Search Results (1,182)

Neocinnamomum caudatum (Nees) Merr. is an underutilized woody oil plant with seeds rich in long-chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Reliable quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis is essential for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying seed oil biosynthesis, but suitable reference genes have not yet been validated in this species. Here, seven candidate reference genes, namely EF-1α, ACT2, ACT11, UBQ11, TUA, F-BOX, and GAPDH, were selected from transcriptomic data and evaluated in leaves, flowers, and developing seeds of N. caudatum. Their expression stability was assessed using geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper, followed by comprehensive ranking with RankAggreg. Among all tested samples (leaves, flowers and developing seeds combined), GAPDH was identified as the most stable reference gene, whereas EF-1α was the least stable. For developing seeds alone, TUA showed the highest stability, while EF-1α exhibited poor stability. In leaf and flower samples, ACT11 was the most stable gene, whereas TUA was unsuitable for normalization. The expression patterns of NcFAD2 and NcFatB, two genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, were used to validate the selected reference genes. Stable reference genes and the optimized multi-gene combination generated consistent expression profiles, while unstable reference genes caused evident distortion. This study provides the first systematic evaluation of reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis in N. caudatum and offers a practical foundation for future functional studies of lipid metabolism in this woody oil plant. Full article

Post-fire rehabilitation structures are widely used in Mediterranean burned landscapes to reduce runoff and sediment transfer, yet their ecological associations with early vegetation recovery remain insufficiently documented. This observational study assessed vascular plant composition, species richness, vegetation cover, plant density, aboveground biomass, and soil properties across log barriers, wattles, and log dams in the burned landscape of Ancient Olympia, western Greece. The study area belongs to the humid climatic class of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aridity framework based on the Thornthwaite aridity index, providing a comparatively wetter Mediterranean post-fire context. Paired depositional and eroded microsites in operationally restored post-fire areas were monitored in 2022 and 2023. The sampling design comprised nine plots and 18 microsites (n = 9 plots, 18 microsites). Generalized estimating equations (GEE), change-score models, principal component analysis (PCA) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) were performed to examine associations of monitoring year, microsite condition and rehabilitation structure type with soil and vegetation patterns. A total of 27 vascular plant species belonging to 16 families were recorded. The average vegetation cover increased from 39.17 ± 21.44% in 2022 to 75.11 ± 12.90% in 2023. Model-based marginal estimates with 95% confidence intervals indicated a large positive increase in vegetation cover over this period. Further, rapid early recovery was indicated by large increases in species richness, plant density and biomass. Depositional microsites were associated with stronger recovery signals than eroded ones, characterized by a larger increase in vegetation cover, density, biomass and species richness. Among rehabilitation structures, log dams showed the highest cumulative floristic richness and a broader observed floristic spectrum, although the species-level contingency analysis provided only marginal evidence for structure-associated differences in floristic composition. Changes in selected soil properties including total nitrogen (total N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K), were detected between 2022 and 2023; the multivariate soil pattern was driven primarily by mineral nitrogen, pH, and EC. These findings suggest that, under operational post-fire restoration conditions, rehabilitation structures are associated not only with erosion-control functions but also with microsite differentiation that may shape early plant establishment and biodiversity recovery in Mediterranean burned landscapes. Full article

Magnesium–rich environments are frequently encountered in cementitious systems, including the use of high–Mg raw materials in clinker production, cement–clay interfaces relevant to nuclear waste disposal, and exposure of cement–based materials to seawater, where progressive decalcification can substantially alter the structure and durability of calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C–A–S–H) phases. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the combined effects of interlayer and intralayer partial decalcification, Mg²⁺ substitution, and reinforcement with epoxy– and hydroxyl–functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on the structural stability and elastic properties of alkali charge–balanced C–A–S–H under dry and hydrated conditions. Adsorption–energy calculations reveal thermodynamically favorable interactions between functionalized rGO and silicate hydrate species in the presence of Mg²⁺, with hydroxyl/rGO promoting stronger interfacial stabilization and epoxy/rGO preserving greater graphene lattice integrity. The results demonstrate that Mg²⁺ substitution together with rGO intercalation generally enhances the mechanical response of partially decalcified structures through structural densification and interfacial cohesion. Relative to dry systems, hydration further improves elastic performance, increasing Young’s modulus and bulk modulus by 1–11% and 4–19%, respectively, for interlayer decalcified nanocomposites, while intralayer configurations exhibit stronger but model–dependent enhancements of up to ≈22% and ≈33%. Compared with untreated systems, rGO–treated nan–composites exhibit enhanced stiffness, with Young’s modulus and bulk modulus increasing by up to ≈22% and ≈15%, respectively. Overall, these findings provide atomistic insights into stabilization mechanisms in partially decalcified alkali charge–balanced C–A–S–H systems and identify Mg²⁺–rGO incorporation as a promising strategy for mitigating decalcification–induced degradation in durable low–carbon cementitious nanocomposites. Full article

