Search Results (12,686)

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 2,419 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

Eco-enzymatic stoichiometry provides a basis for understanding soil ecosystem functions, with implications for land management and ecological protection. Long-term climatic factors and human interferences have caused significant land-use transformations in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau region, affecting various ecological functions, such as soil nutrient cycling and chemical element balance. It is currently unclear how large-scale land-use conversion affects soil ecological stoichiometry. In this study, 763 soil samples were collected across three land-use types: farmland, grassland, and forest land. In addition, changes in soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activity and stoichiometry were determined. The soil available phosphorus (SAP) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were the highest in farmland soil. Bulk density, pH, SAP, TP, and NO₃⁻-N were lower in forest soil, whereas NH₄⁺-N, available nitrogen, soil organic carbon (SOC), available potassium, and the soil nutrient ratio increased. Land-use conversion promoted soil β-1,4-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities, mostly in forest soil. The eco-enzymatic C:N ratio was higher in farmland soils but grassland soils had a higher enzymatic C:P and N:P. Soil microorganisms were limited by P nutrients in all land-use patterns. C limitation was the highest in farmland soil. The redundancy analysis indicated that the ecological stoichiometry in farmland was influenced by TN, whereas grass and forest soils were influenced by SOC. Overall, the conversion of cropland or grassland to complex land-use types can effectively enhance soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and ecosystem functions, providing valuable insights for ecological restoration and sustainable land management in alpine regions. Full article

African hydrological systems are incredibly complex and highly sensitive to climate variability. This review synthesizes observational data, remote sensing, and climate modeling to understand the interactions between fluvial processes, water cycle dynamics, and anthropogenic pressures. Currently, these systems are experiencing accelerating warming (+0.3 °C/decade), leading to more intense hydrological extremes and regionally varied responses. For example, East Africa has shown reversed temperature–moisture correlations since the Holocene onset, while West African rivers demonstrate nonlinear runoff sensitivity (a threefold reduction per unit decline in rainfall). Land-use and land-cover changes (LULCC) are as impactful as climate change, with analysis from 1959–2014 revealing extensive conversion of primary non-forest land and a more than sixfold increase in the intensity of pastureland expansion by the early 21st century. Future projections, exemplified by studies in basins like Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe and Ghana’s Vea, indicate escalating aridity with significant reductions in surface runoff and groundwater recharge, increasing aquifer stress. These findings underscore the need for integrated adaptation strategies that leverage remote sensing, nature-based solutions, and transboundary governance to build resilient water futures across Africa’s diverse basins. Full article

More than 50 years ago, children were viewed as naturally resilient and often labeled invulnerable or invincible. Resilience is now understood to be the result of dynamic interactions between individual, familial, social, and environmental systems, decentralizing the focus from the individual to the global society. Experiences with adversity may emanate from the youth’s family environment, their community, the school system, and larger structural challenges related to poverty, discrimination, health disparities, and educational inequities. Youth experiences with adversity, trauma, and tragedy have the potential to negatively impact youth well-being, with consequences manifesting across the lifespan. Children and adolescents generally hold limited power to change their circumstances and are often ill-equipped to resolve the adverse or traumatic experiences occurring within their ecosystem. The value of social supports in the young person’s ability to be resilient has been affirmed. This understanding is particularly important for children growing up in poverty or in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) where significant challenges occur as a result of economic and social disadvantage. Resilience at the individual level is unlikely to eliminate macrolevel issues. Developing and deploying strategies to enhance the ability of youth to rebound from adversity represents a positive step at the micro level, but the larger issues of economic and social disadvantage are unlikely to change without macro-level interventions. Glancing toward the future, traumatized youth may grow into traumatized adults without appropriate interventions and changes in social policies, programs, and protections. Full article

