological and social thresholds within a decade. In contrast, a differentiated sterilization strategy aligned with territorial reproductive intensity (50% in most areas, 60–70% in high-pressure zones) achieves population stabilization by 2030 at approximately 1.5 million cats, followed by a gradual long-term decline. This scenario prioritizes feasibility while substantially reducing reproductive output, particularly in rural and high-intensity contexts. The PACF combines stratified demographic modeling with spatial sensitivity, offering a flexible framework adaptable to local conditions. It incorporates One Health principles and introduces tools for adaptive management, including digital monitoring platforms and standardized welfare protocols. While ecological impacts were not directly assessed, the proposed demographic stabilization is designed to mitigate population-driven risks to biodiversity and public health without relying on lethal control. By integrating legal mandates, stratified modeling, and realistic intervention goals, this study outlines a replicable and scalable framework for coordinated action across administrative levels. It exemplifies how national policy can be operationalized through data-driven, territorially sensitive planning tools. The findings support the strategic deployment of TNR-based programs across diverse municipal contexts, providing a model for other countries seeking to align animal welfare policy with ecological planning under a multi-level governance perspective. Full article

The mountainous rivers of Central Asia host diverse ichthyofauna threatened by increasing anthropogenic pressures, particularly water pollution, abstraction, and hydropower development. This study provides valuable morphometric and ecological data for Schizothorax eurycephalus (snow trout) and Triplophysa ferganaensis (stone loach) in the Shakhimardan River basin, Uzbekistan. S. eurycephalus exhibited positive allometric growth, while T. ferganaensis showed negative near-isometric growth. The mean Fulton’s Condition Factor was 1.0 for S. eurycephalus and 0.7 for T. ferganaensis, with site-specific variations. Strong correlations among morphometric parameters, particularly length–height relationships, support non-invasive monitoring techniques. Dietary analysis revealed S. eurycephalus was predominantly herbivorous, with around 70% algae consumption. Early sexual maturity was observed in S. eurycephalus males, whereas T. ferganaensis showed no clear maturity signs, but swollen bellies suggested ongoing or recent reproductive activity. These baseline morphometric and ecological data establish a solid foundation for future ecological assessments, conservation strategies, and the design and monitoring of mitigation measures to address anthropogenic impacts in this vulnerable region. Full article

Understanding species composition and forest dynamics is essential for predicting biomass productivity and informing conservation in tropical montane ecosystems. We evaluated floristic, demographic, and biomass changes in eighteen 0.1 ha permanent plots in the Colombian Sub-Andean forest, including both primary (ca. 60 y old) and secondary forests (ca. 30 years old). Two censuses of individuals (DBH ≥ 2.5 cm) were conducted over 7–13 years. We recorded 516 species across 202 genera and 89 families. Floristic composition differed significantly between forest types (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001), and black oak (Trigonobalanus excelsa Lozano, Hern. Cam. & Henao) forests formed distinct assemblages. Demographic rates were higher in secondary forests, with mortality (4.17% yr), recruitment (4.51% yr), and relative growth rate (0.02% yr) exceeding those of primary forests. The mean aboveground biomass accumulation and the rate of annual change were higher in primary forests (447.5 Mg ha⁻¹ and 466.8 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively) than in secondary forests (217.2 Mg ha⁻¹ and 217.2 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). Notably, black oak forests showed the greatest biomass accumulation and rate of change in biomass. Annual net biomass production was higher in secondary forests (8.72 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) than in primary forests (5.66 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). These findings highlight the ecological distinctiveness and recovery potential of secondary Sub-Andean forests and underscore the value of multitemporal monitoring to understand forest resilience and assess vulnerability to environmental change. Full article