The adoption of exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) in maritime transport generates a complex metal-laden washwater that may pose a noteworthy threat to marine ecosystems. This study assessed the acute toxic effects (LC₅₀, 48 h) of four prevalent metals detected in scrubber washwater—vanadium (V), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)—both individually and as a realistic mixture. For this purpose, multiple life stages of Artemia franciscana (nauplii, juveniles, and adults) and the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis have been tested under laboratory conditions. All metals induced concentration-dependent toxicity, but sensitivities varied through life stages and species tested. The sensitivity to contaminants generally decreased as the organism’s developmental stage progressed. Consequently, three different orders of toxicity can be detected. The order of metal toxicity (from highest to lowest toxicity, based on 48 h LC₅₀ values) was V > Fe > Ni > Zn for nauplii; V > Zn > Fe > Ni for juveniles and adults; and Fe > V > Zn > Ni for B. plicatilis. The Cumulative Toxic Unit (CTU) approach was utilized to compare the predicted additive effect with observed mixture toxicity. This analysis revealed a complex, life stage-dependent interaction; while antagonism dominated in nauplii (suggesting chemical mitigation), juveniles and adults of A. franciscana and the rotifer (B. plicatilis) exhibited significant synergism, amplifying the total toxicity beyond prediction. This study demonstrates that early life stages and small zooplankton are the most sensitive bioindicators of scrubber-related metal contamination, highlighting the potential ecological risk posed by metal-rich, acidic scrubber discharges that may enhance metal bioavailability and toxicity in marine environments. Full article

Aquatic and semi-aquatic plant assemblages, water quality, riparian habitat, and landscape conditions were assessed for 140 ponds located in the Ozarks region in Arkansas and Missouri in order to better describe their occurrences and distributional patterns. Local environmental and landscape-level determinants that shape their diversity and influence their respective distributions, particularly in light of urbanization, were also assessed. Ozark ponds are highly variable in terms of physical structure, habitat quality, and plant diversity. Urban ponds were generally of lower quality in terms of environmental attributes compared to those in non-urban areas, but they had similar plant taxa richness as well as numbers of non-native species compared to their non-urban counterparts. Ponds had high plant diversity (N = 204 taxa, $\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 9.89, range = 0–33). Taxa richness increased with increasing pond size, and urban ponds had slightly more species on average compared to non-urban ponds (10.38 vs. 9.58, respectively). Spatial beta diversity of plants showed a high dissimilarity among ponds, with turnover being the dominant fraction. Beta diversity also followed a significant distance-decay model. These findings show that urban Ozark ponds serve as important habitats for a broad variety of aquatic plants. Full article

The seasonal monsoon reversal drives runoff and current variability along the East Asian coast, intensifying eutrophication from terrestrial nutrients. However, phytoplankton responses to these combined pressures remain poorly understood. This study analyzed their effects using partial least-squares path modeling (PLS-PM) and generalized additive models (GAMs), based on 2021 data from Shantou Bay in the Taiwan Strait, a region with complex currents and significant nutrient inputs. A total of 359 phytoplankton species were identified, with seasonal mean abundances ranging from 6.76 × 10⁶ to 57.36 × 10⁶ cells m⁻³. Ocean currents and riverine runoff drive the seasonal turnover of dominant species by modulating the temperature and salinity. In summer, the exceptionally high phytoplankton abundance in the southwestern Taiwan Strait is driven by nutrient-rich terrestrial inputs, upwelling-induced thermal inhibition, and thermocline stratification from upwelling and offshore warm waters. The phytoplankton abundance and distribution were strongly correlated with the seasonal current and runoff-driven water masses. The PLS-PM results confirm that phytoplankton dynamics are regulated by currents and terrestrial nutrient inputs altering the hydrological and chemical environments, highlighting temperature and salinity as dominant controlling factors in eutrophic coastal zones. Full article

