Search Results (237)

Micro- and Nanoplastic (MNP) pollution is an emerging challenge globally, posing a significant threat to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. This review critically examines the sources, exposure routes, and impact of plastics, with particular focus on implications for the livestock sector. MNPs enter animals’ bodies primarily through ingestion of contaminated feed and water, inhalation, and dermal exposure, subsequently accumulating in various organs, disrupting physiological functions. Notably, MNPs facilitate the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), exacerbating the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In agricultural environments, sources such as organic fertilizers, wastewater irrigation systems, surface runoff, and littering contribute to soil contamination, adversely affecting plant growth and soil health, which in turn compromises feed quality and ultimately animals’ productivity. This review synthesizes current evidence demonstrating how MNP exposure impairs animal production, reproduction, and survival, and highlights the interconnected risks to food safety and ecosystem health. The findings call for the urgent need for comprehensive research under controlled conditions to underscore the fine details regarding mechanisms of MNP toxicity and to inform effective mitigation strategies. Addressing MNP pollution is crucial for safeguarding animal health, ensuring sustainable livestock production, and promoting environmental sustainability and integrity. Full article

The transition zone between the Qinghai–Tibet and Loess Plateaus is an important ecological functional area and carbon (C) reservoir in China. Studying the main drivers of C density changes in forest ecosystems is crucial to enhance the C sink potential of those ecosystems in ecologically fragile regions. In this study, four stand types at different succession stages in the transition zone of Xinglong Mountain were selected as the study objective. The C densities of the ecosystem, vegetation, plant debris, and soil of each stand type were estimated, and the related driving factors were quantified. The results showed that the forest ecosystem C density continuously increased significantly with natural succession (381.23 Mg/hm² to 466.88 Mg/hm²), indicating that the ecosystem has a high potential for C sequestration with progressive forest succession. The increase in ecosystem C density was mainly contributed to by the vegetation C density, which was jointly affected by the vegetation characteristics (C sink, mean diameter at breast height, mean tree height), litter C/N (nitrogen), and surface soil C/N, with factors explaining 95.1% of the variation in vegetation C density, while the net effect of vegetation characteristics was the strongest (13.9%). Overall, this study provides a new insight for understanding the C cycle mechanism in ecologically fragile areas and further improves the theoretical framework for understanding the C sink function of forest ecosystems. Full article

Urban growth has intensified the generation of solid waste, particularly in densely populated and vulnerable neighborhoods, leading to environmental degradation and public health risks. This study presents a multidisciplinary methodology to estimate the mass of macroplastic litter mobilized from urban surfaces into nearby watercourses during storm events. Focusing on the Villa Páez neighborhood in Cordoba, Argentina—a data-scarce and flood-prone urban basin—the approach integrates socio-environmental surveys, field observations, Google Street View analysis, and hydrologic modeling using EPA SWMM 5.2. Macroplastic accumulation on streets was estimated based on observed waste density, and its transport under varying garbage collection intervals and rainfall intensities was simulated using a conceptual pollutant model. Results indicate that plastic mobilization increases substantially with storm intensity and accumulation duration, with the majority of macroplastic mass transported during high-return-period rainfall events. The study highlights the need for frequent waste collection, improved monitoring in vulnerable urban areas, and scenario-based modeling tools to support more effective waste and stormwater management. Full article

The quantity, quality, and accumulation rate of plant litter play a key role in forest floor flammability and, by extension, fire regimes. The varying foliage properties of different tree species also determine litter’s decomposition and its accumulation on the forest floor. The removal of litter by soil fauna, i.e., bioturbation, depends on both the dominant tree species and the successional stage of the forest stand. This research involved laboratory mesocosm experiments aiming to determine the effects of litter quality and earthworm activity on the flammability of the forest floor material at different successional ages. The mesocosms simulated the planting of four tree species (the broadleaf species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (Black alder) and Quercus robur L. (English oak) and the conifers Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk. (Serbian spruce) and Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold (Austrian pine)) at a reclamation site near Sokolov (NW Czechia). The mesocosms contained litter from these different tree species, placed directly on overburden soil (immature soil) or on well-developed Oe and A layers (mature soil), inoculated or not inoculated with earthworms, and incubated for 4 months. The surface material in the mesocosms was then subjected to simulated burn events, and the fire path and soil temperature changes were recorded. Burn testing showed that litter type (tree species) and soil maturity significantly influenced flammability. Pine had longer burning times and burning paths and higher post-burn temperatures than those of the other tree species. The immature soil with earthworms had significantly shorter burning times, whereas in the mature soil, earthworms had no effect. We conclude that earthworms have a significant, immediate effect on the litter flammability of immature soils. Full article