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has emerged as a transformative tool in environmental monitoring, enabling non-invasive detection of species and microbial communities across diverse ecosystems. This study systematically reviews the role of bioinformation technology in eDNA analysis, focusing on methodologies and applications across air, soil, groundwater, sediment, and aquatic environments. Advances in molecular biology, high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics tools, and field-deployable detection systems have significantly improved eDNA detection sensitivity, allowing for early identification of invasive species, monitoring ecosystem health, and tracking pollutant degradation processes. Airborne eDNA monitoring has demonstrated potential for assessing microbial shifts due to air pollution and tracking pathogen transmission. In terrestrial environments, eDNA facilitates soil and groundwater pollution assessments and enhances understanding of biodegradation processes. In aquatic ecosystems, eDNA serves as a powerful tool for biodiversity assessment, invasive species monitoring, and wastewater-based epidemiology. Despite its growing applicability, challenges remain, including DNA degradation, contamination risks, and standardization of sampling protocols. Future research should focus on integrating eDNA data with remote sensing, machine learning, and ecological modeling to enhance predictive environmental monitoring frameworks. As technological advancements continue, eDNA-based approaches are poised to revolutionize environmental assessment, conservation strategies, and public health surveillance. Full article

The ongoing degradation of global forests has severely weakened ecosystem service functions, and traditional judicial remedies have struggled to quantify intangible ecological losses. China has become an important testing ground for restorative justice through the establishment of specialized environmental courts and the practice of environmental public interest litigation. Since 2015, China has actively explored and institutionalized the application of the concept of restorative justice in its environmental justice reform. This concept emphasizes compensating environmental damages through actual ecological restoration acts rather than relying solely on financial compensation. This shift reflects a deep understanding of the limitations of traditional environmental justice and an institutional response to China’s ecological civilization construction, providing critical support for forest ecosystem restoration and enabling ecological restoration activities, such as replanting and re-greening, habitat reconstruction, etc., to be enforced through judicial decisions. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of judicial rulings in forest restoration cases to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of restorative justice in compensating for losses in forest ecosystem service functions. The findings reveal the following: (1) restoration measures in judicial practice are disconnected from the types of ecosystem services available; (2) non-market values and long-term cumulative damages are systematically underestimated, with monitoring mechanisms exhibiting fragmented implementation and insufficient effectiveness; (3) management cycles are set in violation of ecological restoration principles, and acceptance standards lack function-oriented indicators; (4) participation of key stakeholders is severely lacking, and local knowledge and professional expertise have not been integrated. In response, this study proposes a restorative judicial framework oriented toward forest ecosystem services, utilizing four mechanisms: independent recognition of legal interests, function-matched restoration, application of scientific assessment tools, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This framework aims to drive a paradigm shift from formal restoration to substantive functional recovery, providing theoretical support and practical pathways for environmental judicial reform and global forest governance. Full article

Seafood contamination by heavy metals is a growing public health concern, particularly in regions like Tunisia where seafood is a major dietary component. This study assessed concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the muscle tissue of the red shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, collected in 2023 from four coastal regions: Bizerte, Monastir, Kerkennah, and Gabes. Metal analysis was conducted using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. This species was chosen due to its ecological and economic importance. The study sites were chosen based on their differing levels of industrial, urban, and agricultural influence, providing a representative overview of regional contamination patterns. Mean concentrations were 1.04 µg/g for Zn, 0.59 µg/g for Cu, 1.56 µg/g for Pb, and 0.21 µg/g for Cd (dry weight). Pb was the most prevalent metal across sites. Statistically significant variation was observed only for Cu (p = 0.0334). All metal concentrations were below international safety limits set by FAO/WHO and the European Union. Compared to similar studies, the levels reported were similar or slightly lower. Human health risk was evaluated using target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR) values. For adults, THQ ranged from 5.44 × 10⁻⁶ to 8.43 × 10⁻⁴, while for children it ranged from 2.40 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.72 × 10⁻³. HI values were also well below 1, indicating negligible non-carcinogenic risk. CR values for Cd and Pb in both adults and children fell within the acceptable risk range (10⁻⁶ to <10⁻⁴), suggesting no significant carcinogenic concern. This study provides the first field-based dataset on metal contamination in P. longirostris from Tunisia, contributing valuable insights for seafood safety monitoring and public health protection. Full article