Phosphorus (P) availability is a major constraint on plant growth in many forest ecosystems, yet the strategies by which different tree species acquire and utilize various forms of soil phosphorus remain poorly understood. This study investigated how coexisting tree species with contrasting mycorrhizal types, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations, respond to different phosphorus forms under field conditions. An in situ root bag experiment was conducted using four phosphorus treatments (control, inorganic, organic, and mixed phosphorus) across four subtropical tree species. A comprehensive set of fine root traits, including morphological, physiological, and mycorrhizal characteristics, was measured to evaluate species-specific phosphorus foraging strategies. The results showed that AM species were more responsive to phosphorus form variation than ECM species, particularly under inorganic and mixed phosphorus treatments. Significant changes in root diameter (RD), root tissue density (RTD), and acid phosphatase activity (RAP) were observed in AM species, often accompanied by higher phosphorus accumulation in fine roots. For example, RD in AM species significantly decreased under the Na₃PO₄ treatment (0.94 mm) compared to the control (1.18 mm), while ECM species showed no significant changes in RD across treatments (1.12–1.18 mm, p > 0.05). RTD in AM species significantly increased under Na₃PO₄ (0.030 g/cm³) and Mixture (0.021 g/cm³) compared to the control (0.012 g/cm³, p < 0.05), whereas ECM species exhibited consistently low RTD values across treatments (0.017–0.020 g/cm³, p > 0.05). RAP in AM species increased significantly under Na₃PO₄ (1812 nmol/g/h) and Mixture (1596 nmol/g/h) relative to the control (1348 nmol/g/h), while ECM species showed limited variation (1286–1550 nmol/g/h, p > 0.05). In contrast, ECM species displayed limited trait variation across treatments, reflecting a more conservative acquisition strategy. In addition, trait correlation analysis revealed stronger coordination among root traits in AM species. And AM species exhibited high variability across treatments, while ECM species maintained consistent trait distributions with limited plasticity. These findings suggest that AM and ECM species adopt fundamentally different phosphorus acquisition strategies. AM species rely on integrated morphological and physiological responses to variable phosphorus conditions, while ECM species maintain stable trait configurations, potentially supported by fungal symbiosis. Such divergence may contribute to functional complementarity and species coexistence in phosphorus-limited subtropical forests. Full article

Background: Human activity is recognised as a major contributor to changes in Earth’s climate, land surface, oceans, ecosystems, and biodiversity. These alterations are largely due to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, mass pollution, and land degradation. In light of these environmental challenges, examining the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behaviour has become increasingly important. Study’s Aim: To provide a comprehensive model evaluating the structural relationships among biospheric values, green self-identity, green self-efficacy, and eco-anxiety to investigate the underlying mechanisms relating to the adoption of various pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs). Methods: An online self-report questionnaire was completed by 510 Italian participants (aged 18–55, M = 35.18, SD = 12.58) between November and December 2023. Data analysis was performed using R statistical software, employing Structural Equation Modelling. Results: The results indicate that eco-anxiety, green self-efficacy, and green self-identity are significant positive predictors of PEBs. Furthermore, green self-identity significantly influences eco-anxiety and green self-efficacy, while biospheric values are a major trigger for both green self-efficacy and green self-identity, but not for eco-anxiety. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while eco-anxiety can be an adaptive motivator for PEBs, biospheric values foster a green self-identity and self-efficacy, which in turn drive pro-environmental actions. The study concludes that encouraging biospheric values and strong green self-identity is crucial for promoting sustainable behaviours. Full article

Amidst the intensification of global climate change and the increasing impacts of human activities, ecosystem patterns and processes have undergone substantial transformations. The distribution and evolutionary dynamics of mountain ecosystems have become a focal point in ecological research. The Surkhan River Basin is located in the transitional zone between the arid inland regions of Central Asia and the mountain systems, where its unique physical and geographical conditions have shaped distinct patterns of vertical zonation. Utilizing Landsat imagery, this study applies a hierarchical classification approach to derive land cover classifications within the Surkhan River Basin. By integrating the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and DEM (digital elevation model (30 m SRTM)), an “NDVI-DEM-Land Cover” scatterplot is constructed to analyze zonation characteristics from 1980 to 2020. The 2020 results indicate that the elevation boundary between the temperate desert and mountain grassland zones is 1100 m, while the boundary between the alpine cushion vegetation zone and the ice/snow zone is 3770 m. Furthermore, leveraging DEM and LST (land surface temperature) data, a potential energy analysis model is employed to quantify potential energy differentials between adjacent zones, enabling the identification of ecological transition areas. The potential energy analysis further refines the transition zone characteristics, indicating that the transition zone between the temperate desert and mountain grassland zones spans 1078–1139 m with a boundary at 1110 m, while the transition between the alpine cushion vegetation and ice/snow zones spans 3729–3824 m with a boundary at 3768 m. Cross-validation with scatterplot results confirms that the scatterplot analysis effectively delineates stable zonation boundaries with strong spatiotemporal consistency. Moreover, the potential energy analysis offers deeper insights into ecological transition zones, providing refined boundary identification. The integration of these two approaches addresses the dimensional limitations of traditional vertical zonation studies, offering a transferable methodological framework for mountain ecosystem research. Full article

Alpine scree, a distinctive plateau ecosystem, serves as habitat for numerous rare and endangered species. However, current research does not differentiate it from desert in terms of spatial boundary, hindering biodiversity conservation and ecological monitoring efforts. Using the Tibetan Plateau as a case study, we defined the spatial boundary of alpine scree based on its surface formation process and examined its distribution and long-term evolution. The results show that in 2020, alpine scree on the Tibetan Plateau covered 73,735.34 km², 1.5 times the area of glaciers. Alpine scree is mostly distributed at elevations between 4000 and 6000 m, with a slope of approximately 30–40 degrees. Characterized by low temperature and sparse rainfall, the regions are located in the humid zone. From 1975 to 2020, the area of alpine scree initially increased before declining, with an overall decrease of 560.68 km². Climate warming was the primary driver of these changes, leading to an increase in scree from 1975 to 1995 and a decrease in scree from 1995 to 2020. Additionally, between 1975 and 2020, the Tibetan Plateau’s grasslands shifted upward by 16.47 km². This study enhances our understanding of the spatial distribution and dynamics of this unique ecosystem, alpine scree, offering new insights into climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems. Full article