Reducing the use of chemical inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) in agriculture while maintaining crop productivity is the main challenge facing sub-Saharan African family farming systems. The use of effective microorganisms (EM) is among the various innovative approaches for minimizing chemical inputs and the environmental impact of agricultural production and protecting soil health while enhancing crop yields and improving food security. This study sought to characterize the microbial biodiversity of local beneficial microorganisms (BMs) products from locally fermented forest litter and investigate their ability to enhance tomato plant growth and development. Beneficial microorganisms (BMs) were obtained by anaerobic fermentation of forest litter collected in four agroecological regions of Senegal mixed with sugarcane molasses and various types of carbon sources (groundnut shells, millet stovers, and rice bran in different proportions). The microbial community composition was analyzed using next-generation rDNA sequencing, and their effects on tomato growth traits were tested in greenhouse experiments. Results show that regardless of the litter geographical collection site, the dominant bacterial taxa in the BMs belonged to the phyla Firmicutes (27.75–97.06%) and Proteobacteria (2.93–72.24%). Within these groups, the most prevalent classes were Bacilli (14.41–89.82%), α-proteobacteria (2.83–72.09%), and Clostridia (0.024–13.34%). Key genera included Lactobacillus (13–65.83%), Acetobacter (8.91–72.09%), Sporolactobacillus (1.40–43.35%), and Clostridium (0.08–13.34%). Fungal taxa were dominated by the classes Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes, with a prevalence of the acidophilic genus Acidea. Although microbial diversity is relatively uniform across samples, the relative abundance of microbial taxa is influenced by the litter’s origin. This is illustrated by the PCoA analysis, which clusters microbial communities based on their litter source. Greenhouse experiments revealed that five BMs (DK-M, DK-G, DK-GM, NB-R, and NB-M) significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced tomato growth traits, including plant height (+10.75% for DK-G and +9.44% for NB-R), root length (+56.84–62.20%), root volume (+84.32–97.35%), root surface area (+53.16–56.72%), and both fresh and dry shoot biomass when compared to untreated controls. This study revealed that forest-fermented litter products (BMs), produced using litter collected from various regions in Senegal, contain beneficial microorganisms known as plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), which enhanced tomato growth. These findings highlight the potential of locally produced BMs as an agroecological alternative to inorganic inputs, particularly within Senegal’s family farming systems. Full article

Litter serves as a crucial source of soil nutrients in sandy land ecosystems. Soil enzyme activities and their stoichiometric ratios act as essential “bridges” linking microbial metabolism with nutrient cycling, thereby reflecting the availability of soil nutrients and the sensitivity to microbial substrate limitations. To investigate the effects of litter quality changes on soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and stoichiometric ratios in sandy land, leaf litter and surface soil were collected from four sand-fixing forests in the Mu Us Sandy Land, including YC (Corethrodendron fruticosum), NT (Caragana korshinskii), ZSH (Amorpha fruticose), and SL (Salix cheilophila). These samples were then used for indoor cultivation. Experiments with these four leaf litter types were carried out; one treatment with no litter added served as the control. Our aim was to systematically study the changing characteristics of enzyme activities related to soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus with different litter inputs. The results indicate the following: (1) Compared to the control treatment with no litter added (CK), the addition of all four types of litter significantly increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and alkaline nitrogen contents. The addition of NT and YC litter significantly increased dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN). (2) The addition of the four types of litter had different effects on the soil enzyme activity, showing increasing trends overall. A chemical analysis of the enzyme activity revealed that the soil was limited in nitrogen and phosphorus. After the addition of the ZSH, NT, and YC litter, the enzymatic C/P acquisition ratio (E_C/P) and enzymatic N/P acquisition ratio (E_N/P) decreased significantly, alleviating the limitation of phosphorus. After the addition of the NT litter, the enzymatic C/N acquisition ratio (E_C/N) increased significantly, alleviating the limitation of soil nitrogen. (3) A correlation analysis showed that the soil nutrients had varying degrees of correlation with enzyme activity and their stoichiometric ratio. The redundancy analysis results show that MBN, TN, MBC/MBN, organic carbon, and available nitrogen were key factors influencing soil enzyme activity and stoichiometric ratios. These results provide a reference for nutrient cycling during sandy soil restoration, and they provide essential data support for the development of fragile ecosystem models in the context of global change. Full article