The Mediterranean region, identified by scientists as a ‘climate hot spot’, is experiencing warmer and drier conditions, along with an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. One such extreme phenomena is droughts. The recent wildfires in this region are a concerning consequence of this phenomenon, causing severe environmental damage and transforming natural landscapes. However, droughts involve a two-way interaction: On the one hand, climate change and various human activities, such as urbanization and deforestation, influence the development and severity of droughts. On the other hand, droughts have a significant impact on various sectors, including ecology, agriculture, and the local economy. This study investigates drought dynamics in four Mediterranean countries, Greece, France, Italy, and Spain, each of which has experienced severe wildfire events in recent years. Using satellite-based Earth observation data, we monitored drought conditions across these regions over a five-year period that includes the dates of major wildfires. To support this analysis, we derived and assessed key indices: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI). High-resolution satellite imagery processed within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform enabled the spatial and temporal analysis of these indicators. Our findings reveal that, in all four study areas, peak drought conditions, as reflected in elevated NDDI values, were observed in the months leading up to wildfire outbreaks. This pattern underscores the potential of satellite-derived indices for identifying regional drought patterns and providing early signals of heightened fire risk. The application of GEE offered significant advantages, as it allows efficient handling of long-term and large-scale datasets and facilitates comprehensive spatial analysis. Our methodological framework contributes to a deeper understanding of regional drought variability and its links to extreme events; thus, it could be a valuable tool for supporting the development of adaptive management strategies. Ultimately, such approaches are vital for enhancing resilience, guiding water resource planning, and implementing early warning systems in fire-prone Mediterranean landscapes. Full article

The contamination due to coastal landfill is a growing environmental concern, particularly in fragile marine ecosystems, where leachate can mobilize toxic elements into soil, water, air, and sediment. This study aims to assess the impact of a coastal landfill in Al-Qunfudhah, western Saudi Arabia, on nearby coastal sediments by identifying the concentration, distribution, and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) using geospatial and multivariate analysis tools. The results indicate significant accumulation of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe, with Pb reaching alarming levels of up to 1160 mg/kg in the landfill area, compared to 120 mg/kg in the coastal sediments. Zn contamination also exhibited substantial elevation, with values reaching 278 mg/kg in landfill soil and 157 mg/kg in coastal sediment. The enrichment factor values indicate moderate to severe enrichment for Pb (up to 73.20) and Zn (up to 6.91), confirming anthropogenic influence. The contamination factor analysis categorized Pb contamination as very high (CF > 6), suggesting significant ecological risk. Comparison with sediment quality guidelines suggest that Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations exceeded threshold effect levels (TEL) in some samples, posing potential risks to marine organisms. The spatial distribution maps revealed pollutant migration from the landfill toward the coastal zone, emphasizing the necessity of monitoring and mitigation strategies. As the first comprehensive study on landfill-induced PTEs contamination in Al-Qunfudhah, these findings provide essential insights for environmental management and pollution control policies along the Red Sea coast. Full article

Detecting pharmaceuticals in environmental matrices, particularly in wastewater, is crucial due to their potential environmental occurrence and unpredictable ecological and health-related consequences. These substances, often present in trace amounts, require highly sensitive and selective analytical methods for effective monitoring. A modified version of the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method was evaluated to evaluate 18 pharmaceuticals and 2 metabolites in wastewater samples using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method’s performance was assessed using linearity, recovery, precision, limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD), and the matrix effect (ME). The final method was based on acetonitrile, Na₂EDTA, citrate buffer, and graphene oxide (GO). Finally, the calibration curves prepared in acetonitrile and the matrix extract showed a correlation coefficient of 0.99. Most of the compounds had LOQ values lower than 0.5 μg⋅mL⁻¹. Recoveries were achieved in the 70–98% range, with RSD lower than 13%. GO allowed the elimination of the ME, which occurred in the range of −11% to 15%. The results indicate that a low-cost and straightforward method is suitable for routinely monitoring pharmaceuticals in wastewater, which is crucial for minimizing the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems. Full article