Social insect pests such as leaf-cutting ants challenge conventional pest management because effective control must disrupt colony-level organization rather than target individual insects. Colony persistence depends on the mutualistic association between gardener workers and their cultivated fungus, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Compounds that selectively impair these components while preserving forager-mediated bait transport may therefore offer strategic advantages. We evaluated the essential oils of weeping willow (Salix babylonica), Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora), weeping bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) against two leaf-cutting ant species, Atta sexdens and Acromyrmex subterraneus, after characterizing their chemical composition by GC–MS. The oils displayed distinct terpenoid profiles: bottlebrush oil, for instance, was dominated by 1,8-cineole and α-pinene, while ginger oil was rich in camphene and β-phellandrene. Forager and gardener workers were tested separately, along with their symbiotic fungus. Responses were generally concentration-dependent, although effects varied among oils and biological targets. Ginger oil exhibited strong fungicidal activity, but only at the highest concentration tested (100 mg mL⁻¹). Bottlebrush oil showed marked toxicity to A. sexdens gardeners at concentrations as low as 0.10 mg mL⁻¹, while effects on foragers were comparatively low. The remaining oils produced limited or inconsistent responses. These findings indicate that caste-selective toxicity and fungal suppression are achievable but not widespread among essential oils. Bottlebrush oil emerges as a promising candidate for further investigation, particularly regarding its constituent compounds and potential synergistic interactions for toxic bait development. Full article

Agricultural intensification has simplified European agroecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem functioning. Within these landscapes, (semi)natural elements such as riparian zones may enhance biodiversity, yet the mechanisms linking habitat structure to functional diversity remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated how landscape attributes and community-level processes jointly shape avian functional diversity in an intensively managed Mediterranean agricultural landscape in central Greece. Bird communities were surveyed at 60 sampling stations across riparian zones, green elements, and croplands. We quantified taxonomic and functional diversity using generalized linear models and examined direct and indirect relationships using piecewise structural equation modelling (SEM), complemented by variation partitioning and redundancy analysis. Riparian habitats supported significantly higher species richness and functional richness compared to croplands, with green elements showing intermediate values. However, functional dispersion (FDis) showed limited variation among habitat types. SEM results revealed that landscape variables influenced functional diversity primarily through indirect pathways, mediated by species richness, Shannon diversity, and functional richness. Variation partitioning further showed that functional dispersion was overwhelmingly explained by community-level attributes, with negligible independent contribution of landscape variables. These findings suggest that higher-order functional structure in bird communities is not directly associated with habitat configuration but is more strongly related to internal community organization. Our results highlight the importance of considering both taxonomic and functional dimensions, as well as indirect ecological pathways, when designing habitat management strategies aimed at sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes. Full article

Alpine shrub meadows on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are key warm-season pastures that support pastoral production and ecosystem stability in fragile high-elevation regions. Due to low temperatures, short growing seasons, and slow vegetation recovery, these pastures are highly sensitive to inappropriate grazing management. However, the effects of different grazing–rest time configurations on plant community composition and leaf functional traits in alpine shrub meadows remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we evaluated five grazing treatments in an alpine shrub meadow in Sunan County, central–eastern Qilian Mountains: 10 days grazing–20 days rest (T1), 15 days grazing–15 days rest (T2), 20 days grazing–10 days rest (T3), continuous grazing (CG), and grazing exclusion (CK). In the third year of treatment implementation, we measured the community diversity, species importance values, and leaf functional traits of four dominant species: Elymus nutans, Carex tibetikobresia, Oxytropis kansuensis, and Bistorta vivipara. T1 and T2 significantly increased species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, and Simpson diversity compared with CG and CK. NMDS and PERMANOVA further showed significant differences in overall community composition among grazing treatments. Grazing generally reduced the leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area, whereas T2 showed relatively stronger leaf recovery among grazing treatments. Specific leaf area, specific leaf weight, and leaf length–width ratio showed higher variability and calculated plasticity than leaf thickness and leaf dry matter content, suggesting that resource-acquisition and morphological traits were more responsive to grazing than conservative structural traits. The coefficient of variation of leaf traits was positively associated with the plasticity index, although this association should be interpreted cautiously because both indices were calculated from the same underlying trait dataset. Overall, under the conditions of this three-year, single-site experiment and a target moderate grazing intensity, the 15-day grazing–15-day rest regime performed best among the tested treatments. This regime may provide a practical reference for rotational grazing management in similar warm-season alpine shrub meadows, but its broader applicability requires further validation across different grassland types, grazing intensities, climatic conditions, and longer monitoring periods. Full article