The poultry industry is a critical source of affordable protein worldwide; however, it faces continuous threats from various poultry diseases that significantly impact public health, economic stability, and food security. Knowledge of and examination of the transmission routes, risk factors, and environmental survival characteristics of the most important pathogens affecting poultry populations, as well as the importance of strict biosecurity, are pivotal. Transmission routes are split into direct and vector-borne pathways, and indirect ways, which include infections via contaminated surfaces and vector-borne pathways, including insects and rodents. Avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus spread through respiratory droplets, and their transmission risk increases with increasing stocking density. While other pathogens (e.g., infectious bursal disease virus and Salmonella spp.), to persist long-term in the environments, for example, feed and litter, increasing the probability to persist long-term in the environments, for example, feed and litter, increasing the probability of infection. The long-term resilience of pathogens in multiple pathogens in various environmental conditions highlights the role of biosecurity, sanitation, and hygiene controls in preventing disease outbreaks. High stocking density in production systems, suboptimal ventilation, and inadequate biosecurity controls further increase transmission risks. This paper summarizes important disease transmissions and reinforces the need for strict biosecurity protocols and routine health monitoring to prevent the spread of pathogens within and beyond poultry facilities. These strategies can support safe poultry production, address growing global demand, and ensure food safety and public health. Full article

Marine litter (ML), encompassing human-made objects in marine ecosystems, poses significant threats to the coasts of some Adriatic islands, despite their remoteness and sparse populations. These islands, reliant on tourism, are particularly vulnerable to ML pollution. This study hypothesized that the natural features of the islands influence ML distribution. It employes an integrated geographic approach combining the results of field survey (via sea kayaking) with various indicators which include: (1) coastal orientation and number density of bays, (2) vegetation exposure and biomass share, (3) island area and number density of bays, (4) bay openness and ML quantity, and (5) bay openness and plastic prevalence in ML. Focusing on islands of Lošinj, Pašman, Vis, and the Kornati and Elaphiti archipelago, the study analyzed data collected over six years (2018–2023). Results highlighted that NW-SE and W-E coastal orientations are particularly susceptible to ML accumulation, especially in the southern Adriatic. Linear Fitting Regression analyses revealed a stronger correlation between number density of polluted bays and the surface area of smaller islands (<10 km²) compared to larger islands (>10 km²). The following findings underscore the need for international collaboration and stringent policies to mitigate ML pollution, ensuring the protection of Adriatic marine ecosystems and the sustainability of local communities. Full article

Oil spills and marine litter pose significant threats to marine ecosystems, necessitating innovative real-time monitoring solutions. This research presents a novel AI-driven multisensor system that integrates RGB, thermal infrared, and hyperspectral radiometers to detect and classify pollutants in dynamic offshore environments. The system features a dual-unit design: an overview unit for wide-area detection and a directional unit equipped with an autonomous pan-tilt mechanism for focused high-resolution analysis. By leveraging multi-hyperspectral data fusion, this system overcomes challenges such as variable lighting, water surface reflections, and environmental interferences, significantly enhancing pollutant classification accuracy. The YOLOv5 deep learning model was validated using extensive synthetic and real-world marine datasets, achieving an F1-score of 0.89 and an mAP of 0.90. These results demonstrate the robustness and scalability of the proposed system, enabling real-time pollution monitoring, improving marine conservation strategies, and supporting regulatory enforcement for environmental sustainability. Full article