Arid regions, while providing essential ecosystem services, are among the most ecologically vulnerable worldwide. Understanding and monitoring their long-term vegetation dynamics is essential for accurate environmental assessment and climate adaptation strategies. This study examined the spatiotemporal variations and driving forces of the vegetation dynamics in arid Northwestern China during 2000 to 2020, using the annual peak fractional vegetation cover (FVC) as the primary indicator. The Sen’s slope estimator with the Mann–Kendall test and the coefficient of variation were employed to assess the spatiotemporal variations in FVC, while the Pearson correlation, geographic detector model and random forest model were applied to identify the dominant driving factors for FVC. The results indicated that (1) overall vegetation cover was low (averaged peak FVC = 0.191), showing a spatial pattern of higher values in the northwest and lower values in the southeast; high FVC values were primarily observed in mountainous areas and river corridors; (2) the annual peak FVC increased significantly at a rate of 0.0508 yr⁻¹, with 33.72% of the region showing significant improvements and 5.49% degradation; (3) the spatial pattern of FVC was shaped by the distribution of land use types (59.46%), while the temporal dynamics of FVC were driven by land use changes (16.37%) and the land use intensity (37.56%); (4) both the spatial pattern and the temporal dynamics were limited by the environmental conditions. These findings highlight the critical role of anthropogenic activities in shaping the spatiotemporal variations in FVC, particularly emphasizing the distinct contributions of changes in land use types and land use intensity. This study could provide a scientific basis for sustainable land management and restoration strategies in arid regions facing global changes. Full article

The mapping and monitoring of coastal regions are critical to ensure their sustainable use and viability in the long term. Delineation of coastlines is becoming increasingly important in the light of climate change and rising sea levels. However, many coastlines are highly dynamic; therefore, mono-temporal assessments of coastal ecosystems and coastlines are mere snapshots of limited practical value for space-based planning. Understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of coastal ecosystem boundaries is important to inform ecosystem management but also for a meaningful delineation of the high-water mark, which is used as a benchmark for coastal spatial planning in South Africa. This research aimed to use hyper-temporal Sentinel-2 imagery to extract ecological zones on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 613 images, collected between 2019 and 2023, were classified into four distinct coastal ecological zones—vegetation, bare, surf, and water—using a Random Forest model. Across all classifications, the percentage of each of the four classes’ occurrence per pixel over time was determined. This enabled the identification of ecosystem locations, spatially static ecosystem boundaries, and the occurrence of ecosystem boundaries with a more dynamic location over time, such as the non-permanent vegetation zone of the foredune area as well as the intertidal zone. The overall accuracy of the model was 98.13%, while the Kappa coefficient was 0.975, with user’s and producer’s accuracies ranging between 93.02% and 100%. These results indicate that cloud-based analysis of Sentinel-2 time series holds potential not just for delineating coastal ecosystem boundaries, but also for enhancing the understanding of spatio-temporal dynamics between them, to inform meaningful environmental management, spatial planning, and climate adaptation strategies. Full article

Recreational diving depends on healthy marine ecosystems, yet it can harm biodiversity through species displacement and habitat damage. Bombinhas, a biodiverse diving hotspot in southern Brazil, faces growing threats from human activity and climate change. This study assessed the ecological structure of Sepultura Beach (2018) for potential diving trails, comparing it with historical data from Porto Belo Island. Using visual censuses, transects, and photo-quadrats across six sampling campaigns, researchers documented 2419 organisms from five zoological groups, identifying 14 dominant species, including Haemulon aurolineatum and Diplodus argenteus. Cluster analysis revealed three ecological zones, with higher biodiversity at the site’s edges (Groups 1 and 3), but these areas also hosted endangered species like Epinephelus marginatus, complicating trail planning. A major concern was the widespread bleaching of the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum, a key ecosystem engineer, likely due to rising sea temperatures (+1.68 °C from 1961–2018) and declining chlorophyll-a levels post-2015. Comparisons with past data showed a 0.33 °C increase in species’ thermal preferences over 17 years, alongside lower trophic levels and greater ecological vulnerability, indicating tropicalization from the expanding Brazil Current. While Sepultura Beach’s biodiversity supports diving tourism, conservation efforts must address coral bleaching and endangered species protection. Long-term monitoring is crucial to track warming impacts, and adaptive management is needed for sustainable trail development. The study highlights the urgent need to balance ecotourism with climate resilience in subtropical marine ecosystems. Full article