Collaborative business ecosystems (CBEs) are increasingly exposed to disruptive events (e.g., pandemics, supply chain breakdowns, cyberattacks) that challenge organizational adaptability and value creation. Traditional approaches to resilience and robustness often fail to capture the full range of systemic responses. This study introduces a unified mathematical framework to evaluate four crisis response modes—plasticity, resilience, transformative resilience, and antifragility—within complex adaptive networks. Grounded in complex systems and collaborative network theory, our model formalizes both internal organizational capabilities (e.g., adaptability, learning, innovation, structural flexibility) and strategic interventions (e.g., optionality, buffering, information sharing, fault-injection protocols), linking them to pre- and post-crisis performance via dynamic adjustment functions. A composite performance score is defined across four dimensions (Innovation, Contribution, Prestige, and Responsiveness to Business Opportunities), using capability–strategy interaction matrices, weighted performance change functions, and structural transformation modifiers. The sensitivity analysis and scenario simulations enable a comparative evaluation of organizational configurations, strategy impacts, and phase-transition thresholds under crisis. This indicator-based formulation provides a quantitative bridge between resilience theory and practice, facilitating evidence-based crisis management in networked business environments. Full article

The planktonic pteropod Limacina helicina is increasingly studied as a bioindicator of climate-driven changes in polar marine ecosystems. Although broadly distributed across the Arctic Basin and the North Pacific, its population structure and dispersal pathways remain poorly understood, especially in the Siberian Arctic. We analyzed mitochondrial COI sequences from populations sampled in the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian, and White Seas, as well as adjacent Pacific regions. Three major haplogroups (H1, H2, H3) were identified with distinct spatial patterns. H1 is widespread, occurring across the Pacific and most Arctic seas except the White Sea. H2 is confined to the western Arctic shelves (Barents–Kara–Laptev), and H3 is unique to the White Sea. We found a pronounced genetic discontinuity corresponding to hydrographic barriers, particularly the strong freshwater inflow from the Lena River, which restricts eastward dispersal of H2 from the Laptev to the East Siberian Sea. These patterns suggest postglacial expansions from geographically separated populations that survived the Last Glacial Maximum in isolated marine regions. The White Sea population is highly isolated and genetically distinct. Our results highlight how both glacial history and modern oceanography shape Arctic plankton diversity and define biogeographic boundaries in a rapidly changing climate. Full article

The effect of periodical heatwaves and related thermal stratification in freshwater aquatic ecosystems has been a hot research issue. A large dataset of samples was generated from samples exposed to temporary thermal stratification in mesocosms mimicking shallow eutrophic freshwater lakes. Temperature regimes were based on IPCC climate warming scenarios, enabling simulation of future warming conditions. Surface oxygen levels reached 19.37 mg/L, while bottom layers dropped to 0.07 mg/L during stratification. Analysis by FlowCAM revealed dominance of Cyanobacteria under ambient conditions (up to 99.2%), while Cryptophyta (up to 98.9%) and Chlorophyta (up to 99.9%) were predominant in the A2 and A2+50% climate scenarios, respectively. We identified temperature changes and shifts in nutrient concentrations, particularly phosphate, as critical factors in microbial community composition. Furthermore, five distinct Microcystis morphospecies identified by FlowCAM-based analysis were associated with different microbial clusters. The combined use of imaging flow cytometry, which differentiates phytoplankton based on morphological parameters, and nanopore long-read sequencing analysis has shed light into the dynamics of microbial communities associated with different Microcystis morphospecies. In our observations, a peak of algicidal bacteria abundance often coincides with or is followed by a decline in the Cyanobacteria. These findings highlight the importance of species-level classification in the analysis of complex ecosystem interactions and the dynamics of algal blooms in freshwater bodies in response to anthropogenic effects and climate change. Full article