Magnoliaceae plants have high ornamental value, resulting in their widespread use in landscaping construction, and play a major role in the ecological functions of soil and water conservation. However, the landscape value of magnolias from the perspective of the water conservation capacity of the litter and soil layers is not yet fully understood; this restricts the popularization and application of Magnoliaceae plants in landscaping. In this study, we determined the characteristics of the litter thickness and mass, water absorption process, and soil water-holding capacity associated with five Magnoliaceae plants (Michelia shiluensis, M. crassipes, M. foveolata, M. maudiae, and M. odora). (1) The total litter thickness ranged from 2.29 to 5.58 cm, with M. crassipes achieving the highest value. The total litter mass for M. shiluensis (25.11 ± 2.58 t·ha⁻¹) was largely greater than that for the other magnolias. The mass of the un-decomposed litter (UL) layer was 1.31- to 3.82-fold larger than that of the semi-decomposed litter (SL). (2) The maximum water retention capacity (H_max) and effective water retention capacity (H_eff) of M. shiluensis were markedly larger than those of the other magnolias. (3) The W_max and W_eff of the UL layer were greater than those of the SL layer. (4) The soil bulk density varied from approximately 1.22 ± 0.08 g·cm⁻³ to 1.55 ± 0.08 g·cm⁻³, and the total soil porosity varied from 40.03 ± 3.44% to 46.42 ± 1.02%. The soil bulk density rose with an increasing soil depth, yet the total porosity was reduced. The soil water-holding capacity of the 0–30 cm soil layer varied from approximately 26.23 to 70.33 t·ha⁻¹, with soil near M. crassipes having the greatest water-holding capacity. The soil water infiltration recorded for M. crassipes was significantly higher than that of the other magnolias. The water conservation capacities associated with M. crassipes and M. shiluensis were the largest, which may suggest that these species are better at increasing rainfall interception, lightening splash erosion, and reducing surface runoff. Hence, we suggest that M. crassipes and M. shiluensis should be prioritized in landscaping applications. Full article

Mid-day maximum soil temperatures were measured at 10 study plots during different hot summer days in Haleakalā Crater, Maui, with thermocouple thermometers on five adjacent microsite types: bare surface soils, soils under black tephra, soils under reddish tephra, soils shaded by silverswords, and soils under plant litter. The main tephra morphologies and geomorphic environments, as well as their geoecological association with silversword rosettes (Argyroxiphium sandwicense), were also assessed; silversword density was substantially greater on reddish tephra-covered areas than under black tephra fragments. Silversword seeds are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and fail to germinate after a short exposure to soil temperatures ≥35 °C. Thermal data sets were statistically compared with parallel box plots; the ability of various microsites to provide safe sites for silversword growth was also assessed. Bare soils and black tephra reached the highest median temperatures, up to 48.7 °C and 40.3 °C, respectively; reddish tephra remained much cooler, with all median temperatures ≤30.8 °C. Rosette-shaded soils and soils under silversword litter were the coolest, with temperatures below 18.7 °C and 18.5 °C, respectively. Temperatures in all microsites, except those under black tephra, were significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than on contiguous bare ground. It was concluded that reddish tephra provides the ideal conditions for silversword regeneration. Full article

The reproductive cycle in domestic dogs involves prolonged phases of hormonal activity, making the endometrial tissue vulnerable to degenerative changes. One common result of these changes is cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH), which often leads to pyometra. Another, though rarer, condition is pseudo-placentational endometrial hyperplasia (PEH), characterized by abnormal proliferation of the endometrial glands and stroma, forming placental-like structures without the presence of pregnancy. Case presentation: An 8-year-old female Golden Retriever, healthy and intact, was presented for a routine ultrasound examination to confirm pregnancy after natural breeding 25 days earlier. Two previous pregnancies of this bitch have resulted in small but live litters. The ultrasound examination revealed multiple bilateral thickenings of the uterine horns, with ampullary-shaped enlargements measuring approximately 2.5 × 3.0 cm 25 days after breeding. The endometrium was conspicuously thickened, hypoechogenic, and either homogeneous or with scattered hyperechoic markings and faint striations. The mucosal surface ranged from regular to slightly irregular, and a small amount of hyperechoic condensed fluid was present in the lumen of the horns. No embryos were observed. Based on these findings, two primary diagnoses were considered: PEH or embryonic resorption sites, with a possible segmental uterine inflammation. A diagnosis suggestive of PEH was established through histopathological examination of the uterus after ovariohysterectomy, supported by consistent ultrasound findings that showed no progression or changes over time. Full article