Introduction: Studying the structure and dynamics of living communities is essential from both ecological and wildlife management perspectives. Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze the fish community structure inhabiting different river sections across several basins in the Mediterranean area. The data collected here contributed to: (i) creating a regional and national reference inventory to assess ichthyological biodiversity; (ii) generating digital cartographic information on species distribution and potential habitats; and (iii) providing scientific data to update national legal protection for governments. Methodology: Fish assemblages were monitored using electrofishing, which ensures reproducible data and long-term comparability. The study period extended until autumn 2025, with intensive sampling at 30 sites across major water bodies in the Valencian Community and selected rivers in Mijares, Turia, Jucar and Palancia basins. Results: The results reveal notable ichthyological richness in the studied basins (Turia, Júcar, Palancia, Mijares), with 12 native species identified. Cyprinidae and Leuciscidae were the most representative families, both in species number and spatial distribution, consistent with their dominance in Mediterranean river systems. Areas with the highest species richness corresponded to the middle and lower river sections and to ecologically valuable coastal wetlands. However, the study also detected 10 invasive alien species, representing 45% of the total fish fauna recorded. This high proportion reflects the significant ecological alteration affecting rivers and wetlands in these basins and underscores the urgent need for management actions to limit the spread of invasive species and reduce their impact on native biodiversity. The most widespread IAS were the bleak (A. alburnus), mainly in the Júcar basin, and the mosquitofish (G. holbrooki), predominantly in coastal wetlands. Conclusions: This study contributes directly to updating the Atlas of Ichthyofauna of the Valencian Community, providing a robust and current information base to support environmental decision-making at regional and national levels. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening proactive conservation measures, particularly in areas where biodiversity is most vulnerable. Full article

Almonds are widely cultivated in Mediterranean regions, and their processing generates by-products such as almond skins, which are often discarded or used in low-value applications, leading to economic and environmental concerns. These skins are rich in bioactive compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids, with putative protective effects against toxins. Fungi such as Aspergillus and Penicillium species can contaminate nuts and their by-products and produce neurotoxic metabolites, like cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). This study aimed to characterize the phenolic compounds in aqueous extracts of almond skin and evaluate their cytoprotective effects on the viability of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) under individual CPA exposure and simultaneous co-exposure with almond skin extract. The extracts were optimized for extraction conditions, and UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified epicatechin, quercetin and kaempferol as the predominant phenolic compounds. Also, cell viability results showed that CPA induced cytotoxic effects on SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration-dependent manner. However, cells exposed to almond skin extract, at various dilutions (from 1/4 to 1/16), significantly increased cell viability from 43% to 57% relative to the control. Moreover, when SH-SY5Y cells were simultaneously co-exposed to CPA (400–600 nmol/L) and almond skin extract (1/4 dilution), a partial attenuation of CPA-induced toxicity (from 9% at 400 nmol/L to 20% at 600 nmol/L) was observed when compared with CPA alone. These findings suggest cytoprotective potential of almond skin extract in an in vitro neuronal-like model which may be associated with their content of phenolic compounds, providing new insights into their action against the emerging mycotoxin CPA, which remains underexplored in food safety research. Full article

The continued loss and degradation of wetlands pose major challenges to global waterbird conservation. In response, large-scale wetland restoration projects have been widely implemented worldwide, yet their long-term ecological effectiveness has not been sufficiently evaluated. Here, we assessed the long-term impacts of wetland restoration on waterbird communities at Chongming Dongtan Wetland, China, using 17 years of monitoring data spanning pre-restoration, restoration, and post-restoration phases. Our results suggest that the Ecological Control of Spartina alterniflora and Improvement of Bird Habitats substantially enhanced waterbird diversity, with both species richness and total abundance increasing significantly after restoration. Restored artificial wetlands supported particularly high abundances of waterbirds, confirming their role as critical supplementary habitats alongside natural tidal flats. Notably, different waterbird guilds exhibited pronounced seasonal shifts in habitat use: the Anatidae predominated during the wintering period, whereas Waders dominated during spring and autumn migrations, and the degree of reliance on artificial versus natural wetlands varied markedly between guilds and across seasonal cycles. Beyond local effects, we detected a clear spillover effect, whereby increases in waterbird abundance and species richness were also observed in adjacent non-restored natural intertidal mudflats following restoration. In addition, several threatened and nationally protected species were recorded exclusively during the post-restoration phase, indicating improved habitat suitability for conservation-priority taxa. Overall, our findings highlight that wetland restoration can generate both local and landscape-scale biodiversity benefits, emphasizing the importance of incorporating habitat heterogeneity, seasonal habitat requirements, and spillover effects into coastal wetland restoration and management strategies. Full article