Climate change alters plant biomass allocation and aboveground–belowground trade-offs in grassland ecosystems, potentially affecting critical functions such as carbon sequestration. However, uncertainties persist regarding how precipitation gradients regulate (1) responses of aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and total biomass in alpine grasslands, and (2) precipitation-mediated AGB-BGB allocation strategies. To address this, we conducted a large-scale field survey across precipitation gradients (400–700 mm/y) in the Sanjiangyuan alpine grasslands, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. During the 2024 growing season, a total of 63 sites (including 189 plots and 945 quadrats) were sampled along five aridity classes: <400, 400–500, 500–600, 600–700, and >700 mm/y. Our findings revealed precipitation as the dominant driver of biomass dynamics: AGB exhibited equal growth rates relative to BGB within the 600–700 mm/y range, but accelerated under drier/wetter conditions. This suggests preferential allocation to aboveground parts under most precipitation regimes. Precipitation explained 31.71% of AGB–BGB trade-off variance (random forest IncMSE), surpassing contributions from AGB (17.61%), specific leaf area (SLA, 13.87%), and BGB (12.91%). Structural equation modeling confirmed precipitation’s positive effects on SLA (β = 0.28, p < 0.05), AGB (β = 0.53, p < 0.05), and BGB (β = 0.60, p < 0.05), with AGB-mediated cascades (β = 0.33, p < 0.05) dominating trade-off regulation. These results advance our understanding of mechanistic drivers governing allometric AGB–BGB relationships across climatic gradients in alpine ecosystems of the Sanjiangyuan Region on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Full article

Sustainable farmland management is vital for global food security and for mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. While individual practices such as crop rotation and no-tillage are well-documented, this review synthesizes current evidence to illuminate the critical synergistic effects of integrating four key strategies: crop rotation, conservation tillage, organic amendments, and soil microbiome management. Crop rotation enhances nutrient cycling and disrupts pest cycles, while conservation tillage preserves soil structure, reduces erosion, and promotes carbon sequestration. Organic amendments replenish soil organic matter and stimulate biological activity, and a healthy soil microbiome boosts plant resilience to stress and enhances nutrient acquisition through key functional groups like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs). Critically, the integration of these practices yields amplified benefits that far exceed their individual contributions. Integrated management systems not only significantly increase crop yields (by up to 15–30%) and soil organic carbon but also deliver profound global ecosystem services, with a potential to sequester 2.17 billion tons of CO₂ and reduce soil erosion by 2.41 billion tons annually. Despite challenges such as initial yield variability, leveraging these synergies through precision agriculture represents the future direction for the field. This review concludes that a holistic, systems-level approach is essential for building regenerative and climate-resilient agroecosystems. Full article

Given that the Sunkoshi River watershed (located in the southern foot of the Himalayas) is sensitive to climate change and its mountain ecosystem provides important services, we aim to evaluate its spatial and temporal variation patterns of vegetation, represented by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), during 2000–2021 and identify the dominant driving factors of vegetation change. Based on the NDVI dataset (MOD13A1), we used the simple linear trend model, seasonal and trend decomposition using loess (STL) method, and Mann–Kendall test to investigate the spatiotemporal variation features of NDVI during 2000–2021 on multiple scales (annual, seasonal, monthly). We used the partial correlation coefficient (PCC) to quantify the response of the NDVI to land surface temperature (LST), precipitation, humidity, and soil moisture. The results indicate that the annual NDVI in 52.6% of the study area (with elevation of 1–3 km) increased significantly, while 0.9% of the study area (due to urbanization) degraded significantly during 2000–2021. Daytime LST dominates NDVI changes on spring, summer, and winter scales, while precipitation, soil moisture, and nighttime LST are the primary impact factors on annual NDVI changes. After removing the influence of soil moisture, the contributions of climate factors to NDVI change are enhanced. Precipitation shows a 3-month lag effect and a 5-month cumulative effect on the NDVI; both daytime LST and soil moisture have a 4-month lag effect on the NDVI; and humidity exhibits a 2-month cumulative effect on the NDVI. Overall, the study area turned green during 2000–2021. The dominant driving factors of NDVI change may vary on different time scales. The findings will be beneficial for climate change impact assessment on the regional eco-environment, and for integrated watershed management. Full article

Exploring the evolution of ecosystem services value (ESV) and its drivers is pivotal for optimizing the land-use structure and improving the value of ecosystem services. Using the 1980–2020 land-use/land-cover (LULC) dataset of the Mu Us Sandy Land, this study quantitatively evaluated ESV through LULC change, analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ESV and its driving forces. The results showed that (1) the LULC changes were stable from 1980 to 2020, and the ESV showed a slight downward trend in general. Grassland and water ecosystem services predominantly influenced ecosystem service function value fluctuations across the study area. (2) ESV demonstrated strong positive spatial autocorrelation, with high-value areas concentrated primarily in Red Alkali Nur, Dawa Nur, Batu Bay, and Ulanmulun Lake and low-value areas mainly distributed in unused land and certain agricultural zones. (3) The land-use degree and human activity intensity index were the main factors leading to the differentiation of ESV. The synergistic effects of human activities, landscape pattern changes, and natural factors led to the spatial differentiation of ESV in the study area. Beyond artificial ecological restoration projects, policies for ecosystem service management should pay more attention to the role of geodiversity in service provision. Full article