Search Results (2,117)

Tailings remediation alleviates ecosystem degradation and protects species. To conserve terrestrial biodiversity and address sustainability challenges while achieving economic growth, numerous researchers have devoted efforts to monitoring ecological functions and optimizing community structures. This study investigates the microbial characteristics and functional diversity across ecological succession stages of tailings. Selecting three typical restoration stages, including biological crust, moss, and grassland stages, we adopt 16S rRNA and ITS gene amplification, Illumina high-throughput sequencing, spectroscopy, and network correlation analysis to explore the responses of soil multifunctionality index, microbial communities, and carbon metabolism during tailings restoration. The experimental results indicate that the functional diversity index increases with ecological succession and is significantly correlated with the bacterial genera Rubrobacter and Arenimicrobium, whereas no significant correlation is observed with dominant fungi. The network interactions among bacterial communities are gradually strengthened along the succession process. In terms of carbon metabolic functions, the relative abundances of galactose, starch, and sucrose metabolism pathways increase obviously with restoration progression, while inositol phosphate metabolism, peroxisome metabolism, retinol metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and xenobiotics metabolism exhibit no significant variations. These findings provide novel empirical evidence for explaining microbe-mediated ecological succession in tailing ecosystems and highlight the necessity of multi-perspective analysis for ecological restoration. Policy and practical implications emphasize that the application of specific microorganisms and their interspecific interactions to promote iron tailings ecological restoration should fully consider the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of tailings areas. This study deepens the understanding of differential microbial responses at different tailings restoration stages and provides actionable insights for balancing mining economic development and terrestrial ecosystem conservation. Full article

Wearable inertial sensing has considerable potential for process-level analysis of upper-limb function, but further evidence is needed to understand how it can be applied within ecologically structured immersive virtual reality (VR) tasks. Most VR-based functional assessments rely primarily on outcome-level indicators, such as task completion time, success rate, or error count, which may not fully capture how a task is executed. This exploratory study investigated whether wearable IMU signals collected during an immersive VR sushi-making task could support binary detection of a core upper-limb manipulation phase and provide additional information about task execution beyond global performance outcomes. A total of 45 participants contributed usable motion recordings for this study, with five Xsens DOT sensors placed on the hands, forearms, and waist. Three signal modalities were analysed, including acceleration (ACC), gyroscope angular velocity (GYR), and Euler angles. The downstream recognition problem was formulated as a binary classification task (Placing vs. Non-Placing), and a self-supervised learning (SSL) pretrain–fine-tune strategy was evaluated against conventional machine learning and from-scratch deep learning baselines using five subject-wise validation splits. The strongest overall performance was achieved with hand-mounted accelerometer signals, with LeftHand–ACC achieving a Macro-F1 of $0.712\pm 0.128$ and RightHand–ACC achieving $0.679\pm 0.118$. Under both hand-ACC settings, SSL fine-tuning showed higher mean Macro-F1 than the Balanced Random Forest baseline and the same deep architecture trained from scratch. Recognition performance varied substantially across sensor locations, signal modalities, and task segments, with distal upper-limb sensors generally outperforming waist-based configurations. Cross-age analyses further showed that within-cohort and cross-cohort performance did not fully align, indicating sensitivity to age-related distribution shift. Beyond classification, Log Dimensionless Jerk (LDLJ) derived from the Placing action showed a significant positive association with Cognitron motor control time cost ($r=0.636$, $p<0.001$). These findings suggest that wearable IMU sensing can provide preliminary process-level information during immersive VR functional tasks, including task-phase detection, sensing-configuration comparison, cross-cohort generalisation assessment, and exploratory motion-quality analysis. The results should be interpreted as evidence of feasibility rather than as a mature biomechanical or clinical assessment model. Full article