Food spoilage from microbial contamination and oxidation drives the search for natural preservatives. Phenolic acids (PAs) and phenolamides are plant-sourced metabolites with broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This review comprehensively examines their sources, classification, structure–activity relationships, and multi-target mechanisms. PA antimicrobial action involves membrane disruption, intracellular acidification, and oxygen species generation, while antioxidant effects rely on hydrogen donation and metal chelation. For phenolamides, antimicrobial evidence is largely indirect, based on computational docking and one non-food nucleotide biosynthesis study, and direct validation of these mechanisms in food matrices against common foodborne pathogens is lacking. Delivery strategies (direct incorporation, encapsulation, edible coatings, active packaging) are critically evaluated, with emphasis on PA-grafted chitosan systems. Applications of PAs in fruits, vegetables, meat, aquatic products, and lipid-rich emulsions are summarized. Phenolamide applications are limited by low natural abundance, high purification costs, poor aqueous solubility, and a historical bias toward pharmacology. Safety assessments confirm favorable profiles for many PAs and select phenolamides, though chronic toxicity data for phenolamides remain limited. This review provides a theoretical framework for leveraging PAs and emerging phenolamides as natural preservatives and identifies critical knowledge gaps requiring future investigation. Full article

Antibiotic resistance and biofilm-associated infections require sustainable antimicrobial platforms that combine efficacy with biocompatibility. Fermented matrices are attractive for green nanomaterial production because they provide reducing metabolites and surface-active capping compounds. Rooibos kombucha is a polyphenol-rich fermentation system with potential to serve as a biosynthetic matrix for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The present work aimed to develop a rooibos kombucha-enabled platform for the green biosynthesis of phytochemical-capped silver nanoparticles, AgNPs-K, and evaluate their antibacterial, antibiofilm, and in vivo activity. Rooibos kombucha was fermented for 14 days and profiled by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). AgNPs-K were generated using kombucha extract and AgNO₃, purified, and characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Antibacterial activity against eight Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference pathogens was assessed by EUCAST-based microdilution and time-kill assays. Biofilm inhibition was measured by the crystal violet assay. In vivo toxicity and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in Galleria mellonella larvae. AgNP formation was confirmed by a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 415 nm. TEM showed predominantly spherical nanoparticles with a main size range of 20–30 nm, a hydrodynamic diameter of 98 nm, and a zeta potential of −14.62 ± 0.04 mV. AgNPs-K showed overlapping minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of 1.14 µg/mL for Gram-positive species and 1.33 µg/mL for Gram-negative species. Time-kill assays showed rapid bactericidal activity after threshold concentrations were reached, with sustained suppression at 24 h. Biofilm formation was abolished at 40 µg/mL and strongly reduced at lower concentrations. AgNPs-K were non-toxic up to 400 µg/mL and improved survival in six of seven infection models. Fermented rooibos kombucha functions as an effective biosynthetic matrix for the green production of phytochemical-capped AgNPs. The resulting nanoparticles combine low-dose antibacterial and antibiofilm activity with favorable in vivo tolerability and efficacy, supporting fermentation-enabled nanobiotechnology strategies against biofilm-associated infection. Full article

Canned fish products enable long-term preservation of fish, a vital source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Despite research on lipid composition, gaps remain in understanding the bidirectional fatty acid (FA) exchange between fish muscle and coating media during processing and storage. After a systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library), 20 studies were included examining FA profiles across fish species, filling media (vegetable oils, brine, tomato sauce), and storage durations (up to 5 years). Five studies showed that n-3 FAs migrate from fish to the filling medium, enhancing its nutritional value, while fish muscle absorbs FAs from the oil, increasingly resembling the filling medium. The use of n-6 FA-rich oils (sunflower, soybean) lowered the n-3/n-6 ratio in flesh. Conversely, aqueous media (brine) and tomato sauce maintained better ratios. EPA and DHA content generally decreased due to canning and storage, with retention varying by fish species, filling medium, and sterilization method. This review underscores significant FA exchange between fish and filling media, confirming bidirectional lipid interchange during processing. To optimize health benefits, aqueous packing media are recommended to preserve lipid profiles or to consume the covering oil to recover nutrients. Further research is needed on other factors altering FA content in canned fish such as environmental and geographical variables (including catching season), pre-canning preparation and sterilization steps (such as freezing, steaming, and frying), sterilization conditions (time, temperature, F₀ value) and lipid oxidation induced by thermal processing. Full article