Mapping potential fire intensity is a fundamental tool for fire management planning. Despite the wide use of Fire Radiative Power (FRP) as an indicator of expected fire intensity and fire emissions, very few studies have spatially analyzed the role of remotely sensed proxies of vegetation productivity to explain FRP. The current study aimed at modeling and mapping the relationships between aboveground biomass and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) maximum FRP, at 1 km pixel, in 2011–2020, for each of 46 fuel regions in the entirety of Mexico. Maximum FRP–biomass relationships supported a novel hypothesis of varying constraints of fire intensity. In lower-productivity areas, such as semiarid shrub- and grass-dominated ecosystems, fine fuel loads limited fire occurrence and FRP was positively related to biomass. In the more productive areas, such as temperate or tropical forests, a humped relationship of FRP against biomass was observed, suggesting an intermediate-productivity hypothesis of maximum fire intensity within those regions. In those areas, the highest fire intensity was observed in the intermediate biomass areas, where surface (timber understory) and crown fuel availability, together with higher wind penetration, can result in crown fires. On the contrary, within the most productive areas, the lowest intensity occurred, likely due to weather and fuel (timber litter) limitations. Full article

Increasing urbanisation is occurring in Australia’s major cities and in almost every country in the world. This creates a challenge for the urban water sector, which not only needs to provide traditional water services (i.e., wastewater, domestic water) for a rapidly growing population, but also to service potential additional demands to contribute to enhanced amenity, and to do so in the context of climate change. This paper is focused on stormwater management controls for the develop of new greenfield urban sites in the three major east coast Australian cities—Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. While stormwater management in all three cities is focused on the protection of community values of the waterways, including environment (ecology), amenity and recreation, the scale or type of the waterways considered is considerably different—Melbourne has adopted a regional waterway strategy, while the Sydney and Brisbane approach is more localised. Pollution load reduction targets (TSS, TP, TN and litter) from new urban areas have been enforced in all three cities for many years, although there is concern that these targets primarily aimed at protecting the values of downstream bays (e.g., Port Phillip Bay, Sydney Harbour and Morton Bay) will not necessarily protect the values of the contributing waterways. However, targets to control stormwater volumes entering waterways are proving to be considerably more difficult to both develop and implement. These targets are typically expressed as volumes of stormwater to be harvested and/or infiltrated for every additional hectare of directly connected impervious (DCI) surface created as a result of urban development. The three cities have approached the setting of stormwater flow targets somewhat differently, as is apparent from the details provided in the paper. Additionally, we argue that there is a need for the development of new targets related to the reuse of stormwater and its integration with wastewater and domestic water management. Full article

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is widely present in soil environments and plays a crucial role in controlling the morphology, environmental behavior, and hazards of arsenic (As) in soil. In the Fe-rich red soil of tea plantations, the decomposition of tea tree litter complicates DOM properties, leading to more uncertain interactions between DOM, Fe, and As. This study focused on three tea plantations in Huangshan City to investigate the contents of DOM, Fe, and As in surface red soils (Ferralsols) and establish their correlations. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and PARAFAC analysis methods were used to analyze the DOM components and fluorescence signatures. Additionally, the process and mechanism of the binding of DOM-Fe with As were explored through laboratory experiments on the morphological transformation of As by DOM-Fe. The results showed that the pH values of the soils in the three tea plantations ranged from 3.9 to 5.2, and the entire sample was strongly acidic. The DOM exhibited strong intrinsic properties and low humification, containing three types of humic acid components and one intermediate protein component. The DOC content in the Fe-rich red soil did not have a direct correlation with Fe and As, but the interaction of DOM fractions with Fe significantly influenced the As content. Specifically, the interaction of protein-like fractions with Fe had a more pronounced effect on the As content. The maximum sorption rate of As by DOM was 15.45%, and this rate increased by 49 to 75% with the participation of Fe. In the configuration of the metal electron bridge, Fe acts as a cation, forming a connecting channel between the negatively charged DOM and As, thus enhancing the DOM’s binding capacity to As. DOM-Fe compounds bind As through surface pores and functional groups. These findings provide deeper insights into the influence of DOM on As behavior in Fe-rich soil environments and offer theoretical support for controlling As pollution in red soil. Full article