The ecological consequences of hydraulic engineering on riverine environments have intensified the need for scientifically grounded ecological flow regimes. To ensure habitat suitability during critical fish spawning periods, this study developed habitat preference curves by correlating physiological parameters with key hydro-environmental drivers. A habitat suitability index (HSI) model was established using fuzzy logic, integrated with a genetic algorithm (GA) to simultaneously optimize fuzzy membership functions and inference rules. This model was applied to simulate the relationship between the weighted usable area (WUA) and discharge for various fish egg types in the reach downstream of the Fengman Dam, ultimately facilitating the determination of an optimized ecological pulse flow hydrograph. The results reveal distinct hydro-environmental preference variations among species. Specifically, drifting eggs require specific hatching cycles supported by higher flow magnitudes and velocities. Conversely, adhesive eggs experience a significant reduction in suitable habitat area under high-flow and high-velocity conditions. These findings suggest that reservoir water resource allocation must be tailored to the life-history requirements of target species to maximize spawning success. This study provides a robust scientific framework for eco-friendly reservoir scheduling and the conservation of regulated river ecosystems. Full article

Natural climate variations and human activities have significantly altered the river–lake hydrological regimes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, leading to substantial changes in the inundation patterns of the Dongting Lake wetland, which in turn profoundly affect the spatial distribution and landscape patterns of wetland vegetation. Determining the response mechanisms and appropriate thresholds of wetland landscape patterns to hydrological rhythm changes is of great importance for maintaining the health of wetland ecosystems and optimizing the ecological operation of water conservancy projects. Based on long-term measured water level data (1992–2023) and multi-temporal Landsat remote sensing images (1997–2022), combined with a digital elevation model (DEM), this study systematically analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the inundation processes in Dongting Lake before and after the operation of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and their driving mechanisms on the plant landscape patterns of the floodplain wetland. The results show that after the TGP operation, the inundation pattern of Dongting Lake exhibited a drying trend, with a significant decline in annual mean water level (the largest drop of approximately 0.7 m in East Dongting Lake) and a marked reduction in the lake-wide average inundation duration (T) and inundation frequency (F). From 1997 to 2022, the total area of wetland vegetation in Dongting Lake showed a significant expansion trend, and the succession of the landscape pattern experienced a nonlinear process of stability, fragmentation, and recovery. The stepwise regression model revealed that the three elements of the inundation process explained more than 80% of the landscape pattern variation, among which inundation frequency (F) and inundation duration (T) were the core driving factors. Specifically, inundation frequency primarily regulated landscape diversity (SHDI) and contagion (CONTAG) through an environmental filtering effect, while maximum inundation depth (H) mainly maintained the physical connectivity (COHESION) of the landscape. Furthermore, the study quantified the stable hydrological range of the Dongting Lake wetland ecosystem: when the inundation frequency is maintained at 0.40–0.50 and the annual inundation duration is controlled at 4–5 months, the wetland landscape is in an optimal structural state. Once the warning thresholds are breached (e.g., F < 0.35 or T < 90 days), it may trigger the rapid expansion of cultivated poplar forests under combined hydrological and anthropogenic influences, leading to severe habitat fragmentation. These findings deepen the understanding of the response mechanisms of vegetation landscape patterns in large lake wetlands under altered hydrological rhythms. Full article

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) play key roles in arid, semi-arid regions and ecological marginal habitats. This study focused on four types of sand-fixing plantations established in 1990 in alpine sandy land (Salix psammophila, SL; Caragana korshinskii, NT; Salix cheilophila, WL; Populus simonii, XYY). Soil samples were collected from bare sand, algae crusts, and moss crusts. Soil particle size distribution, physicochemical properties, and enzyme activity were determined. Then bacterial communities were analyzed using high-throughput (Illumina) sequencing and the correlations among these three factors were examined. The results showed that: (1) From bare sand to algae and moss crusts, the content of fine particles (clay + silt) gradually increased. (2) Soil water content (SWC), nutrients and enzyme activities increased progressively. (3) In the study area, the dominant bacterial phyla of BSCs included Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteriota and Vibrionota. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and Analysis of Similarities (ANOSIM) results showed that BSCs drive the differentiation of bacterial communities during succession, while forest stands influence their spatial distribution. (4) Spearman’s correlation and redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that available phosphorus (AP), alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), soil organic matter (SOM), catalase (CAT), pH, soil water content (SWC), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are key physicochemical factors shaping the bacterial community structure of BSCs. Mantel’s test confirmed that these variables mediated BSCs’ bacterial community structure. This study elucidates the mechanisms underlying ecological restoration via BSCs and provides a theoretical basis for future restoration efforts in alpine sandy land. Full article