This study investigates the heavy metal contamination in urban and peri-urban soils of Thessaloniki, Greece, over a two-year period (2023–2024). A total of 208 composite soil samples were systematically collected from 52 sites representing diverse land uses, including high-traffic roadsides, industrial zones, residential neighborhoods, parks, and mixed-use areas, with sampling conducted both after the wet (winter) and dry (summer) seasons. Soil physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, texture, organic matter, and calcium carbonate content) were analyzed alongside the concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. A pollution assessment employed the Geoaccumulation Index (I_geo), Contamination Factor (Cf), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), revealing variable contamination levels across the city, with certain hotspots exhibiting a considerable to very high ecological risk. Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA and HCA) identified distinct anthropogenic and geogenic sources of heavy metals. Health risk assessments, based on USEPA models, evaluated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for both adults and children via ingestion and dermal contact pathways. The results indicate that while most sites present low to moderate health risks, specific locations, particularly near major transport and industrial areas, pose elevated risks, especially for children. The findings underscore the need for targeted monitoring and remediation strategies to mitigate the ecological and human health risks associated with urban soil pollution in Thessaloniki. Full article

In this study, high-energy milled (HEM) samples of natural phosphorites from Estonian deposits were investigated. The activation was performed via planetary mill with Cr-Ni grinders with a diameter of 20 mm. This method is an ecological alternative, since it eliminates the disadvantages of conventional acid methods, namely the release of gaseous and solid technogenic products. The aim of the study is to determine the changes in the structure to follow the solid-state transitions and the isomorphic substitutions in the anionic sub-lattice in the structure of the main mineral apatite in the samples from Estonia, under the influence of HEM activation. It is also interesting to investigate the influence of HEM on structural-phase transformations on the structure of impurity minerals-free calcite/dolomite, pyrite, quartz, as well as to assess their influence on the thermal behavior of the main mineral apatite. The effect of HEM is monitored by using a complex of analytical methods, such as chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) analysis, and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis. The obtained results prove the correlation in the behavior of the studied samples with regard to their quartz content and bonded or non-bonded carbonate ions. After HEM activation of the raw samples, the following is established: (i) anionic isomorphism with formation of A and A-B type carbonate-apatites and hydroxyl-fluorapatite; (ii) solid-phase synthesis of calcium orthophosphate-CaHPO₄ (monetite) and dicalcium diphosphate-β-Ca₂P₂O₇; (iii) enhanced chemical reactivity by approximately three times by increasing the solubility via HEM activation. The dry milling method used is a suitable approach for solving technological projects to improve the composition and structure of soils, increasing soil fertility by introducing soluble forms of calcium phosphates. It provides a variety of application purposes depending on the composition, impurities, and processing as a soil improver, natural mineral fertilizer, or activator. Full article

This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of Castanopsis tribuloides, a vital tree species in Asian forest ecosystems. Understanding the genetic patterns of keystone forest species provides critical insights into forest resilience and ecosystem function and informs conservation strategies. We analyzed population samples collected from three distinct locations within Doi Suthep Mountain in northern Thailand using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers to assess both intra- and inter-population genetic relationships. DNA was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using a panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci specifically optimized for Castanopsis species. Statistical analyses included the assessment of forensic parameters (number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity, gene diversity, polymorphic information content), population differentiation metrics (G_ST), inbreeding coefficients (F_IS), and gene flow estimates (N_m). We further examined population history through bottleneck analysis using three models (IAM, SMM, and TPM) and visualized genetic relationships through principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis. Our results revealed significant patterns of genetic structuring across the sampled populations, with genetic distance metrics showing statistically significant differentiation between certain population pairs. The PCA and cluster analyses confirmed distinct population groupings that correspond to geographic distribution patterns. These findings provide the first comprehensive assessment of C. tribuloides population genetics in this region, establishing baseline data for monitoring genetic diversity and informing conservation strategies. This research contributes to our understanding of how landscape features and ecological factors shape genetic diversity patterns in essential forest tree species, with implications for managing forest genetic resources in the face of environmental change. Full article