In the context of the influx of about 1 million displaced Rohingya people from Myanmar into the Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh in 2017, it is critical to examine their impacts on the sustainability of the social–ecological system in host Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the study are to assess the nature of intergroup conflicts between the resettled and host communities, the emerging threats posed by resettlement to social–ecological sustainability, and the adaptation and resilience of both communities. A Case Study approach was adopted in the Rohingya resettlement area of Ukhia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. Primary data were collected through Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and oral history conversations. The findings reveal that the average population density in the Rohingya refugee camps is 20 m² per person, whereas the international guideline for refugee camp population density is 30–45 m²/person. The sudden Rohingya population influx has resulted in considerable land cover change, livelihood competition, and deteriorated security conditions. Between 2015 and 2023, a rapid decline in the extent of dense forest was observed—from 93 sq km to 63 sq km. The sense of land loss among the host community created a resentment towards the resettled Rohingyas that turned into social conflicts and unrest. Despite these damages, socioeconomic evolution, the implementation of adaptive measures, and successful restoration programs by the relevant institutions have revealed some degree of community resilience. An inclusive development planning strategy is recommended to sustain livelihood opportunities for both communities and local social–ecological systems. Full article

Background: Container terminals are crucial nodes in global supply chains, but they also contribute significantly to environmental pollution. The analysis of sustainability in port logistics through carbon footprint offers crucial knowledge on how to reduce environmental impact in logistics. Methods: This systematic review uses a PRISMA-based research flow to extract key facts about energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO₂, which are still prevalent in terminal operations and logistics. Results: The paper analyses strategies and technologies adopted to reduce the carbon footprint, such as efficient infrastructure, electrification, automation, digitalisation, and AI-powered port logistics. It highlights the potential of sustainable logistics solutions, such as real-time cargo tracking, intelligent robotics and data analytics, to make container terminals more eco-friendly. Conclusions: Beyond analysing sustainability assessment models for the ecological efficiency and operational performance of container terminals, this paper highlights the need for future applied research into how investments in sustainable practices, as demonstrated by the most successful Asian port examples, can further reduce container terminal environmental footprint. Full article

Environmental governance plays a critical role in shaping the effectiveness of sustainability certification implementation in perennial plantation systems, particularly in oil palm plantation landscapes associated with forest transformation and socio-ecological risks. In Indonesia, the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) scheme functions as a mandatory certification system aimed at strengthening environmental accountability. However, variations in implementation outcomes suggest that compliance alone does not guarantee effective certification implementation. This study examines how internal governance mechanisms shape ISPO implementation within a specific plantation organizational context by focusing on the transition from compliance-oriented practices to sustainability-oriented commitment. Using survey data from an ISPO-certified plantation in West Kalimantan and applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the study tests a mediation model linking green training effectiveness, sustainable work environment, and environmental compliance transparency to certification outcomes through corporate environmental commitment. The results show that Corporate Environmental Commitment fully mediates the effects of Green Training Effectiveness and Sustainable Work Environment on ISPO Implementation Success, indicating that organizational conditions contribute to certification effectiveness only when they are translated into governance commitment. In contrast, Environmental Compliance Transparency does not significantly influence commitment formation or certification outcomes. These findings suggest that effective certification implementation depends less on procedural compliance and more on the internalization of environmental priorities into organizational governance routines. The study contributes to the environmental governance literature by demonstrating that sustainability certification effectiveness emerges through governance internalization processes rather than through organizational practices alone. Full article

The African jacana (Actophilornis africanus, family Jacanidae) is a sex-role-reversed waterbird inhabiting tropical and subtropical open wetlands across Africa. Identifying environmental factors that influence nest site distribution and suitable nesting habitats is crucial for protecting species and habitat management; however, studies addressing these factors remain limited for this species. This study aimed to map suitable nesting habitats and identify the main environmental variables influencing the nest site distribution of the African jacana in Lake Hawassa, Ethiopia. We mapped nesting habitat suitability using a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model and ArcGIS Pro 3.2.2 based on 78 field-collected nest data points and ten environmental variables. The model predicted a total suitable nesting habitat area of 1.25 km² with high accuracy (AUC = 0.90, CBI = 0.8, and omission rate = 0.22), representing about 1.2% of Lake Hawassa’s total area. In general, suitable nesting habitats were relatively small, fragmented, and mainly clustered along the southeastern shore of Lake Hawassa. The mean precipitation and temperature during the breeding season, slope, elevation, and distance to shoreline were the main predictors of the African jacana’s nesting habitat suitability. The results of the present study provide valuable insights into local wetland management and the conservation of African jacanas and other breeding waterbirds in Lake Hawassa. Moreover, this study establishes baseline information for assessing how future climate and habitat changes may influence breeding habitat suitability in similar Ethiopian wetlands. The present study was limited to nesting habitat suitability based on limited environmental factors and did not include nest success, pollution parameters or predation; future studies incorporating these factors may improve ecological interpretation. Full article

This conceptual integrative review and theoretical proposal investigates how the functional architecture of Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence is reconfigured when the framework is translocated from low-risk academic settings, in which analytical intelligence predominates, to high-stakes professional environments characterised by extreme cognitive load, temporal compression, irreversible consequences, and multicultural team dynamics. To construct a mechanistic account of this translocation, we integrate the triarchic framework with three complementary cognitive–ecological traditions—Cognitive Load Theory, the three-level model of Situational Awareness, and the distributed-cognition tradition—and we use the maritime industry as a paradigmatic case where communication failures are directly implicated in catastrophic outcomes. On this basis we propose a Context-Dependent Reweighting Model of Successful Intelligence which maps how, under high-stakes conditions, practical intelligence shifts from a supporting role to a central, integrative function that operates in part through distributed cognitive systems, while creative intelligence assumes elevated weight for adaptive problem-solving when standardised procedures fail. We treat this reweighting as a theoretical proposition supported by convergent but heterogeneous secondary evidence, and we frame the cross-domain extension to aviation, emergency medicine, military operations, and other safety-critical sectors as theoretically plausible parallels and hypotheses for future empirical testing rather than as established empirical claims. The review concludes by articulating implications for intelligence research, proposing a pedagogical framework operationalised through a Triarchic Maritime ESP curriculum, and explicitly delimiting the boundary conditions and limitations of the present contribution. Full article

Pear fruits host diverse microbial communities that influence postharvest quality, spontaneous fermentation, and susceptibility to microbial contamination. This study characterizes the fungal communities associated with naturally fallen overripe pears (Pyrus communis) using ITS2 amplicon sequencing combined with culture-dependent approaches. The fungal community exhibited low diversity and was dominated by Ascomycota (99%), primarily Saccharomycetes (91.8%), with Hanseniaspora, Aureobasidium, and Microcyclospora representing more than 90% of the total microbial community. Culture-dependent isolation confirmed Hanseniaspora uvarum as the dominant yeast species (~89%), followed by Metschnikowia spp. and Pichia spp. Pairwise co-culture assays, quantified using the Relative Interaction Index, demonstrated predominantly competitive interactions, with fast-growing H. uvarum exerting suppressive effects on slower-growing species. Among the isolated yeasts, Metschnikowia fructicola exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua and Salmonella typhimurium. The strongest antibacterial activity was exerted against the foodborne pathogen S. aureus. In a pear juice model system, co-cultivation with M. fructicola resulted in the elimination of S. aureus within four days, while yeast viability was maintained. These findings observe the fermentative yeasts distributed in overripe pears and demonstrate the potential of M. fructicola to inhibit bacterial growth under controlled conditions. The results provide a preliminary basis for further studies on fungal succession, yeast interactions, and the biocontrol potential of pear-associated yeasts. For broader ecological conclusions, larger-scale studies across locations, seasons, cultivars, and decay stages are required. Full article

The 1st International Online Conference on Biology (IOCBI 2026), held from 10 to 12 February 2026, brought together researchers from around the world to share and discuss recent advances across a wide spectrum of biological disciplines. Organized under the auspices of the journal Biology (MDPI), the conference provided an open, interactive forum for scientific exchange in a fully online, accessible format. The scientific program encompassed key areas of contemporary biology, including evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation biology, infection biology, zoology, marine biology, and plant sciences. Through keynote lectures, invited talks, oral communications, and flash presentations, the conference highlighted both fundamental questions and emerging challenges that define current biological research. Beyond the diversity of topics, IOCBI 2026 underscored the increasing need for integrative approaches in biology. The contributions collected in this volume reflect a shared effort to connect processes across different levels of biological organization—from molecular systems to ecosystems—revealing life as a complex and evolving network of interactions. This perspective is essential not only for advancing fundamental knowledge but also for addressing pressing global challenges in health, biodiversity, and environmental change. All accepted abstracts included in this volume of Biology and Life Sciences Forum provide a citable record of the work presented at the conference and illustrate current trends and future directions in the biological sciences. We sincerely thank all authors, speakers, reviewers, and organizers for their valuable contributions, which made IOCBI 2026 a successful and stimulating scientific event. Full article

Serratia spp., particularly Serratia marcescens, have emerged as clinically important opportunistic pathogens and are increasingly recognized as causes of healthcare-associated infections, especially among critically ill and immunocompromised patients. Their remarkable ecological adaptability, persistence in hospital environments, and capacity to acquire multiple antimicrobial resistance determinants have contributed to the global emergence of multidrug-resistant strains and complicated therapeutic management. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the epidemiology, virulence mechanisms, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and current and emerging therapeutic strategies associated with Serratia spp. The manuscript is based on a critical review and analysis of previously published literature retrieved from electronic scientific databases focusing on clinically relevant Serratia spp. infections and resistance trends. The reviewed literature demonstrates that Serratia spp. combine intrinsic resistance mechanisms, particularly inducible chromosomal AmpC β-lactamases, with acquired resistance determinants including extended-spectrum β-lactamases, carbapenemases, aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance. Horizontal gene transfer and biofilm formation further enhance bacterial persistence, dissemination, and adaptation within healthcare settings. Clinically, these pathogens are associated with device-related infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and hospital outbreaks, where increasing multidrug and carbapenem resistance significantly limits therapeutic options. Novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and cefiderocol represent promising therapeutic approaches, although treatment success remains highly dependent on accurate identification of underlying resistance mechanisms. This review highlights the growing public health importance of Serratia spp. and underscores the need for improved surveillance, molecular diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship, and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies in the context of the evolving antimicrobial resistance crisis. Full article

Begomoviruses are among the most destructive plant viruses, causing substantial yield losses across diverse cropping systems. Their epidemiological success is driven by high genetic plasticity, broad host range, and efficient transmission by the whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci. Traditional epidemiological models based on the classical disease triangle (virus–host–vector) fail to fully capture the ecological and evolutionary complexity of begomovirus pathosystems. Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of non-cultivated plants, particularly weeds, as persistent reservoirs that maintain viral populations during off seasons, facilitate recombination, and act as primary inoculum sources for subsequent outbreaks. Here, we propose the Begomovirus Disease Tetrahedron, an integrative framework that expands the disease triangle by incorporating weeds as a fourth essential component. We synthesize current knowledge on begomovirus adaptive evolution, including genome plasticity, noncanonical protein functions, and virus–vector mutualism, alongside key ecological drivers such as seasonal dynamics, agricultural intensification, and landscape connectivity. By integrating molecular, ecological, and epidemiological perspectives, this framework provides a comprehensive understanding of begomovirus emergence and persistence, offering new insights for the development of sustainable and ecologically informed disease management strategies. Full article